Journal of Tropical Biodiversity

Composition and Diversity of Avifauna Species in the Angke-Kapuk Protected Forest Area, North Jakarta

Khoe Susanto Kusumahadi — 2024-08-28

Birds are a good indicator for identifying areas rich in biodiversity, including environmental changes and problems. The reduced number of birds also indicates environmental degradation. Birds play an important role in an ecosystem in maintaining biological balance. These roles include pollinating plants, controlling insect populations and playing a role in the dispersal of plant seeds. In fact, several species of birds are considered key species where their presence in an ecosystem can indirectly influence the existence of other species. Birds need a habitat that acts as a source of food, a place to socialize, reproduce, take shelter, rest and nest. The mangrove area in the Angke-Kapuk Muara Angke Protected Forest is an important bird area or Import Bird Area. The method used is the Visual Encounter Survey (VES). Each species of avifauna found at the observation location was recorded and counted. Bird watching is carried out in the morning at 06.30 – 09.30 WIB. Observations are carried out using a transect route, that is, the observer will walk along the existing observation route. This research will be carried out in the Pantai Indah Kapuk area, namely in the Angke-Kapuk Muara Angke Protected Forest, North Jakarta. This research was conducted in November 2023. This research aims to determine the species composition and diversity of avifauna species at Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta. Based on the results of research conducted at 11 locations in the Pantai Indah Kapuk area, it was found that there were 62 species of birds from 31 families. The highest number of bird species was found in plot 1, namely 44 species belonging to 24 families and plot 9, namely 36 species belonging to 23 families.

Potential of Flavonoid Compounds from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa as Anticholesterol: An In Silico Study

Lamtiur Lumbantoruan — 2024-08-28

Indonesia's biodiversity ranks second largest in the world. This vast potential, if managed well, can be utilized as raw materials for medicines. Currently, 96% of drug raw materials in Indonesia are still imported, making medicines expensive. Therefore, efforts are needed to achieve self-sufficiency in drug raw materials, including researching Indonesian plants with potential as hypercholesterolemia drugs to be used as native raw materials. This study aims to determine the potential of flavonoid compounds in Rhodomyrtus tomentosa fruit as an alternative hypercholesterolemia drug. Six flavonoids were identified: myricetin, quercetin, quercetin 7,4'-diglucoside, dihydromyricetin, kaempferol, and vitexin in R. tomentosa (Karamunting) fruit. The method used was an in silico study. In silico studies are used to screen compounds based on their mechanism of action against target proteins. In this study, myricetin, quercetin, dihydromyricetin, kaempferol, quercetin 7,4'-diglucoside, and vitexin were subjected to molecular docking using Autodock Vina software to determine the affinity and interaction of these six compounds with the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, which acts as an intermediary in the mevalonate pathway for cholesterol metabolism. Simvastatin, a drug used for hypercholesterolemia treatment, was used as a comparison. The molecular docking results showed that the binding energy values for myricetin, quercetin, dihydromyricetin, kaempferol, quercetin 7,4'-diglucoside, and vitexin were -10.0, -9.4, -9.6, -9.2, -11.4, and -9.9 kcal/mol, respectively. These six flavonoid derivatives from Karamunting fruit have better inhibition scores compared to simvastatin, indicating that these flavonoid derivatives can inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis better than simvastatin and have potential as anticholesterol drugs.

Water Quality Monitoring using ONLIMO Automatic Water Monitoring Device in Water Pollution Monitoring Efforts

Nurlaila Nurlaila — 2024-08-28

Water quality is one of the key indicators of environmental health that impacts aquatic life and human health. Water quality monitoring is important to measure the impact of human activities and ensure water meets quality standards. Conventional methods of manual water sampling face challenges such as distance, safety risks, and long analysis times, making it less effective for rapid monitoring to address environmental pollution. Following Law No. 32 of 2009, the government requires environmental information for environmental management policies. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry encourages using ONLIMO (online monitoring) technology for automated monitoring, with data published through the MoEF's ONLIMO website. This study was conducted to introduce and analyze the efficiency of ONLIMO technology in water pollution control so that policies and actions can be taken quickly and appropriately. Field verification shows physical factors such as indicators of garbage around the Cipinang River water flow, visible murky watercolor, pungent smelling water, dense residential settlements around the Cipinang River water flow, and the number of industries built in the Cipinang River flow indicate that the Cipinang watershed water quality recorded through ONLIMO water quality monitoring sensors and field verification shows a state of mildly polluted conditions. This factor suggests that the ONLIMO KLHK automatic monitoring tool has the effectiveness and efficiency of water quality monitoring because the data entered into the ONLIMO KLHK database through data loggers and field conditions directly show data similarities. Therefore, the ONLIMO KLHK automatic monitoring tool can be an effective early warning system and allows increased efficiency in water pollution control because the data obtained is real-time and by the original water quality conditions at the location.

Habitat and Nest Characteristics of Javan Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi Stresemann 1924) in Gunung Salak 1 Resort Area of Gunung Halimun Salak National Park

Febryan Febryan — 2024-08-28

The Javan Hawk-eagle Nisaetus bartelsi is a protected bird of prey endemic to Java Island and is one of Indonesia's mascot fauna. The survival of this species in nature is threatened, among others due to habitat degradation, and land use change around its habitat. This study was conducted to analyze the presence and characteristics of nests and the habitat around Javan eagle nests in the Gunung Salak 1 Resort area within the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park. The research was conducted using the Direct Observation method, with parameters namely characteristics of nest trees, and nests, as well as biotic and abiotic environments around Javan eagle nests. The results found the presence of active Javan eagle nests in the Hameurang Valley block in the Sintok area, and the Curug Cibadak block in the Loji area. The nest in Sintok was found in a beunying tree (Ficus fistulosa) in a natural forest, at 1,097 m above sea level. Nests in Loji were found in rasamala (Altingia excelsa) trees in the natural forest, at 1,347 m asl. The nest is located at the height of 15-22 m from the ground, round in shape, the nest material is epiphytic plants, branches of puspa (Schima wallichii), rasamala (Altingia excelsa), and manii (Maesopsis eminii). The plant around the nest with the highest INP in Sintok is the manii tree (Maeopsis emini), while in Loji it is the seuhang tree (Ficus grossulariodes).

The Species Diversity of Herpetofauna in The Border Area of Gunung Tilu Natural Reserve and Pusat Penelitian (PPTK), Gambung, Mekarsari Village, Ciwidey, West Java

Ahmad Ramadhan Nasution — 2024-08-28

The Tea and Quinine Research Center (PPTK), Gambung is located in Mekarsari Village, Pasir Jambu, District, Bandung, West Java. This location borders the Gunung Tilu Nature Reserve in West Java. The lack of information about herpetofauna in this area prompted this research. The study was conducted using the Visual Encounter System (VES) method on three different transects with distinct characteristics: the Situ Kubang transect, which is an area along the riverbank; the Abikarna transect, which is a forest transect along a small stream; and the Kebun transect around the Tea and Coffee Plantations. Data collection was carried out for three days, by recording: encounters of herpetofauna species, as well as their habitat components, including weather, temperature, air humidity, air pH and canopy cover. The results revealed 15 species from 9 families, including 5 amphibian families and 4 reptile families. The species diversity index (H’) of herpetofauna across the three transects was categorized as moderate. The Kebun transect had the highest Diversity Index (H’) value of 1.90, followed by the Situ Kubang transect with 1.78, and the Abikarna transect with H’ = 1.23. The herpetofauna species with the highest number of encounter was Chalcorana chalconota with 25 individuals, while other species had low number encounter, with fewer than 3 individuals per species, including Bronchocela jubata, Takydromus sexlineatus, Pseudocalotes tympanistriga, Gongylosoma baliodeirus, Limnonectes kuhlii, Fejervarya limnocharis, Polypedates leucomystax, Rhacophorus margaritifer, and Microhyla achatina. The species Bronchocela jubata, Leptobrachium hasseltii, and Chalcorana chalconota were found on all research transects.