SLASH-AND-BURN AGRICULTURE IN THE WET COASTAL LOWLANDS OF PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA - RESPONSE OF BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND REPTILES

Twenty-two plots were studied in the humid coastal lowlands of northern PNG to describe succession of plants, birds, butterflies and reptiles from gardens to forest. Bird, butterfly and reptile species diversity increased along the successional gradient. This response was least marked with reptiles. Niche breadths of these fauna groups decreased with later successional stages. A substantial number of plant species was restricted to, or occurred in, early successional stages, in contrast to the small proportion of animal species that used such sites. This may reflect a long history of intermediate disturbance (i.e. forest gaps) and relatively little widespread disturbance. This specialization renders the fauna vulnerable to increasing anthropogenic habitat modification. -from Authors