Epifaunal Insects as Bioindicators of Soil Contamination in Post-Gold Mining Landscapes: A Case Study from Gunung Botak, Maluku, Indonesia

Muhammad Rijal (Universitas Islam Negeri A.M. Sangadji Ambon, Ambon, Indonesia)
Ain Nadirah Binti Romainor (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak)
Salma Samputri (Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia)
Abu Bakar Lessy (Universitas Muhammadiyah Maluku, Ambon, Indonesia)

Indonesian Journal of Ecology and Conservation
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation

Gold mining can leave soils contaminated by heavy metals and alter soil biological communities. This study evaluated epifaunal insects as assemblage-level bioindicators of soil contamination in Gunung Botak, Maluku, Indonesia. Twenty sampling points were distributed across high, medium, low, and reference zones. Insects were collected using pitfall traps and Berlese-Tullgren funnels, while pH, moisture, organic matter, Pb, Cd, and Hg were analyzed using standard soil procedures and ICP-MS. Pb, Cd, and Hg were highest in the high-contamination zone. Total insect abundance was also highest in this zone (405 individuals), mainly due to dominant tolerant taxa. However, Shannon-Wiener diversity (2.01), Simpson index (0.81), and evenness (0.68) were lowest, indicating community homogenization. RDA showed that heavy metals were associated with community shifts, while more neutral pH and higher organic matter supported more diverse communities. Epifaunal insects are useful bioindicators when interpreted through diversity, dominance, and community composition rather than abundance alone.