Inventory of Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. in Lae Kombih Forest Park Area, Subulussalam

Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. is a plant that grows in the tropical rain forests of western Indonesia which is categorized as a valuable timber tree. Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn is a plant that is categorized as a valuable timber tree. Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn also known as the camphor tree, lime or Sumatran camphor, this tree can grow to a height of 60 m with an average trunk diameter of 9 m. Camphor tree is a plant species belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae family which has several advantages because its tree trunk can produce a variety of high economic value commodities such as camphor, balsamic acid, resin, essential oil, beams, poles, roof construction and boards in residential buildings. The method used for the inventory of rare plants is done by using the method of vegetation analysis, the parameters in this study were the type, number, diameter and height of the Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. tree. Vegetation analysis was carried out by plotting 13 plots, each sample plot measuring 20 m x 20 m. The sample used is a total sample using a random sampling system method, the sampling chossen by exploring the area of the Tahura Lae Kombih area where the Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn is located. The results shows that the plant species were found starting from the seedling, sapling, pole and tree levels. The most dominant species in this area is Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn that has Important Value Indeks of seedling 163%, Sapling 270%, Pole 283% and Tree 216%.

Development of 21st Century Skills-Based Stereochemistry Learning Tools to Train Students' Argumentation Skills

This study aims to describe the validity of 21st century skills-based stereochemistry learning tools to train students' argumentation skills. This research is an educational design research with reference to the design of the Wademan development research model. The research instrument used was a learning tools validation sheet consisting of several validation sheets, namely: syllabus validation sheet, lesson plan validation sheet, teaching material validation sheet, student worksheet validation sheet, and argumentation skills assessment instrument validation sheet. The research data obtained from the validation and review sheets were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. The expert's assessment of validation for each aspect of the assessment has good and very good validity criteria. These results indicate that learning tools that integrate the nature and complexity of the stereochemical structure of natural compounds from tropical rain forests can be used in the stereochemistry learning process.

Global patterns of potential future plant diversity hidden in soil seed banks

Soil seed banks represent a critical but hidden stock for potential future plant diversity on Earth. Here we compiled and analyzed a global dataset consisting of 15,698 records of species diversity and density for soil seed banks in natural plant communities worldwide to quantify their environmental determinants and global patterns. Random forest models showed that absolute latitude was an important predictor for diversity of soil seed banks. Further, climate and soil were the major determinants of seed bank diversity, while net primary productivity and soil characteristics were the main predictors of seed bank density. Moreover, global mapping revealed clear spatial patterns for soil seed banks worldwide; for instance, low densities may render currently species-rich low latitude biomes (such as tropical rain-forests) less resilient to major disturbances. Our assessment provides quantitative evidence of how environmental conditions shape the distribution of soil seed banks, which enables a more accurate prediction of the resilience and vulnerabilities of plant communities and biomes under global changes.

Using Model Analysis to Unveil Hidden Patterns in Tropical Forest Structures

When ordinating plots of tropical rain forests using stand-level structural attributes such as biomass, basal area and the number of trees in different size classes, two patterns often emerge: a gradient from poorly to highly stocked plots and high positive correlations between biomass, basal area and the number of large trees. These patterns are inherited from the demographics (growth, mortality and recruitment) and size allometry of trees and tend to obscure other patterns, such as site differences among plots, that would be more informative for inferring ecological processes. Using data from 133 rain forest plots at nine sites for which site differences are known, we aimed to filter out these patterns in forest structural attributes to unveil a hidden pattern. Using a null model framework, we generated the anticipated pattern inherited from individual allometric patterns. We then evaluated deviations between the data (observations) and predictions of the null model. Ordination of the deviations revealed site differences that were not evident in the ordination of observations. These sites differences could be related to different histories of large-scale forest disturbance. By filtering out patterns inherited from individuals, our model analysis provides more information on ecological processes.

Preferences of fruit-feeding butterfly on bait trap in Soraya Research Station, Leuser Ecosystem, Aceh, Indonesia

Butterflies are insects that live cosmopolitan. Some butterflies in tropical forests look for food sources from sucking the juice of ripe fruits that have fallen on the forest floor. Fruit-feeding butterflies can adapt in finding food sources, selecting and sucking food effectively. Fruit contains varying concentrations of sugar and nitrogen. The existence of fruit-feeding butterflies in tropical rain forests is influenced by the availability and quality of food sources as well as other supporting factors such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity. The purpose of this study was to identify fruit-feeding butterflies and their preferences for banana and pineapple baits in the Soraya Research Station Area, Leuser Ecosystem, Aceh, Indonesia from September to November 2020. Six forest trail locations were selected as trap locations. A total of 360 cylindrical gauze baited traps (80 cm high and 35 cm diameter) were installed on six trails/line transects. Baited traps were set at three different heights, that is at the understorey level (± 0-2 m), midstorey level (± 5-6 m), and overstorey level (± 10-11 m) with a distance of ± 5-10 m. The distance between location points is ± 250 m. The fruit baits used in this trap were ripe bananas and pineapples. The results obtained were 37 species with 176 individuals trapped on banana bait and 50 species with 183 individuals on pineapple bait. However, the results of the t-test using the Man-Whitney test showed no significant difference between the banana and pineapple bait used.

Abundance and diversity of edaphic mites (Arachnida, Acari) under different forest management systems in Indonesia

Ihsan M, Puspitarini RD, Afandhi A, Fernando I. 2021. Abundance and diversity of edaphic mites (Arachnida, Acari) under different forest management systems in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3685-3692. Edaphic mites play crucial roles in maintaining ecosystem services that are essential to human needs. However, the conversion of natural habitats followed by agricultural intensification may adversely affect edaphic mites. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of different management systems on edaphic mite abundance, richness, and diversity in tropical rain forests in Indonesia. There were five forest management systems, which were as follows: secondary forest, production forest (pine monoculture), and three agroforestry systems (pine + coffee, mahogany + coffee, and mahogany + new cocoyam). We established a transect containing five research plots for each forest management system. Litter and soil from each plot were collected from December to March 2021. Temperature, relative humidity, and pH of litter and soil, as well as litter thickness, were measured. We found that edaphic mite abundance, richness, and diversity in the secondary forest were similar to managed forests. However, the aforementioned variables were significantly higher in “pine” systems than in “mahogany” systems. Our analysis evidenced positive correlations between litter thickness and edaphic mite abundance, richness, and diversity. Our findings may assist in selecting the appropriate forest management systems to rationalize the conversion of secondary forests to production forests and agroforestry.

Making biodiversity work for coffee production. A case study of Gayo Arabica coffee in Indonesia

Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life encompassing the ‘existing’ variations at all level, starting from the tiny genes within a species up to a broader sense consisted of habitats within ecosystem. It is urgently needed as long as human is still exist on this earth. Therefore, its proper utilization and correct application of biodiversity bring great advantage in tangible and non-tangible benefits. Indonesia is known as the third largest biodiversity hotspots; both its flora and fauna. It has also tremendous diverse ecosystems extended from west to east; with amplitude of variation ranging from humid tropical rain forests until a very dry savannah type at the eastern part of Nusa Tenggara. Furthermore, Indonesia is also known as the fourth world highest producer of coffee; with a total production 11,49 million kg in 2016-2017. The Gayo highlands on the northern tip of Sumatra are known as the major production of arabica coffee. There, up to ten varieties of commercial arabica coffee are planted on the highlands. The origin of coffee is in Ethiopia, which is believed as the center of the commercial coffee species in this world: C. arabica and C. canephora. The objective of this paper is to review the status of coffee, esp. the arabica one from various perspectives, ranging from the biology, history of coffee, the processing of coffee (wet vs. dry methods), and how the component of natural biodiversity can be applied in order to enhance the coffee production, particularly on the Gayo highlands.

Photographic Records of Reptiles from Yala and Narathiwat Provinces Reveal Seven New Species for Thailand

We report seven new country records of species of reptiles on the basis of recent herpetological surveys between 2015 – 2019 in southern Thailand: Gekko (Ptychozoon) cicakterbang, Dasia grisea, and Sphenomorphus sungaicolus from Yala Province; Gonocephalus liogaster, Gekko (Sundagekko) browni, Oligodon signatus, and Xenochrophis maculatus from Narathiwat Province. Our recent findings bring the total number of reptiles recorded in Thailand to 452 species. Furthermore, our results suggest that further intensified herpetological research efforts and international collaborations are required to increase our knowledge on the herpetofaunal diversity in the tropical rain forests of southern Thailand near the border with peninsular Malaysia.

Establishment of Fungal Decomposition Model Based on OLS and Logistic Model

By using the OLS model, an equation for the rate of decomposing wood by a variety of fungi was established. We analyzed the effects of various fungi in the experimental data under different temperature and humidity. Based on the growth performance of different fungi at different temperatures and humidity, we use the method of systematic cluster to divide the fungi into 5 categories, and introduce competition levels as the viability of different species of fungi. We have established a logistic model that introduces competition levels to obtain a fungal habitat model. The fungal habitat model includes predictions about the relative advantages and disadvantages for each species and combinations of species likely to persist, and do so for different environments including arid, semi-arid, temperate, arboreal, and tropical rain forests.