o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

CHEY VUN KHEN (2007)
STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA &
THREAT ASSESSMENT OF PLANT SPECIES IN MALAYSIA
RESEARCH ON THE DIVERSITY OF MOTHS AND
BUTTERFLIES IN MALAYSIA AND THEIR USE AS
BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS
Chey Vun Khen
ABSTRACT
The two geographical regions of Malaysia namely the Malay Peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak
in Borneo, share a large proportion of their biodiversity including many moth and butterfly
species. There are about 4,000 species of larger moths and 936 species of butterflies in Borneo.
The Malay Peninsula has 1,031 species of butterflies, about 88 % of which are also found in
Borneo. Their suitability as indicators of biodiversity is discussed: moths and butterflies are
better known taxonomically in Malaysia, they respond rapidly to habitat change, their
caterpillars being mainly phytophagous reflect the vegetation type being sampled, and moths
especially are more speciose and easily sampled using a light-trap, which facilitates data
analysis. The main biodiversity indices used are explained: for moth samples, Williams Alpha
based on the log series is most appropriate, and for butterflies, which normally have smaller
samples, non-parametric indices–e.g., the Shannon and Simpson indices – are commonly used.
Research work on the diversity of moths and butterflies in Malaysia is also reviewed.
INTRODUCTION
Malaysia comprises two regions in Sundaland separated by the South China Sea, namely the
Malay Peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak in the island of Borneo. Despite the geographical
separation, the two regions share a large proportion of their biodiversity, including many
species of moths and butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera), as they were joined by land when sea
levels were lower in the last ice age.
Butterflies are the most glamorous insects, and they have been better studied worldwide
compared to all other insect groups. In the Malay Peninsula, there are 1,031 species, with 21
endemics (Corbet & Pendlebury 1992), while the number of species is lower in the island of
Borneo (936) but with a much higher number of endemics (94) (Ohtsuka 1996). About 88 %
of the species in the Malay Peninsula are also found in Borneo. However, most of them occur
as different subspecies in the two different regions. Half of the species are distributed in the
Forest Research Centre (Sepilok), Sabah Forestry Department, P.O. Box 1407, 90715 Sandakan, Sabah. Malaysia.
Fax: 089-531068. Email: VunKhen.Chey@sabah.gov.my
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