Sampling micromolluscs in tropical forests: one size does not fit all

Liew, Thor-Seng and Clements, Reuben and Schilthuizen , Menno (2008) Sampling micromolluscs in tropical forests: one size does not fit all. In: Symposium Micromolluscs - Methodological Challenges held at the 16th Unitas Malacologica World Congress of Malacology, 15-20 July 2007, Antwerp, Belgium.

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Abstract

Micromolluscs comprise a significant proportion of terrestrial malacofaunas in the tropics. As such, inventories and ecological sampling protocols must endeavor to maximize the capture of micromolluscs. Sampling protocols (i.e., appropriate number of sampling plots) for micromolluscs, however, still require refinement to improve sampling effectiveness. Apart from describing our recommended sampling protocols for micromolluscs, we compared completeness ratios (as a proxy for sampling effectiveness) and species densities and diversities across different vegetation types (i.e., limestone karst forests [LKFs] and non-limestone karst forest [NKF]) and geographies (i.e., inland and offshore) in Malaysia. Our results showed that completeness ratios at LKFs were significantly higher than NKFs, but no significant differences were detected among plots at inland and offshore localities. In order to optimize resources for sampling micromolluscs, plot sizes at LKFs could therefore be reduced from frequently used 400 m(2) plots to 8 m(2), while the number of plots at LKFs may range between three to six plots per locality. Having determined that the abundance of micromolluscs in sampling plots was positively correlated with species density, we controlled for abundance and subsequently found no significant differences in micromollusc species diversity between NKFs and LKFs. However, inland localities had significantly higher species diversities than offshore localities. As such, NKFs (due to lower completeness ratios) and offshore localities (due to lower species diversities) probably require more sampling plots to achieve high completeness ratios (and improve sampling effectiveness). Ultimately, the development of a unified sampling strategy must consider variables such as vegetation types and geographies to ensure effective and comparable sampling across a broad array of ecological and geographical situations.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Keyword: Gastropod, Island, Mollusca, Borneo, Snail
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301-705.5 Biology (General) > QH540-549.5 Ecology
Q Science > QL Zoology > QL1-991 Zoology > QL360-599.82 Invertebrates
Department: INSTITUTE > Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Depositing User: ADMIN ADMIN
Date Deposited: 13 Sep 2011 11:16
Last Modified: 30 Dec 2014 14:59
URI: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/1263

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