Fine-Scale Habitat Preferences of Reptiles at Kubah National Park, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Differences in resource use is thought to be an important causal reason to explain why different species of reptiles show habitat preferences and distribution. Yet, rather little is known about their preferences of habitat at a fine (microhabitat availability within a landscape) scale. Furthermore, it is inevitable that the habitat for the reptiles is threatened due to continuous deforestation and other forms of perturbation. The current study of fine-scale habitat preferences of reptiles was carried out at Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia with the aim of understanding the habitat use of reptiles. In this study, a one-kilometer line transect was established from October 2016 until February 2017, where visual encounter survey method was employed. A total of eight fine-scale habitat variables were recorded where the reptiles are found. Data were analysed with Simpson's diversity index (1 /D) to obtain the diversity of reptiles at each habitat variable. All these fine-scale habitat variables were then tested for correlation with the number of individuals observed using Pearson correlation test at 95% significance level. NMDS was also used to further identify the habitat variables preferred by reptiles. These results suggest that more reptile species prefer matured trees, places with gentle slope and low light intensity. However, they show little preference for bare soil, leaf litter and sites with high light intensity. Few species were found associated with high canopy cover, low humidity, or were on bare soil and on tree stump. Reptiles also seem to increase with the decrease of slope and vertical position