Rika Ulandari, Jusmaldi Jusmaldi, Dijan Sunar Rukmi

KEANEKARAGAMAN DAN KELIMPAHAN MAMALIA KECIL NON-VOLANT DI PERKEBUNAN KELAPA SAWIT DESA SETABU PULAU SEBATIK, KALIMANTAN UTARA

Introduction

Keanekaragaman dan kelimpahan mamalia kecil non-volant di perkebunan kelapa sawit desa setabu pulau sebatik, kalimantan utara. Penelitian ini mengkaji keanekaragaman dan kelimpahan mamalia kecil non-volant di perkebunan kelapa sawit Desa Setabu, Pulau Sebatik, Kalimantan Utara, menemukan 7 jenis.

Abstract

Mamalia kecil mempunyai peran yang sangat penting di dalam ekosistem hutan yaitu sebagai penyerbuk, pemencar biji, dan sebagai agen dalam regenerasi hutan, sehingga keberadaannya sangat penting untuk dilestarikan. Adanya alih fungsi penggunaan lahan dikhawatirkan dapat mempengaruhi keberadaan mamalia kecil, sehingga penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman dan kelimpahan mamalia kecil non-volant di perkebunan kelapa sawit Desa Setabu Pulau Sebatik, Kalimantan Utara. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada bulan Maret hingga April 2023. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan metode perangkap (Trapping), dengan memasang 40 buah perangkap selama 30 hari pengamatan, Umpan yang digunakan adalah nanas, pisang, kelapa bakar, dan ikan asin. Data yang diperoleh dianalisa secara kuantitatif dan deskriptif. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian ditemukan 7 jenis mamalia kecil yang termasuk ke dalam ordo Rodentia (famili Sciuridae dan Muridae), dengan total tangkapan sebanyak 18 individu. Jenis yang tertangkap yaitu: Callosciurus prevostii, Callosciurus notatus, Chiropodomys major, Rattus tanezumi, Rattus argentiventer, Rattus tiomanicus, dan Sundasciurus lowii. Hasil analisa menunjukkan bahwa keanekaragaman di wilayah ini termasuk ke dalam kategori sedang, dengan kelimpahan individu tiap jenis tersebar merata (sama), serta tidak ada jenis yang dominan.

Review

This manuscript addresses a highly pertinent ecological issue concerning the impact of land-use change, specifically the conversion to oil palm plantations, on small mammal communities. The abstract clearly articulates the critical roles of small mammals in ecosystem functions, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and forest regeneration, underscoring the necessity of their conservation. Investigating the diversity and abundance of non-volant small mammals in the oil palm plantations of Setabu Village, Sebatik Island, North Kalimantan, the study offers valuable insights into the resilience and composition of these faunal groups in modified landscapes. This research is particularly timely given the widespread expansion of oil palm agriculture across Southeast Asia and its well-documented ecological consequences. The methodology employed, utilizing 40 traps over a 30-day observation period from March to April 2023, appears appropriate for assessing small mammal populations. The use of diverse bait types (pineapple, banana, roasted coconut, and salted fish) is commendable, as it likely increases the trapping efficiency for a broader range of species. The study successfully identified 7 species of small mammals, all belonging to the order Rodentia (families Sciuridae and Muridae), with a total catch of 18 individuals. The specific species listed—*Callosciurus prevostii, Callosciurus notatus, Chiropodomys major, Rattus tanezumi, Rattus argentiventer, Rattus tiomanicus*, and *Sundasciurus lowii*—provide concrete data on the species capable of inhabiting these modified environments. The quantitative and descriptive analysis indicating moderate diversity and an even distribution of individuals without any dominant species offers key findings for understanding community structure in this habitat. Overall, this study makes a solid contribution to our understanding of small mammal ecology in human-modified landscapes. The findings of moderate diversity and uniform abundance, while specific to this particular oil palm plantation, provide a baseline for future comparative studies and monitoring efforts. For a full manuscript, it would be beneficial to expand on the ecological implications of these findings, perhaps by comparing them with baseline data from undisturbed forests or plantations of different ages, and to discuss the potential for certain species to act as pests or indicators of environmental health. Nonetheless, the abstract presents a well-executed study with clear objectives, sound methodology, and interpretable results, highlighting the importance of continued biodiversity assessments in rapidly transforming ecosystems.

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