Diversity and potential role of mammals in oil palm agroecosystem (case study in PT Permata Sawit Mandiri, West Kalimantan)

Abstract

The palm oil industry as the mainstay sector is still accused of being unsustainable due to the high use of chemicals as fertilizer and pest control. These inefficiencies can cause environmental damage and increase production costs. Based on these problems, it is necessary to optimize the role of biodiversity to increase oil palm productivity. This study aims to identify the diversity of mammals in several types of land cover and to analyze the role of mammals in the oil palm agroecosystem. This research was carried out on 6 types of land cover at PT Permata Sawit Mandiri, West Kalimantan in January–April 2020. Diversity data was obtained using a combination of line transects and observation points, while role data was obtained through literature study. The transect method used measuring 100 × 1000 meters is one for each type of land cover. The observations were made in the morning (06.00-08.00) and afternoon (15.30-17.30) for three repetitions each time. The results showed that there were 60 individuals from 11 species belonging to 6 families. The highest number of encounters and species variation was found in HG land cover. Mammals are one of the taxa that play an important role in maintaining ecological processes. Based on the list of mammal species in the study area, five of these species have potential roles for the oil palm agorecosystem. These roles as seed dispersers include Callosciurus notatus; Callosciurus prevostii; and Macaca fascicularis, as well as pest controllers Prionailurus bengalensis and Helarctos malayanus. The HG land cover type has a complete composisition of the roles of mammals, while in the SS land cover, no mammal species play a role in the oil palm agroecosystem.