Diversity, composition and important tree species for Cenderawasih bird activities in Rhepang Muaif ecotourism forest, Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Lahallo W, Tanjung RHR, Suharno, Sujarta P. 2022. Diversity, composition and important tree species for Cenderawasih bird activities in Rhepang Muaif ecotourism forest, Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 742-749. Trees, the major component of a forest, affect the interaction between flora and fauna contained in the forest. Among them, birds are the group of fauna that are highly dependent on trees in the forest. The inter-relationship between birds and trees is particularly important in forests utilized for bird-watching ecotourism and endemic birds such as Birds of Paradise, or locally named Cenderawasih. This study aimed to determine the diversity and floristic composition of tree species in the Rhepang Muaif ecotourism forest, Jayapura District, Papua and identify important tree species that support the activities Cenderawasih birds. A survey was employed using a line-transect method to record species diversity and vegetation structure of trees diameter> 20 cm. A total of 62 observation plots were established, representing around 51 hectares of ecotourism forest, with each plot measuring 20 x 20 m. The findings revealed that there were around 63 tree species belonging to 23 different families recorded in the observation plots. Based on the stand structure, it can be stated that the ecotourism forest in Rhepang Muaif was a secondary forest with a density of roughly 20 trees per hectare (diameter > 20 cm). Species with the highest Important Value Index were Intsia bijuga, Areca sp., Syzygium versteegii, and Pometia pinnata. Important tree species used for the activities of Cenderawasih birds included I. bijuga (perching, chirping), P. pinnata (playing), Teijsmanniodendron hollrungii (perching, chirping), P. pinnata (eating, perching) and Macaranga sp (playing). Macaranga sp., F. benjamina, and T. hollrungii had a limited population whereas I. bijuga, and P. pinnata were more abundant. Our study implies that to ensure the survival of Cenderawasih birds in the ecotourism areas, the carrying capacity of tree species for bird activities must be maintained so that these birds do not migrate to other locations.