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

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.

How mountains and elevations shape the spatial distribution of beetles in Peninsular Malaysia

“…Beetle species richness, diversity, indicator species and trapping methods showed different patterns at the nine sampled Peninsular Malaysian Mountains in this study [28][29][30] . Of the sampled mountains, Chamah Highland showed the highest beetle diversity and richness, likely a result of the remote and secluded nature of this mountain, presence of dense forest, and lack of anthropogenic disturbances 31,32 .…”

Community Composition of Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) along Elevational Gradients in Phulchowki Hill, Lalitpur, Nepal

“…Anthropogenic activities such as manufacturing industries, educational institutes, Godawari buspark, and construction projects around 1500 m elevation and the presence of military camps, temples and tourism-related activities at the top of the hill could be responsible for the existence of many dung beetle species. Musthafa and Abdullah [61] recorded maximum dung beetles in the same way from the high human-influenced area in a recent study. Dung beetle populations are used to determine the land use pattern and effects on biodiversity by human interactions [62].…”