Microhabitat Preferences of Metaphrynella sundana in Sarawak.

Microhabitat preferences of Metaphrynella sundana in Sarawak is a study of habitat structural attributes of this species in Sarawak, Malaysia. M. sundana, also called the Bornean tree-hole frog, is a small frog classified in the family of Microhylidae with stocky bodies ranging between 19-22.5 mm. No information on the microhabitat preferences of this species was studied before. The microhabitat study of M. sundana is important to identify the special habitat requirements of this particular species. Data collection were obtained from random points located in the study sites using Visual Encounter Survey (VES) collection method. Microhabitat parameter data chosen was analysed using Non-muldimensional Scalling (NMDS) analysis in SPSS software based on their substrate, vertical position, horizontal position, and vegetation. Descriptive analysis revealed 12 total individuals were captured with their microhabitat information. NMDS was used to classify the total individuals into two ecological groups which are 1) individual found in tree-hole and 2) individual found on shrub. NMDS analysis showed tree hole and shrub were the main microhabitat that M. sundana occupy and suggested of the species as being habitat specialist. Microhabitat study of M. sundana gives significant in understanding their reproductive ecology and survival of their genes for conservation purpose