Nest predation in a Malaysian lowland rain forest

Studies on nest predation in temperate and Neotropical forests have documented increased predation of nests within small forest patches and near forest edge. To test the applicability of this finding in the Paleotropics, we monitored artificial nests placed near the edge and within the interior of a selectively logged rain forest in peninsular Malaysia. We also placed nests in unlogged forest interior to test the effects of past logging on predation rates: and used both covered and exposed nests to test the assertion that exposed nests are more prone to vertebrate predation. Of the three forest types studied, the lowest predation rates were found in unlogged forest interior and the highest rates were found at logged forest edge, with logged interior nests predated at intermediate levels. Exposed nests were predated at a significantly higher rate than covered nests. These findings support the existence of a persistent influence of selective logging on nest predation,and suggest that the link between forest disturbance and increased nest predation also applies to the Paleotropics. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.