Sains Malaysiana 52(12)(2023): 3343-3355

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5212-01

Using Circuit Theory, Connectivity Analysis and Least-Cost Path to Model the Potential Ecological Corridors of Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) at Chini-Bera Forest Complex in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia

(Penggunaan Teori Litar, Analisis Ketersambungan dan Laluan Kos Minimum untuk Memodelkan Potensi Koridor Ekologi Tapir Malaya (Tapirus indicus) di Kompleks Hutan Chini-Bera, Pahang, Semenanjung Malaysia)

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AMAL NAJIHAH MUHAMAD NOR^1,3, NUR HAIRUNNISA RAFAAI² & SAIFUL ARIF ABDULLAH^2,*

¹Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan Malaysia

²Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

³UMK-Tropical Rainforest Research Centre (UMK-TRaCe), Faculty of Earth Science, Pulau Banding, Gerik 33300, Perak, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 6 Mac 2023/Diterima: 12 Disember 2023

Abstract

In Peninsular Malaysia, the Master Plan of Ecological Linkages has proposed ecological corridors at Chini-Bera forests complex to connect the forest patches. However, the proposed corridors have been determined arbitrarily without evaluating the reliability of the landscape structure which may cause liability in conservation effort. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potential ecological corridors by considering the reliability of landscape structure in Chini-Bera forests complex using Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) as a focal species. The tapir was chosen because it is one of the target large mammals in the master plan. In this study, three landscape structures, i.e., patch size, patch distance and landscape resistance were used as parameters in modelling the potential ecological corridors for tapirs. In the modelling, circuit theory, connectivity analysis and least-cost path were integrated using the geographic information systems and remote sensing platforms. The model has identified a total of 35 potential ecological corridors for tapir of which over 50% connect the large core areas while the other 25% connect the small core areas. Meanwhile, four corridors can be considered as priority corridor as their effective resistance below 1000 which indicate easy movement and high connectivity. The findings showed the importance to consider the reliability of the patch size, patch distance dan landscape resistance in determining the potential ecological corridors of wildlife to avoid liability in conservation effort. In addition, the integrated modelling approach contributes to a more concrete assessment of ecological corridors for effective wildlife conservation planning.

Keywords: Central forests spine; circuit theory; ecological corridor; least-cost path; sustainable development; wildlife conservation

Abstrak

Di Semenanjung Malaysia, Pelan Utama Rangkaian Ekologi telah mencadangkan koridor ekologi di kompleks hutan Chini-Bera untuk menghubungkan gugusan hutan. Walau bagaimanapun, koridor yang dicadangkan telah ditentukan sewenang-wenangnya tanpa menilai ketersediaan struktur landskap yang boleh menyebabkan liabiliti dalam usaha pemuliharaan. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan koridor ekologi yang berpotensi dengan mengambil kira ketersediaan struktur landskap di kompleks hutan Chini-Bera menggunakan tapir Malaya (Tapirus indicus) sebagai spesies tumpuan. Tapir dipilih kerana ia merupakan salah satu mamalia besar sasaran dalam pelan utama. Dalam kajian ini, tiga struktur landskap, iaitu saiz gugusan, jarak gugusan dan rintangan landskap digunakan sebagai parameter dalam memodelkan koridor ekologi yang berpotensi untuk tapir. Dalam pemodelan, teori litar, analisis ketersambungan dan laluan kos minimum telah disepadukan menggunakan sistem maklumat geografi dan platform penderiaan jauh. Model ini telah mengenal pasti sejumlah 35 koridor ekologi yang berpotensi untuk tapir dengan lebih 50% menghubungkan kawasan teras besar manakala 25% lagi menghubungkan kawasan teras kecil. Sementara itu, empat koridor boleh dianggap sebagai koridor keutamaan kerana keberkesanan rintangannya di bawah 1000 yang menunjukkan kemudahan pergerakan dan ketersambungan yang tinggi. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kepentingan untuk mempertimbangkan ketersediaan saiz gugusan, jarak gugusan dan rintangan landskap dalam menentukan potensi koridor ekologi hidupan liar untuk mengelakkan liabiliti dalam usaha pemuliharaan. Di samping itu, pendekatan pemodelan bersepadu menyumbang kepada penilaian yang lebih tepat terhadap koridor ekologi untuk perancangan pemuliharaan hidupan liar yang berkesan.

Kata kunci: Koridor ekologi; laluan kos minimum; pembangunan mampan; pemuliharaan hidupan liar; teori litar; tulang belakang hutan tengah

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: saiful@ukm.edu.my