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A preliminary camera traps assessment of
terrestrial vertebrates at different elevation gradients
in Gunung Stong State Park, Kelantan, Malaysia
LO SHEA LING1, NIK MOHD MASERI1, KAMARUL HAMBALI1,*
and AAINAA AMIR1
Abstract: As a preliminary mean of verifying their presence, composition and possible
distribution of terrestrial wildlife, camera trapping was conducted within the Gunung Stong
State Park. Seven camera traps were placed at 7 different locations at different altitudes.
They were placed for 2 months and 83 images were captured with 10 species identified. The
most frequently photographed during the 63 day period were the wild boar (Sus scrofa), red
muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), plantain squirrel (Callosciurus caniceps), leopard cat
(Pardofelis marmorata), binturong (Arctictis binturong), Malayan sunbear (Heliarctos
malayanus), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Malayan
pangolin (Manis javanica) and Malaysian field rat (Rattus tiomanicus). The largest number
of images recorded was at Point 3 (468.5m), with 35 out of 83 images, near a camp site
frequented by hikers. The results are preliminary, but can be used as a baseline data for
subsequent studies that could help in the management of Gunung Stong State Park.
Key words: terrestrial vertebrates, camera trapping, altitudinal elevations, Gunung Stong State Park.
INTRODUCTION
The tropical rainforest is high in species richness and diversity compared with other biomes
(Baltzer and Thomas, 2002). This is due to the abundance of rainfall that allows forest trees
to stay green all the year to support a rich flora and fauna and a level of biological
production that is greater than any other natural ecosystems in the world (Drinnen, 2000).
Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP) is a protected area managed by the Kelantan Forestry
Department. On the route to the summit (1422m) of Gunung Stong, one encounters dense
forest, mountain streams and a rock-shelter (Mariana et al., 2005). The Gunung Stong
waterfalls, at 492m above sea level is believed to be among the highest waterfall in
Southeast Asia (Mariana et al., 2005). The presence of several habitat types, physical
attractions like waterfalls and mountain-streams, which are popular among mountain
recreationists, and home to diverse wildlife and plants make GSSP a unique area (Maseri,
2009). This is especially so, since mammals like elephants, tigers, bears, gibbons, and birds
such as hornbills and a range of other exotic animals have been sighted, and endemic plants
like the small bamboo (Holtummochloa pubescens), and the fan-palm (Licuala stongensis),
have been recorded here (Maseri, 2009). GSSP had been selectively logged in the late
1980s, the forest is now re-generating (Maseri, 2009). Human activity impacts result in
decreased mammalian species richness (Woodroffe, 2000), and the steady increase in
human populations has adversely affect mammalian populations due to human-wildlife
conflicts, poaching and encroachments into wilderness areas (Hayward et al., 2005). As
habitats decrease, the need to create reserves to conserve and preserve mammalian species
become essential, and one effective method is through conserving the remaining areas of
high species richness (Myers et al., 2000). In other words, species richness acts as the
indicator of conservation value (Meir et al., 2004). Therefore, to perform effective
conservation management in protected areas, understanding the diversity and species
richness is an important step, and that is the main goal of this study: To obtain the assess
Malayan Nature Journal 2018, 70(1), 3-11
3
1Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author: kamarul@umk.edu.my
species richness and diversity of mammals across elevation gradients in GSSP. Research
has shown that species changes along elevation gradients and are very important for
identifying the main future needs of conservation of species (Fischer et al., 2011), and
knowledge of the species and communities that occur within the protected area, and
understanding the connection of habitats and habitat disturbances, are essential for
biodiversity conservation at landscape scales (Parrish et al., 2003; Zipkin et al., 2010).
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Study area
This study was carried out in GSSP (Figure 1), a 21,950 ha protected area managed by the
Forestry Department Kelantan, located in the Dabong sub-district, Kuala Krai (Maseri and
Mohd-Ros, 2005). Due to its scenic waterfalls, beautiful scenery, biodiversity and mountain
summits, it is a popular nature destination for hikers, who also visit the Dabong caves as
part of their activities. GSSP is strategically positioned between the Gunung Stong Selatan
Forest Reserve (18,134 ha), the Balah Forest Reserve (56,010 ha), Gunung Stong Utara
Forest Reserve (11,044 ha), Basor Forest Reserve (40,790 ha), and the Berangkat Forest
Reserve (21,409 ha).
Sampling technique
Seven cameras were placed at different altitudes along the existing hikers trail to the summit
of Gunung Stong, and at the strategic locations. The altitudes where the cameras were
placed range from 297.3m to 1420m, with habitats ranging from lowland dipterocarp to
montane ericaceous forests. The date, time and location were marked by the GPS, and the
cameras were retrieved in 63 days, and the images collected for further analysis and
documentation. Francis (2008) was used to identify each captured individual mammal.
Statistical analysis
Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index was used to determine the diversity index. Even though
there are other indices that can be used, we selected this index because of its simplicity
(Krebs, 2014). The equation used for the calculation is:
H = -sum (pi ln [pi])
Where pi is the number of individuals of a species over the total number of individuals
overall.
4
Figure 1. Map of the study area (Source: WWF-Malaysia, 2009).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
At the end of the 63-day survey period, photographs were arranged by individual site
locations. Station 3 (N5˚20'26.00", E101˚58'01.06") and Station 6 (N5˚20'10.06",
E101˚56'43.00") were removed because the cameras were stolen. As a result of removing
these two sites, all analyses were calculated using the remaining 5 Stations. Photographs were
examined to identify individual species. Data at each site were examined and species lists
were compiled for each camera location (Table 1). The total number of species was calculated
for each camera site.
Throughout the 63-day sampling survey a total of 12 mammalian species and 83
individuals (Table 1) were detected in GSSP. These detections included small, large and
medium carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. Across the elevation gradient, there were
different species and frequencies recorded. The 12 mammalian species that were captured
include two unidentified species, Helarctos malayanus (1), Pardofelis marmorata (4),
Tapirus indicus (1), Sus scrofa (39), Muntiacus muntjak (9), Arctictis binturong (3),
Capricornis sumatraensis (1), Rattus tiomanicus (17), Manis javanica (1) and Callosciurus
caniceps (5). In term of conservation status, one was categorised as critically endangered
species (Manis javanica), one endangered (Tapirus indicus), three vulnerable species
(Helarctos malayanus, Artictis binturong and Capricornis sumatraensis), one near
threatened (Pardofelis marmorata) and the rest are listed as least concerned (Sus scrofa,
Muntiacus muntjak, Rattus tiomanicus and Callosciurus caniceps) by the IUCN Red List of
threatened species.
5
From Table 1 the highest number of species is located at point 3 (468.5m) which has
about 10 species consisting of 35 individuals detected. While, at the elevation of 1420m
(point 5) only two species were detected which has the lowest number of species compared
to the other 4 points. The patterns of mammal species richness along elevation gradient
GSSP is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Number of species against elevation.
There is a significant increase in the trend of total species richness from 297.3m to
468.5m but from 468.5m to 1420m, there is a clear decrease. Thus, the high mammal
species richness in GSSP peaked at the middle elevation of 468.5m. This value accounts for
75% of the total number of mammal species detected by the camera traps. This is also
similarly proven by the rarefaction graph in Figure 3 that shows the Point 3 (468.5m) at
mid-peak indicates a higher and longer curve in comparison to the other 4 points. In other
words, point 3 stated at mid-elevation peak has a higher number of species than the other
points.
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Table 1. Checklist of mammalians species detected by using camera trap across the elevation gradient in Gunung Stong State Park.
Species
Unidentified species
Helarctos malayanus
Pardofelis marmorata
Tapirus indicus
Sus scrofa
Muntiacus muntjak
Arctictis binturong
Unidentified species
Capricornis sumatraensis
Rattus tiomanicus
Manis javanica
Callosciurus caniceps
Total of individual
Numbers of species
Trap-days
Point 1
(297.3m)
N 05°20'28.06"
E 101°58'17.52"
0
0
2
0
10
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
3
63
Point 2
(371.2m)
N 05˚20’33.06”
E 101˚58’16.00”
0
0
0
1
13
1
1
0
0
7
0
0
23
5
63
Point 3
(468.5m)
N 05˚28’26.00”
E 101˚58’01.06”
1
0
2
0
15
2
1
1
1
10
1
1
35
10
63
Point 4
(737.8m)
N 05˚20’25.03”
E 101˚57’29.09”
0
1
0
0
5
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
3
63
Point 5
(1420m)
E 05˚20’10.09”
E 101˚56’16.00”
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
5
2
63
Total
1
1
4
1
43
9
3
1
1
17
1
5
83
IUCN
Status
-
VU
NT
EN
LC
LC
VU
-
VU
LC
CR
LC
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Figure 3. The rarefaction graph for species diversity at each elevation in GSSP.
The hump-shaped pattern of the species diversity along elevation gradient GSSP
also can be shown by Shannon-Wiener diversity index (Table 2). The Shannon-Wiener
diversity index from point 1 to point 3 showed a significant increase in species diversity,
while species diversity decreases from point 3 to point 5. The pattern of the initial increase
in species richness peaked at the higher elevation of 468.5 after which is seen a dip as the
elevation increases beyond this point. This is similar to the study of the patterns of ant
species richness along elevation gradients in an arid ecosystem in Spring Mountains,
Nevada, U.S.A where the ant species richness across the elevation graphed is a
hump-shaped (Sanders et al., 2003).
The distribution of species richness along elevation gradients is influenced by a series
of interacting biological, geographical, energy, climatic and historical factors (Rahbek, 1995;
Lomolino, 2001). Further, the environmental variables will change according to elevation and
every elevation represents a complex gradient (Austin et al., 1996). This observed
hump-shaped species richness patterns of mammals in GSSP is in accordance with habitat
heterogeneity and optimum resource combination in the intermediate portion of the elevation
gradient. The mid-elevation peak ranges with an optimal combination of environmental
resource and provides more niches that are more preferable for many species to coexist
(Lomolino 2001; Brown, 2001). Also the elevation of point 3 overlaps between low elevation
and high elevation species (mixed community) and it has the greatest species richness
compared to other 4 points. Such a trend of mixed habitats and resources in mid-elevation
areas could be a partial reason for the high species richness of mammals at mid-elevations in
GSSP.
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Point
1
2
3
4
5
Shannon-Weiner
diversity index, H
0.884
1.070
1.621
0.934
0.500
Table 2. Shannon-Wiener diversity index at each of elevation in GSSP.
Climatic patterns in the high elevation of the mountain might influence the species
richness in GSSP. Hawkins et al. (2005) and Evans et al. (2005) stated that temperature was
the most obvious evidence that prove climatic variations changes according to elevation
patterns and every increase of elevation from 100m the temperature decrease by an average
of approximately 0.68˚C (Barry, 2008). Elevation determines temperature and the
decreasing temperatures from low elevation (297.3m) to the mountain peak in GSSP could
be responsible for the low species count. While, point 3 has higher species compared to
297.3m and 371.2m and may be due to the temperature (environment condition) which is
favourable for mammals to survive (Brown, 2001).
Grytnes and McCain (2010) stated the productivity is dependent on temperature and
precipitation. Climate condition restricts the productivity, which in turn limits the
population size and the total number of individuals (Brown, 2001). Thus, low temperature
will decrease the primary productivity. Usually, the factor that has correlation with
productivity is indicated by the more individual factors, which predicts that the positive
relationship between diversity and productivity is due to the ability of high productive areas
to support more individuals within a community and thus, more species (Srivastava and
Lawton, 1998). Heferkamp (1988) indicated that temperature is essential for regulating
rates of physiological process and influencing growth, development of plants and plant
productivity. As some mammals are herbivores which rely on producers as the food source
to sustain life, the production or growth of plants will give a big impact to the mammals.
Many factors have been proposed to explain this variation food-chain length among natural
communities, including productivity, disturbance, ecosystem size (area or volume), habitat
heterogeneity, species richness, design and size constraints, optimal foraging, and the
history of community organisation (Pimm, 1982; Post, 2002; Elton, 1927). Therefore the
higher number of species at point 3 is possible due to the favorable temperature that
supports the high productivity of mammals there. In addition, the interactions of several
biological, physical and chemical factors could also affect the species richness at higher
elevations.
The pattern of distribution is not permanent for each species. Distribution patterns
can change seasonally, in response to the availability of resources, and other factors.
Possibly, there is a link between the availability of resources and elevation at 468.5m. It
does suggest that sites where food, water and shelter are available, they meet the basic
requirements of mammals to survive. The site at 468.5m could explain the high presence of
mammals based on this observation. Another possible factor is that the trip-camera was
located near to the camp site of Camp Baha with similar lowland dipterocarps and streams
features. This site is often used by visitors as a resting point (Maseri 2009) as well as an
over-night campsite before attempting to scale the summit the following morning. Due to
the frequent discarding of food-scraps by campers, the high presence of wildlife at site 3
could have been attracted to this source of food.
Habitat destruction typically leads to fragmentation, the division of habitat into
smaller and more isolated fragments separated by human-transformed land cover (Ewers
and Didham, 2006). Fragmentation not only causes loss of the amount of habitat, but by
creating small, isolated patches it also changes the properties of the remaining habitats (van
den Berg et al., 2001). When the original habitat is destroyed due to land use changes,
resulting in fragmentation, wildlife seeks these remaining natural habitat sanctuaries
(Virgos, 2001). Compressed into these smaller areas, there is greater intra- and inter-species
competition and some may migrate to habitats usually not conducive to them. This could be
the reason for the greater species richness in point 3, when their original habitats were in the
lower altitudes. However, in this study, the 468.5m elevation has all the basic requirements
for wildlife to survive compared to other elevations; therefore, wildlife that chooses to
survive in the mountain will choose point 3 as their habitat because of richness of resources.
In addition, wildlife that is captured in all the cameras may not necessarily be different
individuals, but same individuals, as they search for food resources around the area.
9
CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, this study has provided new records of species richness and diversity of
mammals across elevation gradient in GSSP by using the camera-trap technique. Half of the
captured species was listed as least concerned (LC) in IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species, while the other species are listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable,
near threatened. This information could aid in improving the management effectiveness of
GSSP, a protected area under the Kelantan Forestry Department. The humped graph of
species richness along the elevation gradient shows the species richness and diversity of
mammals across the elevation gradient in GSSP which is caused by the factors of
mid-domain effect and climate. However, these factors are not only ones that caused the
abundant species at mid-elevation peak, it is also possible due to availability resources and
forest fragmentation.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Forest Department Peninsular Malaysia,
Kelantan for allowing us to conduct this study at Gunung Stong State Park, Jeli. Thanks also
go to Ahmad Auzan bin Azhar and Saiful bin Sulaiman for field and technical assistance
during this project.
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