Arthropod Diversity on Forest Stands in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Arthropods have an important role in the forest ecosystem. Arthropods play a role in food webs as herbivores, carnivores, and detritivores. This study aims to analyze the diversity and abundance of arthropods in different forest stands, namely Pelawan (Tristaniopsis merguensis), Cajuput (Melaleuca cajuputi), and Sungkai (Peronema canescens). The research was carried out in the Forest Research Station of Kemampo belonging to the Environment and Forestry Research and Development Institute of Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia; through an observation approach with sweep nets, then taken to the laboratory for selection and identification. Research results showed that the levels of arthropod diversity in Pelawan, Cajuput, and Sungkai were relatively low. Those arthropods belong to 8 families with the highest number of the individual dominated by Pelawan stand, followed by Cajuput and Sungkai stands. Arthropod families consisted of Formicidae, Lycosidae, Elateridae, Scarabaeidae, Crabronidae, Chrysomelidae, Scolitidae, and Entomobryidae. The diversity index of arthropods under Pelawan, Cajuput, and Sungkai stands were 0,68; 0,31; and 0,3, respectively. The dominance index of arthropods on Cajuput stand was higher than in Pelawan, and Sungkai stands.