Comparing frugivorous butterfly community between interior and edge habitat in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve

Sazali, Aqilah (2024) Comparing frugivorous butterfly community between interior and edge habitat in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text FPAS 2024 7.pdf Download (2MB)

Abstract

Frugivorous butterflies are butterflies that prefer fruit as one of their food resources. They are known to have high abundance and have diverse species all across different ecosystems and environments. However, rapid urbanization has caused their resources to deteriorate which affect their lifespan in forest ecosystems. Coming from the order Lepidoptera, they are sensitive to any changes towards habitat and ecological disturbance. The study was conducted in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (SISFEC) in two different study sites which were forest interior and forest edge. Passive sampling was conducted in 15 sampling points with 2 butterfly traps being deployed in each sampling points giving a total of 30 sampling points with a total of 60 butterfly traps. Banana and pineapple fruit bait were being used to attract frugivorous butterfly. Each sampling point was set up between ≥ 50m distance. Overall results recorded a total of 34 individuals representing 15 frugivorous butterfly species belong to the same family which is Nymphalidae. Banana fruit bait represents higher mean of frugivorous butterfly abundance and species richness compared to pineapple fruit bait. Both banana fruit bait and pineapple fruit bait recorded Zeuxidia amethystus as the most abundant species. Forest interior represents a higher mean of frugivorous butterfly abundance and species richness compared to forest edge. Some species only recorded on the forest edge can be potential indicators for habitat disturbance as they were not recorded in forest interior. This study provides evidence that frugivorous butterfly abundance and species richness vary between different environmental conditions and greatly affected by habitat disturbance. Therefore, certain frugivorous butterfly species can be highlighted as an indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem and environmental disturbance.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Fakulti Perhutanan dan Alam Sekitar
Depositing User:	Ms. ROHANA ALIAS
Date Deposited:	13 May 2024 01:02
Last Modified:	01 Aug 2024 08:22
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1755

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