Biodiversity of Soil Macrofauna in Jelutong (<i>Dyera lowii</i> Hook.F) based Agroforestry System on Peatlands

Abstract

Soil macrofauna can be an indicator of changes to the ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the biodiversity of soil macrofauna in jelutong-based agroforestry on peatlands. Line transect sampling was used, eight transects and 32 plots were established. The sample was collected using the hand sorting technique. Species diversity and species evenness were determined using Shannon-Wiener index, while species richness with Margalef index. This study found 2179 individuals of soil macrofauna that belong to six classes, nine orders, and 13 families. The Formicidae 1 family dominated the area (951 individuals), while Lumbricidae had the least number (13 individuals). This study indicates that the species diversity of soil macrofauna in the jelutong-based agroforestry on peatlands is moderate (H' = 1.508) with moderate species evenness (E = 0.588) and very high species richness (DMg = 281.788). It implies the capacity of the system in providing suitable habitat for macrofauna, and that it can be a potential alternative for ecological restoration in peatlands.

The presence of Myopopone castanea Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a predator in oil palm plantations

“…Lichtenstein et al [16] explained that the presence of predators and the abundance of predators are influenced by the presence of prey and the behavior of the prey. The results of a study by Johari et al [17] which explored the diversity of ant species in peatlands, also did not find M. castanea ants in oil palm plantations on the peatlands they explored, as well as the results of research by Yanarita et al [18] which only found obtained 2 types of ant species, namely Solenopsis invicta and Monomorium minimum in the peatland of the Jelutong forest, Central Kalimantan. Peatland often has special characteristics such as high acidity and low water content.…”