Fish assemblages in artificial drainage systems across oil palm plantation development phases on peatland in Sarawak

Angie Sapis, . and Bettycopa Amit, . and Nik Sasha Khatrina Khairuddin, . and Idris Abu Seman, . (2024) Fish assemblages in artificial drainage systems across oil palm plantation development phases on peatland in Sarawak. Journal of Oil Palm Research (Malaysia), 36 (4). pp. 608-617. ISSN 2811-4701

Development of oil palm plantations on peatland requires drainage for water level regulation which often creates new artificial habitats for aquatic inhabitants. We assessed the changes in fish communities of the artificial drainage systems in Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fish were sampled from three sampling stations at the man-made drainage from July 2013 until July 2019. A total of 1546 individuals represented by 12 species were recorded across oil palm plantation development phases. Although it is an artificial habitat, the conversion of logged peat swamp forest to cleared land reduced fish species richness by at least 25%. Not many changes were observed when the land was initially planted with palms. As the oil palm reached 2 years old, fish species richness increased and was comparable to the prior conversion phase. The fish abundance f luctuated as the peat swamp forest was being cleared, and throughout the oil palm development phases.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2023/1...

Abstract

Development of oil palm plantations on peatland requires drainage for water level regulation which often creates new artificial habitats for aquatic inhabitants. We assessed the changes in fish communities of the artificial drainage systems in Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fish were sampled from three sampling stations at the man-made drainage from July 2013 until July 2019. A total of 1546 individuals represented by 12 species were recorded across oil palm plantation development phases. Although it is an artificial habitat, the conversion of logged peat swamp forest to cleared land reduced fish species richness by at least 25%. Not many changes were observed when the land was initially planted with palms. As the oil palm reached 2 years old, fish species richness increased and was comparable to the prior conversion phase. The fish abundance f luctuated as the peat swamp forest was being cleared, and throughout the oil palm development phases.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	fish
AGROVOC Term:	oil palms
AGROVOC Term:	aquatic ecosystems
AGROVOC Term:	drainage
AGROVOC Term:	land clearing
AGROVOC Term:	peatlands
AGROVOC Term:	habitats
AGROVOC Term:	species richness
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	blackwater, fish abundance, land use, loss forest, man-made drainage
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	15 May 2026 03:46
Last Modified:	15 May 2026 03:46
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4093

Actions (login required)

View Item