Diversity of lepidoptera at R.E.A.C.H Biod Centre Cameron Highlands Malaysia

Nur Amira Zamari Aris, . and Nursyahirah Zakaria, . and Nivaarani Arumugam, . Diversity of lepidoptera at R.E.A.C.H Biod Centre Cameron Highlands Malaysia. pp. 41-55. ISSN 0121-8126

Lepidopteran diversity at the16-years old rehabilitated forest that surrounds the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre was studied from July to August 2016. This forest is currently maintained by the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H) a non-governmental organization (NGO) established by local residents of the Cameron Highlands. The 50 hectares forest with more than 9000 planted trees is located at 4 3112.2 N 101 2340.1E with elevation of 1781m a.s.l. Order Lepidoptera comprises the day-flying butterflies and nightflying moths. Hence butterflies were recorded using ten butterfly traps and manual catchment using an aerial net while moths were recorded using two light traps. A total of 11 butterfly species (four families) and 48 moth species (ten families) were recorded during the 24 days of sampling. Moths were recorded with higher diversity (81.4; H3.22) compared to butterflies (18.6; H2.15). Both butterflies and moths are distributed evenly at the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre as the Pielous evenness index (J) is 0.90 and 0.83 respectively. As the forest surrounding the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre is a rehabilitated forest the presence of lepidopterans in the forest proves that the rehabilitation effort is achieving its objective. This is in line with previous studies that have proven that lepidopterans are a good bioindicator of healthy forest ecosystem. Due to unavailability of previous data on lepidopterans diversity before the rehabilitation activity this study is only able to show that the trees planted through the rehabilitation program are successful in attracting lepidopterans species to the forest. The species might be from the nearest forest probably Gunung Brinchang as the BioD Centre situated at the edge of Gunung Brinchang. This is proved by data obtained in this study as most of the collected lepidopterans are forest species. Further diversity studies need to be conducted biannually at the forest to identify changes in lepidopterans diversity and abundance.

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Abstract

Lepidopteran diversity at the16-years old rehabilitated forest that surrounds the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre was studied from July to August 2016. This forest is currently maintained by the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H) a non-governmental organization (NGO) established by local residents of the Cameron Highlands. The 50 hectares forest with more than 9000 planted trees is located at 4 3112.2 N 101 2340.1E with elevation of 1781m a.s.l. Order Lepidoptera comprises the day-flying butterflies and nightflying moths. Hence butterflies were recorded using ten butterfly traps and manual catchment using an aerial net while moths were recorded using two light traps. A total of 11 butterfly species (four families) and 48 moth species (ten families) were recorded during the 24 days of sampling. Moths were recorded with higher diversity (81.4; H3.22) compared to butterflies (18.6; H2.15). Both butterflies and moths are distributed evenly at the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre as the Pielous evenness index (J) is 0.90 and 0.83 respectively. As the forest surrounding the R.E.A.C.H BioD Centre is a rehabilitated forest the presence of lepidopterans in the forest proves that the rehabilitation effort is achieving its objective. This is in line with previous studies that have proven that lepidopterans are a good bioindicator of healthy forest ecosystem. Due to unavailability of previous data on lepidopterans diversity before the rehabilitation activity this study is only able to show that the trees planted through the rehabilitation program are successful in attracting lepidopterans species to the forest. The species might be from the nearest forest probably Gunung Brinchang as the BioD Centre situated at the edge of Gunung Brinchang. This is proved by data obtained in this study as most of the collected lepidopterans are forest species. Further diversity studies need to be conducted biannually at the forest to identify changes in lepidopterans diversity and abundance.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Lepidoptera
AGROVOC Term:	Butterflies
AGROVOC Term:	Moths
AGROVOC Term:	Distribution
AGROVOC Term:	Habitats
AGROVOC Term:	Sampling
AGROVOC Term:	Light traps
AGROVOC Term:	Trapping
AGROVOC Term:	Preservation
AGROVOC Term:	Identification
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8282

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