Data set and analytic codes supporting "Direct observation to assess the effects of habitat structure and complexity on resource-use behaviour of butterflies: a study case in smallholding oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia"

This deposit contains data set and analytic codes (with a meta data) supporting "Direct observation to assess the effects of habitat structure and complexity on resource-use behaviour of butterflies: a study case in smallholding oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia". We investigated how habitat structure and complexity within smallholding oil palm plantations affected resource-use behaviours of two common butterfly species in the study areas (oil palm plantations in Banting, Selangor, Malaysia): Leptosia nina (Pieridae) and Ypthima spp. (Nymphalidae). Using direct-observation methods we developed, we followed seven and nine individuals of each species respectively, for three minutes in smallholder-owned immature monoculture and polyculture oil palm, and mature monoculture oil palm plantations. We recorded distance travelled by each individual from both straight line and the sums of distances between all perching points, and the position and characteristics of each perch location, where the individual landed. We compared our observations to control runs, generated by pairing observed distances travelled, but selecting the direction for each movement at random. By comparing the distance travelled and characteristics of locations used by butterflies and paired control points across habitats, we assessed how individuals in the two species used the local environment and whether this differed with habitat structure and complexity. Funding and research permission: Jardine Foundation, the Cambridge Trust, and Tim Whitmore Fund funded MFH, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded JS (USN: 304338625), and BBSRC (BB/T012366/1) funded the establishment of the plots and surveys of environmental parameters. Research permission was granted by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department for MFH (Ref: EPU 40/200/19/3727) and JS (Ref: MEA 40/200/19/3705).