Variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in oil palm agroecosystems at PT BSM South Sumatra

Abstract

Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and controlling pests/chemical diseases is one of the prerequisites for the realization of sustainable oil palm plantation management. In line with that, the paradigm of green economic development requires optimizing the utilization of biodiversity in various aspects of managing oil palm plantations in Indonesia. Therefore, research is needed that can describe the variation and role of biodiversity (one of which is butterfly taxa) in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. This study aims to identify variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. Observation of butterfly species diversity was carried out on seven types of oil palm plantation land cover at PT BSM. The method used is pollard transect (2 km with a width of 10 m) and trapping. The role of various types of butterflies is carried out through a literature search. The results showed that there were 163 individuals from 30 species and consisted of 4 families namely Papilionidae, Pieridae and Lycaenidae. The highest diversity and richness index values were found in smallholder plantations 1 (H′=2.42) and (Dmg=4.01), while the lowest were found in young oil palm areas (H′=0.87) and (Dmg=0. 99). The highest evenness index value was found in shrubs (E=1) while the lowest was in young oil palm land cover (E=0.54). Butterfly species that have potential as environmental bioindicators are Tanaecia pelea, Neptis hylas, Cupha erymantis, Neptis ida, Danaus affinis, Junonia atlites, Leptosia nina, Catopsilia pyranthe, Rapala iarbus, Papilio memnon, Losaria coon, Papilio polytes, Spindiasis lohita and Eurema hecabe. While the pollinators are Ypthima baldus, Catopsilia pyranthe, Hypolimnas bolina, Papilio polytes, and Neptis hylas.