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Science, Marine and Environment

DIVERSITY OF NON-VOLANT SMALL MAMMALS IN SEKAYU RECREATIONAL
FOREST, TERENGGANU

Wan Suhailah Ainaa Wan Idris , Nur Juliani Shafie
1*
1
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030
1
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author: nur.shafie@umt.edu.my

Non-volant small mammals are the non-flying mammals that weigh less than 5 kg. The
non-volant small mammals act as prey, seed disperser and also considered as pests.
Sekayu Recreational Forest which is a dipterocarp forest is suitable for the non-volant
STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021 small mammals in Sekayu Recreational Forest. A total of 100 cage traps have been STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021
small mammals to inhabit since it can provide them with shelter, food and also as
breeding ground. This study focuses on species abundance and diversity of non-volant

v
placed randomly in open forest, surrounding the chalet and also along the river in order
to capture the species of non-volant small mammals. The species abundance of non-
volant small mammals was recorded and diversity of non-volant small mammals was
calculated by using PAST Software. Fourty five individuals were recorded from two
different orders (Rodentia and Scandentia) and from three families (Muridae, Sciuridae
and Tupaiidae) which comprised of eight species (Maxoys rajah, Maxomys whiteheadi,
Rattus rattus, Rattus tiomanicus, Sundamys muelleri, Callosciurus notatus,
Sundasciurus tenuis and Tupaia glis). Family Muridae and family Tupaiidae were the
most abundant species in this area. The study shows that Sekayu Recreational Forest
has high species diversity (Simpson index: 0.6923, Shannon index: 1.5070, Margalef
index: 1.8390, Menhinick index: 1.1930, Evenness: 0.5639, Equitability: 0.7245). It is
recommended to conduct further studies in Sekayu Recreational Forest by using
different types of baits and extend the sampling period in order to get more species of
non-volant small mammals.

Keyword: Dipterocarp, diversity, non-volant small mammals, Sekayu Recreational
Forest, species abundance.

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