Soil Macroinsect Diversity and Soil Properties in a High Conservation Value Area of Oil Palm Plantation, Pulau Carey, Selangor, Malaysia: Soil Macroinsect Diversity and Soil Properties in Pulau Carey

Nur Athirah  ABDULLAH; Marcela  PIMID; Azlina  ZAKARIA; Muhammad Farhan  ABD WAHAB; Nabilah  ZAINOL

doi:10.51200/jtbc.v23i.6166

Authors

Nur Athirah ABDULLAH Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Marcela PIMID Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Azlina ZAKARIA SD Guthrie Research Sdn. Bhd., KM 10, Jalan Banting-Kelanang, 42700 Banting, Selangor, Malaysia.
Muhammad Farhan ABD WAHAB Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Pahang Branch (Jengka Campus), 26400 Bandar Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia.
Nabilah ZAINOL Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Pahang Branch (Jengka Campus), 26400 Bandar Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51200/jtbc.v23i.6166

Keywords:

Soil biota, soil physicochemistry, insect diversity, ants, sustainable agriculture

Abstract

High Conservation Value (HCV) areas in oil palm plantations are designated to protect biodiversity in the plantation landscape. However, few assessments have been conducted of the area’s HCV potential to maintain soil biota. This preliminary study compared the abundance, species richness, and community structure of soil macroinsects between an HCV area and a typical oil palm plantation (OPP) plot. The soil physicochemical properties (pH, organic matter, moisture, and particle size) in both areas were also examined. Soil macroinsects were sampled using pitfall traps and excavated soil samples. A total of 1,197 soil macroinsect individuals, consisting of 15 families and 38 morphospecies, were collected. Species richness and abundance were higher in the HCV area, though Shannon diversity was higher in the OPP, driven by greater evenness. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination indicated differentiation of macroinsect communities between habitats. Higher soil organic matter in the HCV area supported decomposer taxa, while pH and soil moisture shaped the prevalence of disturbance-tolerant taxa in OPP. This preliminary assessment suggests that the HCV area has the potential to conserve rich soil macroinsect groups. However, extended studies are needed for longer monitoring that includes other environmental variables to strengthen the understanding of the role of HCV habitats in sustaining soil biodiversity in plantation landscapes.

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