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Abstract

Biotic homogenization can negatively impact ecosystem function and stability, reducing species diversity and interac-tions. Although deforestation has declined in Gunung Leuser National Park since 2011, associated pressures still operate at various places within the park, possibly leading to biotic homogenization. This study looked into the differences in butterfly diversity under three habitat types to understand their responses to various levels of disturbance, including en-vironmental factors. This research was carried out in September 2023 at the forest edge of the Bukit Mas Village, North Sumatra. We used the Point Count method; observations were made twice in the morning (08.00–12.00 h) and in the afternoon (13.00–17.00 h), within a 5 m radius—the distance between one point and another was 100 m. Data on species richness and abundance were analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener, dominance, and evenness indices. Furthermore, non--metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis determined the distribution and composition of butterfly communities per habitat. We recorded 2,536 individuals from 89 species and 6 families. Nymphalidae was the most dominant family, with 40 species and 1,192 individuals (44.90%). NMDS analysis suggested characteristics of a different habitat type with certain overlapping points. Biotic homogenization may be due to Drupadia theda, a forest specialist common to all habitat types, indicating its tolerance to disturbances. However, the possibility of biotic homogenization needs to be studied further.

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