Comparison Of Termite Assemblages Along A Landus1E Gradient On Peat Areas In Sarawak, Malaysia

In this study we assessed the species density and relative abundance of termites in peat land in Sarawak, Malaysia. Termites were sampled in near-natural peat swamp forest, logged-over peat swamp forest, young oil palm plantation and a cleared and burned site. Species density and relative abundance were calculated for each site. Both species density and relative abundance differed significantly between sites. Near-natural peat swamp forest had the highest termite density, followed by logged-over peat swamp forest, young oil palm plantation and the cleared site. In contrast, the relative abundance of termites was highest in the young oil palm plantation due to the omnipresent genus Schedorhinotermes. Most of the species found in the cleared site and young oil palm plantation did not occur at the other sites. We conclude that ongoing forest degradation and conversion in tropical peat land result in shifting termite assemblages and declining species density. Species that originally occur at low densities in peat swamp forests are typically lost as a result of peat swamp forest conversion.Original Abstract: Dalam kajian ini, kami menilai ketumpatan spesies serta kelimpahan relatif anai-anai di tanah gambut Sarawak, Malaysia. Anai-anai disampel di hutan paya gambut yang hampir asli, hutan paya gambut sudah kerja, ladang kelapa sawit muda dan sebuah tapak yang telah dibersihkan dan dibakar. Ketumpatan spesies serta kelimpahan relatif dikira untuk setiap tapak. Terdapat perbezaan signifikan dalam ketumpatan spesies serta kelimpahan relatif antara keempat-empat tapak yang dikaji. Hutan paya gambut yang hampir asli mempunyai ketumpatan anai-anai yang paling tinggi diikuti oleh hutan paya gambut sudah kerja, ladang kelapa sawit muda dan tapak yang telah dibersihkan. Sebaliknya, kelimpahan relatif anai-anai paling tinggi di ladang kelapa sawit muda kerana genus Schedorhinotermes yang wujud secara meluas di situ. Kebanyakan spesies di tapak yang dibersihkan serta ladang kelapa sawit muda tidak dijumpai di tapak lain. Kami merumuskan bahawa degradasi dan perubahan hutan di tanah gambut tropika mengakibatkan peralihan himpunan anai-anai dan pengurangan ketumpatan spesies. Spesies yang asalnya berketumpatan rendah di hutan paya gambut kini tidak lagi wujud akibat perubahan hutan paya gambut.