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Population size of the endangered narrow-range endemic tree Semecarpus Calcicola Kochummen (Anacardiaceae), Mantanani Island, Malaysia

Part of: Equatorial Forests of the Asia-Pacific Region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2025

Thian Yew Loke Open the ORCID record for Thian Yew Loke [Opens in a new window] ,
Berhaman Ahmad ,
Sandy Tsen ,
Richard B. Sebastian ,
Aida Nabihah M. Khatta ,
Normah Awang Besar ,
Zaleha Abdul Aziz ,
Syahrir Mhd. Hatta ,
Eyen Khoo  and
Rimi Repin
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Thian Yew Loke*
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Berhaman Ahmad
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Sandy Tsen
Affiliation:
Sabah Forestry Department, Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Perhutanan, Beg Berkunci 68, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Richard B. Sebastian
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Aida Nabihah M. Khatta
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Normah Awang Besar
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Zaleha Abdul Aziz
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Syahrir Mhd. Hatta
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Eyen Khoo
Affiliation:
Sabah Forestry Department, Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Perhutanan, Beg Berkunci 68, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Rimi Repin
Affiliation:
Sabah Parks, Kinabalu Park, 89300 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia
Suzika Juiling
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Sasikumar Tanggaraju
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Colin R. Maycock
Affiliation:
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Forever Sabah, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
*
Corresponding author: Thian Yew Loke; Email: lty.loke@gmail.com
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Abstract

Semecarpus calcicola is an endangered tree restricted to Pulau Mantanani, Malaysia. New data of population size and structure was used to reassess the IUCN threat category of this species. Results are based on twenty-six 400 m2 plots in a 26.5 ha area that included the majority of Semecarpus calcicola’s known population. GLMs were used to investigate the relationship between the number of individuals and elevation. Estimates of the population size for each size class were determined using Horvitz-Thompson estimators, generalised regression estimators and spatial linear models and extrapolated to the study area. Elevations of the plots were obtained from a digital elevation model as auxiliary data. Significant relationships were found between the number of individuals and elevation. Mature individuals are more common at higher elevations, whilst seedlings, saplings and poles are more abundant in the lower elevation plots. Land-use change due to the increase of tourism activities and the local community drives the significant decreases of mature individuals within the lower elevation. Introduced cattle, tourism-related land-use change and plantation activities further threaten the population of S. calcicola, particularly smaller individuals due to herbivory. The estimate of population size varied among the methods and size classes. The estimated number of mature individuals ranged from 509 to 764.

Keywords

AnacardiaceaeIUCN Red listgeneralised linear modelgeneralised regression estimatorsHorvitz-Thompson estimatorsspatial linear models

Information

Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 41 , 2025 , e28
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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