Moluccas Research Articles

Morphological Diversity of “Tuni” and “Afo” Cloves, Endemic to the Maluku Islands, Indonesia

“Tuni” and “Afo” cloves are endemic clove varieties from the Maluku islands. Until now, there is still little information on morphological diversity in plant populations and information on the characteristics between the two varieties. The research aims to provide information on the morphological diversity and characteristics of “Tuni” and “Afo” cloves from the Maluku Islands. Morphological characterization of the “Tuni” variety of cloves was carried out at its distribution location on Ambon Island, Maluku Province. In contrast, “Afo” cloves were characterized at their distribution location on Ternate Island, North Maluku Province. The research was carried out in July 2023-May 2024. The used for morphological identification was the modified Tropical Fruit Descriptors. The characterized clove plants consisted of 30 “Tuni” clove plants and 30 “Afo” clove plants, so a total of 60 plants were characterized. The results of the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) based on 54 morphological characters that were carried out showed two groups with a dissimilarity coefficient of 44%. The first group is a group of “Tuni” clove accessions, which are clustered with a similarity of 91%, and the second group is a group of “Afo” clove accessions, which are clustered with a similarity of 90%. The results of Principle Component Analysis (PCA) obtained a total diversity of 75.4%, where the specific characteristics of “Tuni” cloves obtained were stem bark color, crown shape, branching angle, leaf thickness, old leaf color, shoot color, leaf petiole tip color, flower stalk weight, flower length, flower tube diameter. The specific characteristics of “Afo” cloves obtained from PCA are plant height, stem circumference, North-South canopy width, East-West canopy width, leaf length, leaf texture, leaf spiciness, ripe picked flower color, picked ripe flower crown color, ripe fruit color, and color seed.

Legal Protection of Child Victims of Religious Leader Sexual Violence (Community Protection and Punishment)

Sexual violence constitutes a worldwide concern that jeopardizes individual security and integrity while eroding the social and moral fabric of society. When perpetrated by religious leaders, the issue becomes more intricate due to the exploitation of power, trust, and elevated social status. These leaders, expected to serve as moral exemplars, become offenders of crimes that infringe upon human rights. Legislators have established many laws and regulations, with the provisions controlling sexual violence delineated in Law Number 12 of 2022. However, there are still many cases of sexual violence against children both in the education environment and in society in Indonesia, especially those that occur in the Aru Maluku Islands Regency. The problem encountered is why there is an inequality in criminal law enforcement against children as victims of sexual violence committed by religious leaders?. This research aims to analyze the legal protection of victims of sexual violence committed by religious leaders. The research findings indicate a necessity for legal and policy reform, emphasizing that sanctions imposed on perpetrators of sexual violence who are religious leaders must be stringent to prevent the perception of legal immunity due to their religious status. So it is recommended that the government revise the law to remove legal immunity for religious leaders.

Detection of Dominant Rainfall Patterns in Indonesian Regions Using Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Its Relation with ENSO and IOD Events

Several studies indicate that Indonesia’s position on the equator, where winds from the northern and southern hemispheres converge, leads to year-round rainfall in Indonesia. Previous studies have also shown the presence of monsoon winds over Indonesia, which causes rain in Indonesia to follow the Asian and Australian monsoon wind patterns. Recently, variations in rainfall patterns and intensity in Indonesia have been highly volatile and difficult to predict. This study uses gridded data analysis of ocean-atmospheric rainfall for 69 years (1948–2016) to detect monsoonal, equatorial, and local signals and relate them to ENSO and IOD events. Rainfall analysis reveals that the first mode accounts for 38.57%, the second 13.92%, and the third 8.93% of the total variance. These results show that these variants are very variable, both in space and time. Monsoonal patterns were detected in the southern region of Indonesia, equatorial patterns in northern Sumatra and western Kalimantan, while local patterns were detected in Maluku and the Maluku Islands. Furthermore, the monsoonal and local rainfall patterns are strongly correlated (> 0.85) with local SST, but the equatorial rainfall pattern is weakly correlated (< 0.5) with local SST. Note that the equatorial pattern is associated with the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) phase. The varied vector correlation map illustrates the asymmetric fluctuations in sea surface temperature and the simultaneous existence of winds coming from the west from the Indian Ocean and winds coming from the east from the Pacific Ocean during the period of heavy precipitation.

Ethnomedicinal and Pharmacological Significance of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove): A Review

Background: Syzygium aromaticum Linn. (clove) is a dried flower bud from the Myrtaceae family, native to Indonesia's Maluku islands. Clove essential oil is recognized for its diverse biological activities, including antiseptic, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties. Its high concentration of bioactive compounds, particularly eugenol, caryophyllene, and eugenol acetate, contributes significantly to these effects, making clove a subject of increasing scientific interest. Methods: This review compiles and analyzes updated information on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of clove and its primary constituent, eugenol. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on peer-reviewed studies that detail the extraction methods, chemical composition, and bioactivity assays of clove essential oil. Results: Clove essential oil contains approximately 16-18% of essential oils, with eugenol constituting 59-88% of its composition. The oil exhibits notable antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antiviral properties. Clove has shown efficacy against various pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, eugenol demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines and showed promise in managing metabolic disorders and enhancing immune responses. Conclusion: Clove and eugenol possess extensive therapeutic potential, warranting further investigation to unlock their applications in modern medicine. Despite their benefits, attention to their toxicity and safety profiles is essential for ensuring appropriate usage in therapeutic contexts. This review highlights the need for continued research to validate traditional uses and explore novel applications of clove and its bioactive components.

Small Area Estimation of Maluku and Papua Island Child Poverty Levels in 2023

Child welfare issues such as child poverty pose a challenge for Indonesia. The provinces in Maluku and Papua have the highest rates of child poverty. Data on child poverty at regencies/municipalities level is needed to address this issue through targeted policies. The direct estimations have a Relative Standard Error (RSE) value of more than 25 percent, necessitating the use of an indirect method, Small Area Estimation (SAE). This study aims to compare the results of indirect estimates of the percentage of children aged 0-17 living in poverty at the regencies/municipalities level in Maluku and Papua using SAE Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (EBLUP) and Hierarchical Bayes Beta (HB Beta) methods. Susenas KOR March 2023 data is used to produce direct estimates, while Podes 2021 data is used to form auxiliary variables. The results indicate that the SAE HB Beta method provides estimates with better RSE compared to SAE EBLUP. All regencies/municipalities in the Maluku and Papua have a fairly good level of accuracy.

Antibacterial Potential of Endemic Medicinal Plants of the Maluku Islands, Indonesia, against Urinary Tract Infection Pathogens

Highlights:1. Clove, cinnamon, and eucalyptus have found to be able to providing antibacterial agents for urinary tract infection (UTI).2. Ethanol extracts derived from clove leaves, cinnamon bark, and eucalyptus leaves can inhibit pathogenic bacteria responsible for UTI, indicating their potential as sources of bioactive compounds for UTI medication development. Abstract Medicinal plants possess antimicrobial properties that have been believed to be efficacious for treating various diseases. However, antimicrobial-based medicinal plants remain an untapped source of potential pharmaceuticals. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial properties of ethanolic extracts derived from several medicinal plants endemic to Maluku, Indonesia, specifically regarding their antibacterial activity against isolates of pathogenic bacteria found in the urine samples of urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. This was a true experimental research with a posttest-only control group design. The medicinal plant extraction was conducted using the maceration method. The pathogens were isolated using the dilution method. Following the pathogen isolation, the isolates were identified according to the colony morphology, Gram staining, and biochemical test results. The antibacterial activity was determined through the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test. The results indicated that five selected isolates (i.e., 0A1, 0A2, 0A3, 0A4, and 0A5) had a round shape with flat edges. Isolates 0A2 and 0A4 exhibited a solid white color, whereas isolates 0A1 and 0A3 displayed an off-white color, and isolate 0A5 showed a yellow color. Isolates 0A1, 0A2, and 0A4 were Gram-positive bacteria, while isolates 0A3 and 0A5 demonstrated Gram-negative characteristics. The biochemical testing revealed that the five selected isolates were identified as Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus faecium, and Escherichia coli. The ethanol extracts of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) leaves, cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) bark, and eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) leaves demonstrated the ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria responsible for UTI. Clove leaf ethanol extract exhibited the highest average clear zone compared to the other two ethanol extracts. This study concluded that medicinal plants from Maluku, Indonesia, the clove, cinnamon, and eucalyptus, have antibacterial potential that may be effective in treating UTI. Further investigation is necessary to fully comprehend the mechanisms of action, detection, and description of bioactive compounds, particularly against human pathogens.

Mapping Asia Plants: Plant Diversity and a Checklist of Vascular Plants in Indonesia.

Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia, is the world's largest tropical island country. It is globally recognized as a unique center of biodiversity in the Asian-Australian transitional zone. To date, however, no national plant checklist of Indonesia has been published. Here, we collected botanical information on the flora of Indonesia and presented for the first time a checklist of known native species of vascular plants in the country. Our checklist included 30,466 species belonging to 2968 genera and 317 families, representing 8.7% of the 351,180 vascular plant species worldwide. Among the seven regions, Sumatra had the highest number of species at 10,902, followed by Indonesian New Guinea (9935), Java (9289), Kalimantan (9191), Sulawesi (7048), Maluku (5294), and Lesser Sunda Islands (4514). In contrast, Indonesian New Guinea had a much higher proportion of locally endemic species than other regions (59%). The seven regions were divided into three phytogeographical areas: the Sunda Shelf, the Sahul Shelf, and the Wallacea, based on similarities in floristic composition. Our checklist for Indonesia provides basic information for biodiversity conservation and associated research.

Efficiency Level of Health Spending Governments: Evidence from North Maluku Indonesia

This study aims to determine and analyze the level of technical efficiency, cost, technical systems and corrective steps that need to be taken by inefficient regions in 10 regencies/cities in North Maluku Province in 2016-2020. This research uses secondary data from 10 districts/cities in North Maluku Province. The variables used include the APBD expenditure variable according to the health function as input, the variable number of puskesmas, posyandu, medical personnel and midwives at puskesmas and government hospitals as intermediate output variables and the variable Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (AKI), Number Life Expectancy (AHH) and Human Development Index (IPM) as outcome output variables. This research method uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the assumption of Variable Return to Scale (VRS) and is input oriented. The results obtained are an average cost technical efficiency of 0%, while the technical efficiency of the system reaches 70%, so that there are indications of inefficiency in the allocation of health sector spending and corrective measures are needed based on the potential for regional improvement which are still not efficient so that the proportion of input and output can be efficient according to the needs of each region.

PREFERENCE AND LITERACY: FISHERMEN AND MARINE FARMERS IN SMALL ISLANDS REGION TO USE FINTECH

The aimed of the study was to explore knowledge as proxy to literacy to the preference to use fintech by fishermen and marine farmers in Kei Islands, Maluku Indonesia. Data collected used purposive sampling with total 318 samples used by questionnaires, we then use smartPLS to analysis data using path analysis. The result showed that knowledge has positive direct and significant effect on the preference to use fintech, moreover, the more familiar fishermen and marine farmer to ICT, higher preference to use fintech, also more options available to fintech can increase the intention to get finance by MSMEs. This important to have empirical information on MSMEs in small islands region on their view to use fintech as a baseline to plan further effective plans to help MSMEs to develop their business.

Exploring malapari (Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre) from the Eastern part of Indonesia

Abstract Malapari (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) is a plant species widely distributed throughout Indonesia and can be both a renewable energy and medicinal source. Malapari-related research, such as exploration, characterization, seed production capacity, and propagation (both generative and vegetative) has been done in the western part of Indonesia but not in the eastern part. As a result, exploration was carried out in the east part of Indonesia to locate new malapari population. The population’s morphological characters were also examined, and a dendrogram was used to analyze the characters. Plant samples from Bali, the Maluku Islands, and Nusa Tenggara Islands were investigated, characterized, and gathered. The fruits and cuttings (as plant materials) were collected for ex-situ conservation purposes. The natural distribution of malapari in eastern Indonesia are presented, along with their morphological characters and the dendrogram indicating no apparent distinction between them. The conservation and sustainable usage of this plant might benefit from these findings.

Performance Evaluation of Fishery Logistics Systems at the Port of the Marine Toll Network Dobo Port, Maluku

The Sea Toll Program is a program organized by the government with the aim of increasing connectivity between islands in Indonesia, increasing distribution and maintaining the availability of basic necessities and important goods, thereby reducing price disparities across all islands. The Maluku Islands, especially Dobo port, is one of the regions in Indonesia that is rich in fish production and is also traversed by the Sea Toll program. Researchers want to see whether the Sea Toll program can support and synergize with the SLIN (National Fish Logistics System) program by measuring the fish logistics performance index (IKLI) at Dobo Port. The data collection technique was carried out using a purposive sampling technique with a questionnaire method. A total of 13 respondents were interviewed and the results of the fish logistics performance index at Dobo Port were 56.1%. Based on the ordinal scale, the IKLI value in Pel Dobo is sufficient but not optimal. There are three lowest dimensions that need to be improved so that the marine highway program in Pel Dobo can improve, namely the management dimension of fish procurement, the benefits dimension and the governance dimension.

The Religious Moderation in Kei Community, Maluku Indonesia: Upholds Local Wisdom, Religion, and Nationality as Vital Aspects

The Religious Moderation in Kei Community, Maluku Indonesia: Upholds Local Wisdom, Religion, and Nationality as Vital Aspects

SOSIALISASI KEBENCANAAN SEBAGAI UPAYA PENINGKATAN PENGETAHUAN DASAR SISWA TERHADAP MITIGASI BENCANA

Indonesia is a country that has a high level of vulnerability to natural disasters. Based on the disaster risk index, the Maluku Islands have a fairly high level of tsunami disaster potential. Small islands are often places that are vulnerable to tsunami disasters. Therefore, community preparedness on small islands is very important in facing this potential disaster. The aim of this outreach is to provide knowledge about disaster preparedness from an early age. This activity is a form of community service through outreach. The results of this outreach activity teach students to anticipate disasters, act when a disaster occurs, and handle disasters. Children are classified as vulnerable to disaster management efforts and therefore require special efforts to improve basic knowledge about disasters.

Distribution of Coral Life Forms Based on Sea Current Velocity in Kei Besar Island, Maluku, and Mare Island, North Maluku

Abstract Diverse life forms found on coral reefs indicate resilience to environmental change, sustaining marine biodiversity and ensuring the stability of the coastal community’s ecosystems. This study investigates the relationship between sea currents and the life forms of coral reefs in Indonesia and focuses on two primary locations: Kei Besar Island, Maluku, and Mare Island in North Maluku. Sea current data from the current real-time global forecasting and coral cover data were analysed to assess the influence of current velocities on the percentage of hard coral cover and the morphological composition of corals. The dominant bottom substrate in both locations is hard coral, with varying percentages of cover. Thirteen distinct life forms of coral were identified in both study sites, with massive and sub-massive forms being the most prevalent on Kei Besar Island (41%) having average current velocities of 0.159 m/s, and branching forms (40%) being dominant on Mare Island with average current velocities were 0.103 m/s. The massive form (CM) is strongly positively (negatively) correlated with faster (slower) currents, with a correlation coefficient of 0.81 (-0.69). On the other hand, several life form of fragile coral reefs particularly Acropora branching (ACB); Acropora sub-massive (ACS); and coral Tubipora (CTU) were found to be positively (negatively) correlated with slower (faster) currents, with a correlation coefficient of 0.55 (-0.63); 0.77 (-0.75); and 0.58 (-0.67).

Sustainable Fishing Livelihoods: Exploring the Potential of Sail Technology Using Computational Fluid Dynamic in Traditional Fishing Boats

The potential of using sails and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to improve the sustainability of traditional fishing boats in the Maluku region. This study highlights the importance of cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability in the fishing industry. This study shows that Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is effective in simulating the thrust force generated by sails. Sails were used to generate thrust forces on conventional fishing vessels by implementing CFD methodology with three different models. Various sail shapes were incorporated into the modelling process to assess their impact on the thrust force. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to evaluate the sail thrust force under typical operating conditions, focusing specifically on the average speed of the vessel at 15 knots in the waters surrounding the Maluku Islands. The results reveal that sail model 1 has the highest thrust force, amounting to 240.2 N. Sail models 3 and 2 generate thrust forces of 238.9 N and 227.9 N, respectively. The fluid flow conditions around sail model 1 and screen model 2 provide valuable insights into how the sail interacts with the fluid environment to produce thrust. By understanding and optimizing these fluid dynamics, designers and engineers can enhance the performance of sail models and improve their efficiency in harnessing wind power for propulsion. This study highlights the importance of ship science and technology in the design of appropriate propulsion systems for traditional fishing vessels.

Analysis of internal wave in the Buru Island coastal waters, Banda Sea, Indonesia

The Indonesian throughflow (ITF) in the eastern part of Indonesia passes through the Maluku, Taliabu, Sula, and Buru Islands to the Banda Sea. The average depth of the Buru and Sula Islands is between 1000 m and 5000 m, with a narrow gap (sill) located to the north and south at a depth of 165 m on the sea map. This topography makes for interesting research on the western waters of Buru Island. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain salinity, temperature, and density values as water column stratification associated with the internal wave (IW), thermocline area, and current patterns at specific depths in the waters of Buru Island, Banda Sea. Data were collected from initial observations of Sentinel 1 satellite imagery of Buru Island to obtain an image of the waves in the water area. Furthermore, a single beam echosounder (SBES), conductivity temperature depth (CTD), and Copernicus Marine were analysed at the same position and time. The research found a non-linear IW Mode 2 at depths of 440–540 m with an estimated amplitude length is 40 km and an amplitude height of 100 m. Based on SBES echogram imaging, CTD data analysis, and modelling, there was an increase in IW density, a 35.25 PSU increase in salinity value at depths of 50∼200 m, a temperature decrease of 27.5 °C to 10 °C at depths of 50∼300 m, and a density stratification of 23.5 kg/m³ to 27 kg/m³ at depths of 50∼300 m.

Implementation of Centroid Clustering Method for Industrial Clusterization in Regencies and Cities in Maluku Province

The industrial sector has a vital role in economic development. In addition to increasing state revenue, the industrial sector can also provide business opportunities that make a positive contribution to efforts to equalize community welfare. The limited employment opportunities available in Maluku Province need to be balanced with the increase in the labor force, which significantly impacts the high unemployment. Basically, the high unemployment rate will significantly impact economic development, which aims to improve the standard of living of the people in Maluku Province. Centroid Linkage is the average of all objects in the cluster, and the distance. The distance between the cluster centroids is what separates two clusters. Cluster centroid is the center value of observations on variables in a set of cluster variables. The purpose of this research is to cluster the distribution of industries in regencies and cities in Maluku Province using data from BPS Maluku Province. This study obtained the results that there are 3 clusters formed in the clusterization of industry in regencies and cities in Maluku Province, namely cluster 1 consisting of Tanimbar Islands Regency. Cluster 2 consists of Buru, South Buru, West Seram, East Seram, Central Maluku, Tual City, Southeast Maluku, and Aru Islands Regency. Furthermore, Cluster 3 consists of Ambon City and Southwest Maluku.

Regional perinatal mortality differences in Indonesia: Evidence from Indonesian demographic health survey

AimPerinatal mortality can be used as a reference to assess health status in a country. In Indonesia, none of previous studies specifically discuss the incidence of prenatal mortality by region. The objective of this study was to analyze perinatal mortality difference by region of Indonesia. Study designThis study used a cross-sectional approach. MethodThe sample in this study was 13,310 women of childbearing age obtained from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey (IDHS) 2017. The perinatal mortality rate was calculated using data on stillbirths with a gestational duration of seven months or more and early neonatal deaths. Perinatal mortality was analyzed by region using a binary logistic regression statistical test to examine the relationship between perinatal mortality and its factors (socio-demographic factors, individual disease control factors, and maternal factors). ResultsThis study shows that the proportion of perinatal mortality in Indonesia is 1.5 % of total births. The highest proportion of perinatal mortality (2.5 %) was in the Papua region, while the lowest proportion (1.3 %) was in the Java region. The results of this study indicated that women in the Maluku Islands had a 1.82 times higher chance of perinatal mortality compared to the Java-Bali region. The causative variable associated with perinatal mortality in the Java-Bali and Papua regions was employment status. The causative variables associated with perinatal mortality in Kalimantan were the quality of antenatal care and delivery assistance. The causative variable associated with perinatal mortality in Nusa Tenggara and Papua was the location of delivery. The causative variable associated with perinatal mortality in Kalimantan, Maluku, and Papua was the mother's age. The causative variable associated with perinatal mortality in the Java-Bali region was parity. The causative variable associated with perinatal mortality in Sumatra was the type of delivery. ConclusionThis study show that there were disparities in the incidence of perinatal mortality between regions in Indonesia. The government needs to re-adjust the existing strategies to improve health status and focus on community empowerment for women to prevent perinatal mortality.

‘Requeiro huma duas e tres vezes’: the confrontation between Ruy López de Villalobos and Jorge de Castro over the Maluku Islands in 1543-4

ABSTRACT This article examines in detail the exchange of letters between Ruy López de Villalobos, captain general of a significant Spanish fleet, which landed on the island of Mindanao in February 1543, and the captain of the Portuguese fort on the Malukan island of Ternate, Jorge de Castro. In his letters and formal injunctions, Castro warns Villalobos not to enter the Maluku islands as these are under Portuguese jurisdiction while Villalobos attempts various arguments to justify his movements between the future Philippine islands of Mindanao, Samar and Leyte, and the northern Malukus. The exchange ceases with Castro’s rotation from his post on Ternate in the late Spring of 1544 and in effect only covers the first year of Villalobos’ presence in the Philippine and Malukan archipelagos. Nevertheless, the letters provide an interesting insight into how an experienced Portuguese governor dealt with a neophyte Spanish naval expeditionary at a turning point in the balance between Spanish and Portuguese power in these islands. The letters, while mediated by the intervention of legal clerks, copyists and advisors, provide a flavour of each man as an individual, palpable in the language and tone they struck.

Beyond nutmeg, mace, and cloves: Checklist of the liverworts and hornworts of Maluku Islands (Moluccas), Indonesia.

The first ever liverwort and hornwort checklist is provided for the Maluku Islands (Moluccas/Spice Islands) of Indonesia. We report 355 accepted and 16 doubtful species and reject 22 species previously reported for Maluku Islands. The list is based on the specimens housed in the Herbarium Bogoriense (BO) and reports from over 500 literature references, including monographs, regional studies, and molecular investigations. The Maluku Islands are part of the Wallacea Biodiversity Hotspot with many unique species found only in Wallacea. Publications focusing on liverworts and hornworts of Maluku Islands are few and scattered. Considering regionally widespread species that have been recorded elsewhere, we predict that further fieldwork exploring the diversity of habitats coupled with collections unveiled from regional herbaria, a number of new records remain to be reported.