THE DIVERSITY OF MOTH FAUNA (LEPIDOPTERA: HETEROCERA) ACCORDING TO ALTITUDES OF TAMAN NEGARA JOHOR, GUNUNG LEDANG

Abstract

A total of 1113 individuals of moths representing 167 species in
118 genera under 17 families have been recorded for Johore
National Park, Gunung Ledang, based on five sampling
occasions conducted on 28 May – 2 June 2014 (P1), 25 – 30
June 2014 (P2), 20 – 25 July 2014 (P3), 17 – 22 August 2014
(P4) and 17 – 22 September 2014 (P5). Samplings had been
done at three locations based on different altitudes i.e. location
L1 (1100 m), L2 (700 m) and L3 (310 m). The main objective of
this research is to provide a preliminary inventory and faunistic
aspect of moth in Gunung Ledang. At every sampling location
L1, L2 and L3, passive sampling was conducted using light traps
of 160 watt mercury vapour light. Samplings were conducted at
1900 to 2300 hours during a dark moon phase. The Margalef’s
Species Richness Index (R’) according to the sampling month
shows the highest species richness was in P5 (R’ = 12.55) and
the lowest at P2 (R’ = 8.28). The R’ value based on altitude 

shows that the highest was at L1 (R’ = 15.67) and the lowest was
at L2 (R’ = 11.50). Analysis of the Shannon Diversity Index (H’)
and Evenness Index (E’) based on sampling month shows that
the highest H’ was at P5 (H’ = 3.73) and the lowest at P2 (H’ =
3.02) The highest value of E’ was recorded at P5 (E’ = 0.67) and
the lowest at P2 (E’ = 0.41).The highest H’ value following
altitude was at L1 (H’ = 3.67) and the lowest was at L2 (H’ =
3.47), whereas the highest E’ value was recorded at L3 (E’ =
0.54) and the lowest at L1 (E’ = 0.38). As a whole, the plotted
species accumulation curve plotted shows that the curve does not
reach the asymptote meaning that further sampling must be done
to reach the asymptote. Lyssa zampa (Butler) appeared as the
most common species spatially (found in every altitudes) and
temporally (found in 12 out of 15 subsamplings). The most
abundance species in Gunung Ledang was Pogonopygia
nigralbata Warren with total of 131 individuals recorded,
whereas the totals of 78 species have been identified as rare
species. The highest percentage of overlapping species following
sampling month is between P3 and P4 (75%), whereas following
altitude is between L2 and L3 (100%).