Sains Malaysiana 48(7)(2019): 1395–1407

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4807-08

Beetles Species Richness along Environmental Gradients at Montane Ecosystem in Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia

(Kepelbagaian Spesies Kumbang di Sepanjang Cerun Persekitaran Ekosistem Pegunungan di Bukit Fraser, Semenanjung Malaysia)

MUNEEB M. MUSTHAFA^1,2* & FAUZIAH ABDULLAH^1,2,3,4

¹Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, University Park, Oluvil #32360, Sri Lanka

²Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Center of Biotechnology in Agriculture, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁴Center of Tropical Biodiversity, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 4 September 2018/Accepted: 31 March 2019

ABSTRACT

This study measures beetle diversity and distribution pattern along elevations at Fraser’s Hill, a pristine tropical forest in Malaysia. Sites were sampled at 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 1800 m a.s.l. using two light traps, two Malaise traps and 25 pitfall traps at each elevation. Sampling was carried out at three months' intervals in 2015. Altogether, 1981 beetles representing 32 families and 116 species were collected, with proportion of obtained species above 70% at all elevations. Species richness was not significant among elevations, thus forming no discernible pattern of species distribution. Higher Shannon diversity increased steadily with elevation and dominance was lowest at the two highest elevations, while beetle abundance decreases significantly with elevation. There was no significant difference between the diversity values at 500 m and 1000 m, and 1500 m and 1800 m, whereas there was significant difference between 500 m and 1500 m, and 1000 m and 1800 m. The results highlight the importance of different microhabitats for different beetle species and their own responses to environmental parameters that differ with altitudinal clines. These findings also highlight the importance of Fraser's Hill as a key location for biological conservation and as protected area.

Keywords: Beetles; biodiversity; conservation; ecosystem; tropical forest

ABSTRAK

Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji kepelbagaian kumbang dan taburannya pada aras ketinggian yang berbeza di Bukit Fraser. Bukit Fraser adalah hutan tropika yang terletak di Malaysia dan merupakan lokasi yang sangat sesuai untuk menjalankan kajian kepelbagaian corak pada aras ketinggian yang berbeza. Empat aras ketinggian berbeza telah dipilih untuk proses pengumpulan sampel iaitu 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m dan 1800 m dari paras laut dengan menggunakan perangkap jenis cahaya, perangkap jenis Malaise dan perangkap lubang. Dua perangkap jenis cahaya, dua perangkap jenis Malaise dan 25 perangkap lubang telah digunakan pada setiap aras ketinggian. Proses pengumpulan sampel ini telah dijalankan setiap selang tiga bulan pada tahun 2015. Secara keseluruhan, 1981 kumbang yang mewakili 36 famili dan 116 spesies Coleoptera telah berjaya dikumpulkan. Oleh itu, usaha pengumpulan sampel adalah sangat baik dan peratusan sampel yang diperoleh adalah melebihi 70% bagi setiap ketinggian yang berbeza. Kepelbagaian spesies yang lebih tinggi terdapat di kawasan yang lebih tinggi, namun perubahan pada ketinggian adalah tidak ketara. Kepelbagaian Shannon yang tinggi dan dominasi yang rendah didapati di kawasan yang lebih tinggi, manakala jumlah kumbang berkurangan dengan aras ketinggian. Korelasi Spearman merumuskan korelasi yang positif dan ketara antara jumlah kumbang dan kelembapan relatif, walaupun nilai kelembapan adalah rendah. Hasil kajian ini menekankan kepentingan kepelbagaian habitat mikro bagi spesies kumbang yang berbeza dan tindak balasnya terhadap parameter persekitaran dengan aras ketinggian yang berbeza. Pemeliharaan status kepelbagaian biologi Bukit Fraser adalah sangat penting sebagai lokasi pemuliharaan biologi dan kawasan yang dilindungi.

Kata kunci: Ekosistem; hutan tropika; kepelbagaian biologi; kumbang; pemuliharaan

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*Corresponding author; email: muneeb@seu.ac.lk