PREDATOR-PREY RELATIONS IN THE DRY DIPTEROCARP FOREST, SAKAERAT ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION, NAKHON RATCHASIMA PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify the predator species in the dry dipterocarp forest, Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, and to determine their impact on prey species. The total animal species found in the sampling area, 4 square kilometers, was 116 which composed of 16 predator species and 100 prey species. Both predator and prey species mainly consisted of birds with the number of 13 and 91 species, respectively. There were only 2 mammalian predators, the mask palm civet and the Javan mongoose, and 1 reptilian predator, the king cobra. It was found that the environmental condition in the dry dipterocarp forest had direct effects upon preys. Preys were abundant, both number of individuals and species, in the rainy season when food were plentiful and again in the winter season when migratory birds moved in. When preys were abundant, the predators increased also, however, the predators had no influence in controlling the preys in this area.