Mammals diversity in Indonesian oil palm plantation: identifying its functional role in the agroecosystem

Abstract

The conventional profile of oil palm plantations that are not environmentally friendly, high-cost, and non-ecologically oriented, are not in line with sustainable development goals. There is a broad understanding of the role of mammalian species in the oil palm plantation landscape to create healthy oil palm plantations. To understand the functional role of these mammals, we identified various research over the last 10 years in Indonesia on mammals found in oil palm plantation landscapes through a systematic literature review approach. We use the Google Scholar search engine by entering search keywords and screening and analyzing the publications obtained. In the final stage, we analyze the possible use of mammals for production and ecological purposes. We found an increase in oil palm research in Indonesia over the last decade. Most of the research was conducted in large oil palm plantations, and the types of mammals found included large and small mammals, with the research focus on looking at the diversity and abundance of mammalian species, biodiversity loss and gain, as well as feeding guilds or tropic levels of mammalian species. The abundance of potential populations as pests is also a concern in several studies. Mammals in the context of contributing to production and ecology have a broad spectrum of roles, including various guild and tropic levels in the food chain, balancing ecosystems, pollinators, pest control, and other essential functions. We also focus on the gaps in research and management activities to achieve a healthy agroecosystem. The result can be served as a guide for future research priorities, conservation strategy, and management planning toward healthy oil plantations.