Balancing Timber Harvest and Biodiversity: Impacts of Selective Logging on Wildlife in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize

Author

Kilynn GroenFollow

Graduation Year

2025

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

School or Department

Wildlife Biology

Major

Wildlife Biology

Faculty Mentor Department

Wildlife Biology

Faculty Mentor

Erim Gómez

Keywords

Conservation, Forest Management, Reduced-impact Logging, Species Composition, Tropical Forest

Subject Categories

Biodiversity | Forest Management | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Abstract

Selective logging is often promoted as a sustainable forestry practice that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet its ecological consequences remain under examined, particularly in tropical forests. This study investigates how selective logging affects wildlife communities in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize. Using remote camera trap data from 22 sites (9 unlogged forest sites and 13 logged (stump) sites), we assessed species richness, trophic structure, and environmental predictors of wildlife abundance. While overall wildlife captures and species richness did not differ significantly between forest and stump habitats, principal component analysis revealed strong community-level separation, with stump habitats supporting distinct species assemblages. A Poisson generalized linear model showed significantly higher overall wildlife abundance in stump sites (χ² = 71.3, p < 0.05), driven by species such as Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii), great curassow (Crax rubra), and collared peccary (Pecari tajacu). Conversely, species like the blue ground dove (Claravis pretiosa) and black hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) were more commonly observed in unlogged forest areas. Environmental variables, particularly elevation, slope, percent vertical obstruction, and number of trails, were significant predictors of species presence, suggesting microhabitat filtering post-logging. These findings demonstrate that even without altering total richness, selective logging can reshape wildlife communities and influence species distributions, with key implications for conservation and forest management strategies in tropical ecosystems.

Honors College Research Project

1

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Groen, Kilynn, "Balancing Timber Harvest and Biodiversity: Impacts of Selective Logging on Wildlife in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize" (2025). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 559.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/559