生物多樣性保育,已成為目前森林生態系經營之主要經營目標之一。林業經營不僅改變植物群聚,也會連帶影響野生動物群聚組成。本研究於台大實驗林之溪頭森林遊樂區內進行,探討原生闊葉林、紅檜林、柳杉林、及孟宗竹林等四種不同森林林相之陸域野生脊椎動物群聚組成,並評估野生脊椎動物對不同森林垂直結構層之微棲地選擇。研究共調查到56種野生脊椎動物,其中原生闊葉林之物種豐富度及個體數量(45種、70.9隻次/km)都高於其他人工單一林相(22-26種、43.7-54.1隻次/km),且有10種生物僅於原生闊葉林內被記錄到。樹冠層的物種數(33種)高於其他垂直結構層(20-22種),且樹冠層與中下層之群聚組成相似度相當高(Bray-Curtis相似度指標,0.648)。就生物多樣性保育而言,保護適當比例之原生森林是必要且有效之措施;這不僅可以維護整個區域之生物多樣性,也可以保存當地稀有原生物種。
Biodiversity conservation has become one main objective of forest ecosystem management. Forestry practices not only alter plant community composition but also change wildlife community composition. We conducted a study in Sitou Forest Recreational Area to examine the terrestrial vertebrate community composition in primary broadleaf forests, Cryptomeria japonica plantations, Chamaecyparis formosensis plantations, and bamboo plantations and evaluate microhabitat selection of vertebrate species in different forest vertical layers. A total of 56 species was recorded. Both species richness and total relative abundance of vertebrates in primary broadleaf forests (45 species, 70.9 No. km^(-1)) were higher than in the other three types of plantations (22-26 species, 43.7-54.1 No. km^(-1)) and many species (10 species) were only recorded in the primary broadleaf forests. The species richness of vertebrates in canopy layer (33 species) was higher than the other three vertical layers (20-22 species). The canopy layer and sub-canopy layer showed high similarity in community composition (Bray-Curtis similarity index, 0.648). Because biodiversity conservation is a major objective of forest ecosystem management, we contend that keeping large area of primary forests intact is a necessary and efficient measure because it can maintain regional species diversity and protect rare local species.