BIOTROPIA - The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology
Vol. 30 No. 2 (2023): BIOTROPIA Vol. 30 No. 2 August 2023

IDENTIFICATION OF THE MOLUCCAN MEGAPODE (Eulipoa wallacei) NATURAL HABITAT IN HARUKU ISLAND, INDONESIA AND ITS VEGETATION COMPOSITION

Handy Erwin Pier Leimena (Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Pattimura University, M. Putuhena Street, Pattimura University Campus, Poka, Ambon, 97233, Indonesia)
Achmad Sjarmidi (School of Life Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesa Street No. 10, Bandung, West Java, 40132, Indonesia)
Tati Suryati Syamsudin (School of Life Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesa Street No. 10, Bandung, West Java, 40132, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2023

Abstract

The characteristics of island vegetation greatly influence the activities of endemic birds in island areas, such as the Moluccan endemic megapodes (Eulipoa wallacei) on Haruku Island. Therefore, it is essential to identify the specific location of the habitat utilized by individual birds for their daily activities on Haruku Island and to analyze the composition of the vegetation and the variety of plant species. Identification of bird habitat locations using radio-tracking on four newly hatched chicks and four adult birds. A total of 330 individual tracking points were recorded during the study period. The vegetation sample used a total of 420 plots for seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees which were then analyzed for importance value index (IVI), diversity, evenness, and similarity. We found that the Tanjung Maleo forest was their nesting habitat, while the Marunimei and Lalean forests were their daily habitats. A total of 91 plant species and 60 plant families were discovered with the vegetation diversity value of the three habitats was moderate (H’mean = 3.07) and tended to be dominated by air plant (Kalanchoe pinnata), sword fern (Nephrolepsis exalta), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), coco-grass (Cyperus rotundus), Indian camphorweed (Pluchea indica), and lanzone (Lansium domesticum) (Emean = 0.88), and have a relatively low level of species similarity between habitats (SImean = 38.30%). We found that the daily habitat of the Moluccan megapode on Haruku Island was around their nesting sites and has a complex structure because it was composed four vegetation strata. Therefore, for conservation purposes, habitat management must prioritize preserving forest habitats around the bird nesting sites.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

biotropia

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Immunology & microbiology Veterinary

Description

BIOTROPIA, The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology, is a scientific publication of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) – Southeast Asian Regional Center for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP). It publishes articles in the broad areas of tropical ecosystems and ...