Sulawesi Research Articles

A new record of Begonia aptera in Southern Mindanao: the second species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum recorded from the Philippines

Begonia aptera was recently found during expeditions in the Matutum and Melibengoy mountains in South Cotabato province, southern Mindanao island, Philippines. The identification of the species was affirmed by the morphological similarities of the samples to specimens from the neighbouring island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Begonia aptera is a member of the Begonia longifolia complex by having berry-like dull green, rhomboidal to spherical fruits with three locules, axillary, dichasial inflorescense, 4-tepaled male and 6-tepaled female flowers. Begonia aptera is distinct by having broadly elliptic leaves with bi-tooothed, serrate margins. This is just the second member of Begonia sect. Platycentrum in the Philippines, the only member of this section being B. halconensis endemic to Mindoro Island, with all other Philippine Begonia falling into sections Petermannia and Baryandra. It is proposed that the species be declared as vulnerable in the Philippines due to the fragmented population observed and potential threats to the observed populations.

Factors Behind Cessation of Illegal Logging by Local Communities for Valuable Timber-producing Endemic Species, Hopea celebica

Hopea celebica is a species of Dipterocarpaceae that produces strong and durable wood. This species is endemic to Sulawesi Island, where its spread is restricted to specific habitat types in the southern part of the island. The high quality of the wood has exposed this species to high levels of illegal logging and is endangered. However, in the last two decades, the threat of logging to this tree species has ceased to occur. Through field surveys and interviewing of respondents in 6 small FGDs, this study aims to determine the factors behind the cessation of illegal logging activities. We found that this species has good regeneration ability and identified 3 leading causes of stopping illegal logging of H. celebica: restricting its habitat to the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park, the change in cultural interest from building houses on stilts to concrete houses, and the shift in the lifestyle of young generation who are no longer interested in working as woodcutters. Thus, the cessation of illegal logging of H. celebica is not due to the correct public perception of the importance of conserving H. celebica to increase its population so that it can be used sustainably in the future. The Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park still needs to make people aware of the importance of H. celebica conservation.

The Effect of the Number of Poor People, the Rate of Economic Growth, and the Level of Education on the Number of Stunting on the Island of Sulawesi

This study alims to alnallyze how much influence the number of poor people (X1), the ralte of economic growth (X2), alnd the level of Educaltion (X3) on the number of stunting (Y) on the islalnd of Sulalwesi. The Daltal used is secondalry daltal, nalmely palnel daltal for five yealrs from 2019-2023 alnd als malny als 6 regions on the islalnd of Sulalwesi in Indonesial sourced from the Centrall Staltistics ALgency alnd Ministry of heallth of the Republic of Indonesial. The method of alnallysis used is qualntitaltive. The model used is fixed effect model. The results showed thalt the number of poor people alnd the level of Educaltion hals al positive influence on the number of Stunting, while the ralte of economic growth hals al negaltive influence on the number of stunting. The conclusion of the study is the number of poor people, the ralte of economic growth, alnd the level of educaltion contribute to the occurrence of stunting on the islalnd of Sulalwesi. The government needs to strive to increalse humaln resources (HR) through educaltion alnd tralining so thalt sustalinalbility increalses productivity alnd lalbor palrticipaltion ralte in order to get al good income alnd halve good finalnces to meet the needs alnd seek knowledge relalted to ballalnced nutrition, heallth, alnd nutritionall problems in the community to prevent stunting with regulalr promotions alnd counseling through heallth workers.

Impact of Indonesia's Forest Management Units on the reduction of forest loss and forest fires in Sulawesi

The establishment of Forest Management Units (Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan/ KPH) represents one of Indonesia's most significant forest governance reforms, covering the 120 million hectares of designated Forest Areas. Sharing features with the Landscape Approach, KPHs are expected to reduce deforestation and forest degradation through improved forest planning, oversight, open access avoidance, and fire prevention and response. This paper assesses the impact of KPHs on the reduction of forest loss, including forest loss due to fire, and the factors that influence this impact (e.g. KPH's primary objective, deforestation risk). We use remotely sensed data to estimate difference-in-differences models accounting for differences in baseline characteristics and multiple time periods. Our case study, Sulawesi Island, is primarily shaped by smallholder farmer land use, where KPHs can exert significant influence. We do not find evidence of an overall effect of KPHs on deforestation. However, we observe intriguing heterogeneous effects depending on the year, including significantly less deforestation in already-established KPHs during the El Niño years of 2015–16, and a notable impact on the reduction of forest loss due to fire in some early-established KPHs. These findings warrant further investigation.

Sulawesi stream fish communities depend on connectivity and habitat diversity.

Streams provide an array of habitat niches that may act as environmental filters for fish communities. The tropical island of Sulawesi in Indonesia is located in the Wallacea, a region isolated by marine barriers from the Asian and Australian faunas. Primary freshwater fishes are naturally absent in the Wallacea, including Sulawesi's numerous coastal streams. Diadromous species are in contrast species-rich in the area. The knowledge available on stream fishes in the Wallacea is largely restricted to taxonomic work and studies targeting single species groups, whereas baseline data on fish ecology remain extremely scarce. Such data and a deeper understanding of stream fish ecology are, however, urgently required for purposes such as informed management. We assumed that the stream fish assemblages are dominated by recruitment from the sea and are structured by macro- and microhabitat diversity. To test this hypothesis, we quantified the occurrence of individual fishes by point abundance electrofishing at 33 streams across Sulawesi. The 4632 fishes obtained represent 58 species out of 24 families. The native fishes recorded are mainly amphidromous (34 species), euryhaline (five species), and catadromous (five species). Gobiiformes make up the vast majority of records, dominated by Oxudercidae (22 species) and Eleotridae (five species). Only two of the species recorded are endemic to Sulawesi, including a single species strictly confined to freshwaters. Ten species, making up 6% of the fishes caught, are not native to Sulawesi. The outlying mean index (OMI) and BIOENV analyses suggest that effects on the scale of macro- and microhabitat shape fish assemblage composition, ranging from pH, conductivity, and temperature to current velocity, substrate, canopy cover, and elevation. Habitat niche use of species along the first two OMI axes is complementary and fine-scaled, covering a wide range of the available habitat space. Juvenile and adult conspecifics share similar habitat niches in most of the cases. Niche breadths overlap, but niche specialization is significant in most of the species. Non-native fishes link into the assemblages at the margins of habitat space, with substantial niche overlaps to native species. The present findings show that the native fish communities in coastal streams of Sulawesi are largely composed of species depending on access to the sea, highlighting the importance of connectivity down to the estuaries and sea. The ichthyofauna shows a rich diversity in habitat use, and the availability of alternative habitats along the altitudinal gradient provides plausible filters for species establishment. Non-native fishes are locally abundant, pose substantial potential for changing communities, but are still stocked intentionally. We stress the need for incorporating the need for connectivity and maintained habitat quality into management decisions, and a critical evaluation of stocking activities.

Genetic Identification of Endemic Fish Nomorhamphus liemi Vogt, 1978 from Sigi, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sulawesi Island is geographically included in the Wallacea region, a transitional area between the Oriental and Australian zones, which makes Sulawesi’s fresh waters have a high level of fish species diversity. Some fish species found in Sulawesi freshwater are endemic. Research on Sulawesi endemic fishes in rivers is not as much as research on endemic fishes in lakes. Nomorhamphus liemi or locally known as angculung is one of Sulawesi’s endemic fishes. This species belongs to the sub-family Zenarchopterinae. The majority of species from the Zenarchopterinae sub-family are sexually dimorphic. This study aimed to molecularly identify angculung fish species using COI markers in the region. A total of nine angculung fish were collected and preserved using 96% alcohol. In the laboratory, tissue taken from the back of the dorsal fin was isolated and extracted, then amplified by PCR before sequencing. Sequencing results were validated on BLASTn, showing that nine samples belonged to Nomorhamphus liemi with 98-99% sequence similarity. The nucleotide base sequences were then analyzed using MEGA 7.0 software. The genetic distance of mackerel in these waters showed a close relationship. Phylogeny tree results showed population mixing so that mackerel in these waters can be managed in one management unit, especially in Sulawesi.

Analisis Perdagangan di Sulawesi Tenggara

Trade is one of the crucial elements in a country's economy, playing a vital role in supporting regional and national economic growth. Through trade, a region can meet its needs and distribute its production to other areas, both domestically and internationally. Southeast Sulawesi Province, as one of the regions on the island of Sulawesi, has great potential in trade, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. This province has made a significant contribution to the country's foreign exchange reserves through export and import activities. This study aims to analyze the development of trade in Southeast Sulawesi Province, focusing on the export-import performance and the region's main commodities. The method used is descriptive, utilizing secondary data obtained from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The results show that in 2024, Southeast Sulawesi experienced a trade surplus, where the value of exports exceeded the value of imports. The largest surplus was recorded in January 2024, amounting to 256.38 million US dollars. Three major commodities contribute significantly to the province's trade, namely cloves with a transaction value of IDR 480.74 billion, cocoa at IDR 248.74 billion, and cashew nuts at IDR 230.75 billion. These three commodities not only serve as flagship products for the local economy but also have a positive impact on the national economy. The findings of this study suggest that with proper management, the trade potential of Southeast Sulawesi can continue to grow, contributing even more to Indonesia's overall economy.

Survival of the brightest? pIRIR dating of volcanic sediments in Sulawesi, Indonesia, using micro-aliquots of K-rich feldspar

Volcanic sediments are challenging to date with luminescence-based methods. Both main minerals used for dating—quartz and K-rich feldspar—commonly have suboptimal luminescence properties when of volcanic origins, primarily a low signal intensity and, for K-rich feldspars, high rates of anomalous fading. The present work provides a case study of sediment samples from the Leang Bulu Bettue (LBB) archaeological site in Indonesia, a key site in our understanding of the early human occupation of the island of Sulawesi. We show that currently available state-of-the-art methods can provide robust optical ages for volcanic sediments. Through various reliability tests, we establish the suitability of a post-IR IR stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) standardised growth curve (SGC) procedure for De estimation of ‘micro-aliquots’ containing 5–10 grains of K-rich feldspar, and then combine this method with estimates of environmental dose rate to determine 10 new reliable and finite optical ages for the sedimentary deposits at LBB. Furthermore, by applying the LnTn method to circumvent truncation of the De distribution caused by the non-linearity of the dose response curve in the higher dose range, we could extend the site's luminescence-based chronology to span the interval ∼15–210 ka. The new chronology is in keeping with previous radiocarbon and U-series ages for the site's upper layers. We show that the low fading rate of micro-aliquots relative to using large aliquots composed of hundreds of grains lies in a brightness-based selection. By targeting bright grains with low fading rates, the need for fading corrections is greatly reduced and they can be made with a smaller uncertainty propagated through into the final age estimate, resulting in optical ages of improved accuracy and precision for volcanic sediments.

ANALYSIS Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) AND Maimum Sustainable Yield (MSY) MALE MACKEREL (Rastrelliger kanagurta) FLYING IN THE SAMUDERA FISHING LAND (PPS) KENDARI

The Banda Sea is an Indonesian water body that holds potential for small pelagic fisheries resources. Situated between Sulawesi Island and Maluku, it is part of the Fisheries Management Area Of The Republic Of Indonesia (WPP-NRI 714), Male mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) is one of the fish species with high economic value, greatly favored by the community for consumption. This has led to an increase in its capture rates. Therefore, the research aims to determine the CPUE and MSY of Indian mackerel in the Kendari Ocean Fisheries Port. Data collection was conducted at the Kendari Ocean Fisheries Port from logbooks, and the research lasted from November to December 2023. The results showed that the standard fishing gear used to catch these fish is purse seine. The status of the utilization of the fishery resources is said to be experiencing underfishing. Based on the research results, the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is 96,386 kg/year, with an optimal fishing effort of 2,300 trips/year (Fox model).

Mapping the habitat distribution of horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus gigas) in Pamekasan, Madura Island, Indonesia

Abstract Horseshoe crabs, often known as Belangkas or Mimi, is one of the ancient marine faunas with protected conservation status. Horseshoe crabs are distributed in coastal waters of Indonesia of the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, which are often caught as bycatch. Horseshoe crabs’s bloods were uniquewhich contain amebocytes as a test material for the presence of endotoxin bacteria. The purpose of this study was to identify the species of horseshoe crabs and to analyze environmental conditions, as well as the distribution of horseshoe crabs in the coastal waters of Pamekasan, Madura Island. This study was conducted in June 2023 by collecting data from crab fishers. ArcGIS was applied to delineate the distribution of horseshoe crab. The identification results showed that there was one species horseshoe crab of the Tachypleus gigas in the waters of Polagan Village, Galis District, Pamekasan Regency. The environmental condition of the waters in Polagan Village, Galis District, and Pamekasan Regency was relatively good. Habitat mapping is one way to protect these animals from the threat of extinction and support conservation efforts.

KONSEP PAYANGO PADA RUMAH TINGGAL TRADISIONAL DI GORONTALO

Gorontalo, a province located in the north of the island of Sulawesi, has a form of cultural custom regarding the procedures for making a building which has a very important meaning in development, called the concept of "payango". This research aims to find out how the payango concept is applied to traditional houses in Gorontalo.. The method used in this research is qualitative analysis using an ethnographic approach. The results of research on the Payango concept in Gorontalo people's houses regulate determining the basic size of the house (length and width), determining the placement of Pulo Payango (starting point), digging foundations or pillars, determining 5 points for placing Payango materials, determining the orientation/direction of the building, and determining the position of the doors and windows of the house

A meta-analysis of livestock brucellosis prevalence in Indonesia.

Indonesia has a long history of livestock brucellosis, but the overall pooled prevalence remains unclear. This study aims to determine the pooled estimated prevalence of livestock brucellosis in Indonesia using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases were searched and screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data from included studies were extracted and analyzed using a random effects model in R 4.3.0 for pooled estimated prevalence, subgroup meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Publication bias and sensitivity tests were conducted using Egger's test, funnel plot, trim and fill plot, and leave-one-out. The screening process identified 46 included studies, representing 47,057 samples for brucellosis testing. The pooled estimated prevalence for livestock brucellosis was 3.25% (95% CI, 1.81%-5.78%) with high heterogeneity (Q = 2130.91, p = 0, I2=98%). Subgroup meta-analysis indicated no significant difference in the prevalence of livestock brucellosis across the main islands in Indonesia (p = 0.44) and across provinces in Sulawesi Island (p = 0.83), but significant differences were found among provinces in Java (p < 0.01). The subgroup meta-analysis based on animal type showed no significant difference between cattle, small ruminants, and pig brucellosis estimated prevalence (p = 0.26). Between serological tests, no significant difference was found (p = 0.77). Meta-regression showed no significant difference in brucellosis prevalence from 1988-2023. Egger's test and funnel plot showed publication bias. Trim and fill test indicated 21 studies should be added. As most studies were conducted in Java and Sulawesi Islands, caution should be exercised in interpreting the results, emphasizing the necessity of increasing the study of brucellosis in other regions.

A new species of the genus &lt;i&gt;thinodromus&lt;/i&gt; kraatz 1857 (coleoptera, staphylinidae, oxytelinae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia

The new species, Thinodromus (s. str.) sabbangensis sp. n. is described and illustrated from the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Based on the structure of the abdominal tergites, the new species belongs to the “Apocellagria” group. Currently, the “Apocellagria” group includes 12 species: 4 of them live in tropical Africa, and 8 are known from the Oriental Region.

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.

Beach Cleaning Action Movement as an Effort to Create Environmentally Friendly Tourism on Kapu Beach, Kolaka Regency

Kolaka is one of the districts in Southeast Sulawesi. Kolaka Regency is a coastal area located in Southeast Sulawesi Province. Kolaka is like a hidden paradise on the west coast of Sulawesi Island. As a large area that borders the sea, namely Bone Bay to the west. Kolaka Regency has a coastline that stretches for 293.45 km, decorated with white sandy beaches, clear sea water. One potential that is worth paying attention to as a tourist destination is Kapu Beach, which is located in Kapu Village, Samaturu District, Kolaka Regency. However, currently, Kapu Beach is polluted with lots of plastic and organic waste scattered around and reducing the beauty of the beach. The method used in this activity is the observation method. The first stage that was carried out began with coordination with the local government and the management of Kapu Beach. The second stage, namely checking the condition of the tourist beaches that would be cleaned, as well as preparing paint for re-tightening the trees and aesthetic photo spots. The third stage, This stage carries out the process of cleaning the beach tourism environment and painting several photo spots. What is meant by the observation method is a way of collecting information from relevant data by observing. The result of this activity for the surrounding community is to build self-awareness for the community to care about the beach and coastal environment and also be aware of the dangers of environmental pollution, considering that the location where they live is on the coast of Kapu Village. Based on the results of the service carried out, the conclusion that can be drawn from the beach clean-up activity is that it was held smoothly and in accordance with the previously planned activity structure, and cleaning up rubbish at the tourist attraction was not easy, the large number of visitors not only had a positive impact on tourist attractions but there There is also a negative impact, namely, where a lot of plastic waste is found both around the gazebo and even on the coast, there is also a lot of waste used from visitors' food. It is important to maintain the cleanliness of the beach tourism environment so that it can be managed well and optimally.

Gravity field and crustal structure of the Eastern Arm of Sulawesi and the Banggai Archipelago, Eastern Indonesia

The occurrence of extensive ophiolite masses and the development of the Batui-Balantak foreland thrust-fold belt on the Eastern Arm of Sulawesi can be attributed to the geologic process in the Neogene period when the Sulawesi Island Arc and the Banggai-Sula collided. Following the convergence, crustal fragments were further adjusted on a regional scale. This adjustment involved the rotation of crustal fragments into strike-slip faults on Sulawesi Island and the formation of extensional faults in the Banggai Archipelago. The analyses of the gravity field in the region of the eastern Sulawesi and Banggai Archipelago have yielded models that can potentially be interpreted as a representation of the underlying crustal structure in the region. The models can also be understood in a way that has consequences for tectonics. The tectonic episodes have played a significant role in the formation and development of sedimentary basins within the region. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the crustal structures of the Eastern Arm of Sulawesi and the Banggai Archipelago by means of analyzing gravity profiles. The findings of the analysis suggest that there is a slight thickening observed in the crustal block beneath the central portion of the eastern arm region. In addition, this area exhibits significant fracturing and severe attenuation. Furthermore, the crustal block has a dipped north-eastward trend in response to the ascent of the Molucca Sea oceanic crust.

Narrative cave art in Indonesia by 51,200 years ago.

Previous dating research indicated that the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is host to some of the oldest known rock art1-3. That work was based on solution uranium-series (U-series) analysis of calcite deposits overlying rock art in the limestone caves of Maros-Pangkep, South Sulawesi1-3. Here we use a novelapplication of this approach-laser-ablation U-series imaging-to re-date some of the earliest cave art in this karst area and to determine the age of stylistically similar motifs at other Maros-Pangkep sites. This method provides enhanced spatial accuracy, resulting in older minimum ages for previously dated art. We show that a hunting scene from Leang Bulu' Sipong 4, which was originally dated using the previous approach to a minimum of 43,900 thousand years ago (ka)3, has a minimum age of50.2 ± 2.2 ka, and so is at least 4,040 years older than thought. Using the imaging approach, we also assign a minimum age of 53.5 ± 2.3 ka to a newly described cave art scene at Leang Karampuang. Painted at least 51,200 years ago, this narrative composition, which depicts human-like figures interacting with a pig, is now the earliest known surviving example of representational art, and visual storytelling, in the world3. Our findings show that figurative portrayals of anthropomorphic figures and animals have a deeper origin in the history of modern human (Homo sapiens) image-making than recognized to date, as does their representation in composed scenes.

Groundwater quality assessment in different volcanic rocks using water quality index in the tropical area, Indonesia

Groundwater is the main water source that is most widely used in the world, one of which is in Indonesia. One of the uses of groundwater is for consumption needs. Therefore, the groundwater used should have good water quality. For this reason, this study aimed to determine groundwater quality in Indonesia during the dry season and make recommendations for groundwater management policies. A total of 211 groundwater samples taken from springs, drilled wells, and dug wells spread across volcanic areas on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sulawesi were collected to test their quality in this research. The method used in this research consisted of 4 analyses: WHO threshold analysis, Piper Diagram, Water Quality Index (WQI), and statistical correlation and regression. Based on the analysis, it was discovered that 47 K+ samples, 1 Na+ sample, 5 Ca2+ samples, 1 Cl- sample, 115 HCO3- samples, 3 TDS samples, and 3 pH samples exceeded WHO standards. The results of the Piper triangle diagram analysis showed that the majority of groundwater in Indonesia falls into the Unpolluted Groundwater classification (categories D and G), and the results of the WQI analysis also showed that 98% of the groundwater in Indonesia analyzed falls into the excellent and good water categories. The results of statistical analysis of the parameters K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42-, Cl-, HCO3-, TDS, and pH showed that all these parameters are strongly and positively correlated with the WQI value.

Using Soil Magnetic Susceptibility Proxies to Estimate Overburden Thickness Overlying Ore of Lateritic Soils in Sulawesi Island Indonesia

Sulawesi Island is one of the largest Ni ore producers in Indonesia. It is also expected to be a significant potential source of some critical metals (e.g., Co, Sc, rare-earth elements, and platinum-group elements). However, few studies show the post-mining impact on some heavy metal elements concentrated in this area. Therefore, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of soil organization and its effect on soil reclamation after mining is helpful. This study aimed to determine the accuracy in estimating the thickness of the overburden covering the nickel ore body profile from lateritic nickel post-mining areas by magnetic susceptibility measurements to discrepancy the overall laterite horizon, whereas χLF and χFD are used to distinguish the overburden zona and limonite and saprolite zone. The lateritic profile studied consists of soil formation of Fe-rich material in the Morowali, and Pomalaa block. We also evaluated the chemical element content of the soil and understood the relationship between the magnetic and geochemical properties of the soil. This study reveals the superparamagnetic (SP)-enriched soils indicated with the increase of the FD% values into the upward horizon, where the maximum values of FD are generally found at ranges 1 to 4m, indicating the overburden layers. Meanwhile, in the depth of 4m to 6m, the values of FD vary only slightly in the lower part initiated by the limonite layers, and then &gt; 6m decreases sharply to the bottom, indicating the saprolite layers. The chemical element mobility trends indicate that Fe, Co, Cr, Mn, and Ti increase toward the layers, which is the same pattern as in FD. Due to this, parameters magnetics may also be a new geophysical approach for estimating the distribution of economically valued minerals on lateritic soils. The strong correlation of Co with Fe, Mn, and Cr in all layers indicates the influence of weathering o n these ultramafic rocks. This suggests an increasing trend toward prolonged pedogenesis.

Evaluation of the bioactive composition of cocoa pod husk from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, for health benefits [pdf

Evaluation of the bioactive composition of cocoa pod husk from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, for health benefits [pdf