Abstract:
utterfly has been identified as important ecological indicator organisms for assessing
biodiversity and for monitoring ecosystem responses to environment. This study was
conducted to determine the abundance and diversity of butterfly communities and to
investigate the interaction between the butterfly species with microhabitats preference
in Sungai Tersat, Hulu Terengganu. It was carried out within four months, from
August until November 2006. Three stations were selected and butterflies were
captured randomly by using insect net. A total of 110 butterflies comprising of 40
species from five families were recorded. The most dominant family with the highest
number of individuals was Pieridae (53 individuals). However, Nymphalidae
contributed the highest number of species (20 species) at all stations. Leptosia nina
was the most dominant species collected (25.45%), followed by Eurema lacteola
(10.91%) and Ypthima baldus (8.18%). Leptosia nina was mostly occurred in riparian
area and they were feeble in flight. Riparian area was microhabitat preferred by most
of the butterflies. There was strongly significant correlation between relative humidity
to the assemblage of this community. The capture rate varied within sampling months
due to climate and seasonal changes.
