Comparative Study of Epifauna Communities in Protected Forest Areas and Production Forest of Pesanggrahan Beach, Malang Regency

Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang 65145, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: fatchur.rohman.fmipa@um.ac.id

Abstract

Epifauna is one of the components of a forest that lives on the ground. This study aims to reveal and compare epifauna communities in protected forest areas and production forests of Pesanggrahan Beach, Malang Regency based on the H E R' index, importance value index (IVI), litter decomposition rate and the relationship of abiotic factors to the abundance of individuals and the number of species. Determination of sampling points using the line transect method with 50 epifauna pitfall traps in each forest. The results of the study found 28 species from 21 families in protected forest areas and 26 species from 20 families in production forests. The epifauna diversity index in protected forests was 2,928 (moderate) and in production forests it was 2,223 (moderate). The evenness index in protected forests is 0.861 (high) and production forests is 0.682 (high). The richness index is 4,212 (high) and 3,880 (moderate) in production forests. INP analysis shows that the Formicidae family has the highest INP value. The average decomposition rate in protected forests is 0.043 g/day, while in production forests it is 0.025 g/day. The results of the abiotic factor multiple linear regression test show that abiotic factors affect the existence of epifauna