Abstract
Bunaken National Park has been surveyed for a fourth time in 14 years, in an attempt to establish the species composition of heterobranch sea slugs in a baseline study for monitoring programs and protection of this special park. These molluscs are potentially good indicators of the health of an ecosystem, as many are species-specific predators on a huge variety of marine benthic and sessile invertebrates from almost every taxonomic group. Additionally, they are known to contain bio-compounds of significance in the pharmaceutical industry. It is therefore of paramount importance not only to document the species composition from a zoogeographic point of view, but to assist in their protection for the future, both in terms of economics and aesthetics. These four surveys have documented more than 200 species, with an approximate 50% of each collection found only on that survey and not re-collected. Many species new to science have also been documented, highlighting the lack of knowledge in this field.
Highlights
Marine biodiversity studies in Indonesia are rare, and mainly documented in the Indonesian language [1]
Parkof(BNP): collection efforts of the years 2003 with 2015, 2016, and 2017. (B) Species accumulation curves of overall (A) Comparison of collection efforts of the years 2003 with 2015, 2016, and 2017. (B) Species species numbers, of undescribed species, and of species that are not documented in accumulation curves of overall species numbersat-the-moment-unique, of undescribed species, literature or identification books, representing species of Bunaken National Park (BNP), North
Sulawesi and of species thatThe arespecies not number documented in literature ordoes identification representing
Summary
Marine biodiversity studies in Indonesia are rare, and mainly documented in the Indonesian language [1]. Documentation on specific localities, which are threatened by manifold factors, from global climate change down to increased local impact by humans, is rare, despite a strong. Kaligis et al [1] published the results of a survey on marine Heterobranchia in Bunaken National Park (BNP) Indonesia performed in 2015. The main aim was to increase knowledge on the biodiversity of a taxon on the second trophic consumer level, reflecting the diversity of primary consumers such as sponges, cnidarians, ascidians, and bryozoans, and which is highly affected by changes in this community. The second aim was to identify putative changes in species composition after 12 years, comparing their results with a previous study [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
