5.3. Mammal response
The conspicuously low numbers of mammal species
in MT patches compared to OK are probably a result
of the combined pressures of fragmentation and hunting. Large carnivores such as tiger (Panthera tigris),
Asiatic black bear (Selenartos thibetanus), and leopard (Panthera pardus), and herbivores such as elephants
(Elephas maximus) and sambars (Cervus unicolor) were
not found in MT. Large mammals, especially top predators like tigers and leopards, normally have a large
home range. A single female tiger, for example, requires
at least 2000 ha and the male probably at least twice as
large (Sunquist, 1981). Home range sizes of Asian elephants normally range between 3400 to 80,000 ha
(Stuwe et al., 1998). The fragmented forests of Mae
Tuen, with their intensive agricultural development may
be too small to support such animals. Laidlaw (2000),
working in protected areas in Malaysia, found that the
size of the remaining area of natural forest was the most
important factor affecting the nature of mammal communities.
5.3. Mammal responseThe conspicuously low numbers of mammal speciesin MT patches compared to OK are probably a resultof the combined pressures of fragmentation and hunting. Large carnivores such as tiger (Panthera tigris),Asiatic black bear (Selenartos thibetanus), and leopard (Panthera pardus), and herbivores such as elephants(Elephas maximus) and sambars (Cervus unicolor) werenot found in MT. Large mammals, especially top predators like tigers and leopards, normally have a largehome range. A single female tiger, for example, requiresat least 2000 ha and the male probably at least twice aslarge (Sunquist, 1981). Home range sizes of Asian elephants normally range between 3400 to 80,000 ha(Stuwe et al., 1998). The fragmented forests of MaeTuen, with their intensive agricultural development maybe too small to support such animals. Laidlaw (2000),working in protected areas in Malaysia, found that thesize of the remaining area of natural forest was the mostimportant factor affecting the nature of mammal communities.
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