Diversity of termite in oil palm plantation, FIMA Bunga Tanjong, Kuala Balah, Kelantan

The area of oil palm is rich fauna biodiversity. However, there is still a lack of research on oil palm plantation in Malaysia. Thus, in FIMA Bunga Tanjong, Kuala Balah, Kelantan, this study was conducted to assess the diversity of termite. The objective of this study is to determine the species richness oftermite at FIMA Bunga Tanjong and to identify the relative abundance of termites at FIMA Bunga Tanjong. Standardized line transect method with 100 m x 2 m used to collect termite samples and divided into 20 sections. Each section has a size of 5 mx 2 m. Termites were collected within 30 minutes by two people. Termites were manually collected using forceps and kept in 80% ethanol. The study was carried out between June and August 2019. In this research, a total of 119 hits comprising 14 species of termites from two families (Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae) and five sub-families (Coptotermitinae, Termitinae, Rhinotermitinae, Macrotermitinae and Nasutitermitinae), were obtained. The diversity of termite in the area is affected by ecological factors such as the soil pH, soil temperature, soil humidity, leaf litter, and canopy cover. Tanjong FIMA Bunga has a high diversity of termite which is H'=2.639. The Shannon Wiener Index obtained that amount with complete evenness which is 0.747. Globitermes sulphureus is the dominant termite species. The soil and wood interface-feeder has a higher diversity of termites. The builders of an epigeal mound are more diverse in the study. In short, there is high diversity of termites in FIMA Bunga Tanjong. Therefore, more studies and research are required to determine the species riches and relative abundance of termites in oil palm plantations in order to achieve termite biodiversity in oil palm plantations.