Rapid biodiversity assessment (RBA): Ants as a model

Julia Kunai George (2004) Rapid biodiversity assessment (RBA): Ants as a model. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

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Abstract

This study on the rapid biodiversity assessment (RBA) using ant as model was carried out over a period of eight months between December 2000 to July 2001. The study site is at Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR) in Lahad Datu, Sabah. Three different habitat types (untagged lowland dipterocarp rainforest, logged lowland dipterocarp rainforest (1960's to 1980's) and oil palm plantation (10 years after planting) were compared to see the diversity of ants. There were three main aims for this study: (1) to evaluate the six sampling methods used and to recommend the best method or combination of methods in rapid biodiversity assessment using ants. (2) to relate the status of biodiversity of the ant fauna to different degrees of forest disturbance. (3) to produce a reference collection of ants from TWR. Six different methods were used: (1) baited pitfall trapping along a 1 00m transect (2) manual collecting along a 1 00m transect (3) pitfall trapping in a 50m X 50m quadrat (4) manual collecting in a 50m X 50m plot (5) Winkler's bag (6) Berlese funnel. For the whole study, there were 2 plots in each forest site. The parameters studied were the ant species richness, diversity, evenness and similarity. Test of completeness of sampling methods for collecting ants was done by using four different kinds of species richness estimator (ICE, Chao2, Jack1 and MMMean). For the whole sampling, the manual transect method captured the highest number of species (179 species) and the least effort needed. The test of species richness estimator also showed the similar results. Nevertheless, combination of methods will ensure a comparatively complete representation of the ant fauna. Combination of manual transect and Winkler was the best in unlogged (142 species) and logged (165 species) forest, whereas in plantation combination of pitfall transect and Winkler was the best (101 species). The number of species captured in logged forest recorded the highest value (199 species) compared to unlogged forest (186 species) and plantation (135 species) but there was no significant difference between logged and unlogged forest (P>0. 05). The value of Shannon-Weiner index showed that the untagged forest is most diverse (H'= 1. 864) compared to the logged forest and oil palm habitat. Furthermore, the ant abundance in untagged forest was more evenly distributed (E=0.357) than in logged forest and plantation. There was a high overlap and similarity of ant fauna in logged and untagged forest (Cs=0. 717), which indicated that selectively logged forests can support an assemblage of species similar to that found in undisturbed forests.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Keyword:	Rapid Biodiversity Assessment, Semut, Ants, Sabah, Borneo, Hutan Dipterokarp, Dipterocarp Forest, Hutan dibalak, Logged Forest
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology > QL1-991 Zoology > QL360-599.82 Invertebrates > QL461-599.82 Insects
Department:	SCHOOL > School of Science and Technology
Depositing User:	DG MASNIAH AHMAD -
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2025 15:30
Last Modified:	11 Jun 2025 15:30
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/44083

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