Abundance, Distribution Patterns and Habitat Conditions of Giant Clam (Family : Tridacnidae)

The Giant Clam has a high economic value it is because all parts of the animal can be utilized so it is very vulnerable for hunting by humans. Traditionally these animals are used by people for food, building materials, household needs and as souvenirs and also as  aquarium animals. The purpose of this study is to see the relationship between species abundance and distribution patterns of Giant Clam based on the habitat conditions. Moreover, the purpose of this study case is to identify the types of Giant Clam that found and compare with research which has been done 10 years earlier. The results of the data analysis concluded that habitat conditions take effect on species abundance and distribution patterns of Giant Clam on Mansinam Island and Lemon Island in Manokwari Regency. From the results of the study found 3 types of Giant Clams with a total of 14 individuals. The number of Giant Clam species that found at the study location is almost half of the species that found in Indonesia. For 10-year period at the study location there was decrease the number of Giant Clam species by 57%, in 2009 there were found 7 species of Giant Clam whereas in  2019 only found 3 species of Giant Clams

Studi Potensi Penyu dan Persepsi Masyarakat Dalam Upaya Pengembangan Ekowisata

This research used a purposive sampling method in Mubraidiba villag , North Manokwari District in July 2019 with the aim of assessing the potential of sea turtle natural resources, the willingness of local communities to change their income earning patterns, estimating and determine the income level of local communities from selling turtle eggs and developing a local community-based turtle ecotourism development strategy on the north coast of Manokwari.  Data collection was carried out by means of field observations and literature, where field observations by viewing directly at the research location and interviews with the help of questionnaires to visitors, local communities and key persons and literature studies to obtain information related to the research. The results showed that four species of sea turtles lay eggs in the area: green, olive ridley, leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles with the number of eggs ranged from 61-122 eggs/nest.  Local people are willing to change their pattern of earning a living by profession selling food, souvenirs, tour guides, rental of tourist facilities, motorcycle ride.  The income of the local community by selling turtle eggs to the Manduni Putra TPP ranges from Rp. 100,000-Rp. 2,150,000 depending on the number of nests.  The existence of turtles can attract visitors and have the potential to be used as a tourist attraction that would change the income earning patterns of the local community.Penelitian ini menggunakan metode purposive sampling di Desa Mubraidiba Distrik Manokwari Utara pada bulan Juli 2019 dengan tujuan untuk mengkaji potensi sumberdaya alam penyu, kesediaan masyarakat lokal untuk mengubah pola mencari nafkah, mengestimasi dan mengetahui tingkat pendapatan masyarakat lokal dari hasil penjualan telur penyu dan menyusun strategi pengembangan ekowisata penyu berbasis masyarakat lokal di pesisir pantai utara manokwari.  Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara observasi lapang dan literatur, dimana observasi lapang dengan melihat secara langsung lokasi penelitian dan wawancara dengan bantuan kuisioner pada pengunjung, masyarakat lokal dan key persons serta studi literatur untuk mendapatkan informasi yang berkaitan dengan penelitian.  Hasil penelitian mendapatkan empat jenis penyu yang bertelur yaitu penyu hijau, penyu lekang, penyu belimbing dan penyu sisik dengan jumlah telur berkisar antara 61-122 butir/sarang.  Masyarakat lokal bersedia untuk mengubah pola mencari nafkah dengan profesi menjual mekanan, souvenir, pemandu wisata , sewa sarana wisata, ojek.  Pendapatan masyarakat lokal dengan menjual telur penyu ke TPP Manduni Putra berkisar antara Rp.100.000-Rp.2.150.000 tergantung dari jumlah sarang.  Keberadaan penyu dapat menjadi daya tarik pengunjung dan berpotensi dijadikan sebagai objek wisata yang dapat mengubah pola mencari nafkah dari masyarkat lokal. &nbsp

Nest temperatures of the Piai and Sayang Islands green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries, Raja Ampat Papua, Indonesia: Implications for hatchling sex ratios

Tapilatu RF, Ballamu F. 2015. Nest temperatures of the Piai and Sayang Islands green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries, Raja Ampat Papua, Indonesia: Implications for hatchling sex ratios. Biodiversitas 16: 102-107. Sex determination and hatching success in sea turtles is temperature dependent. Warmer sand temperatures may skew sea turtle population sex ratios towards predominantly females and high sand temperatures may also decrease hatching success. Therefore, understanding nest temperatures is important for conservation programs, including the evaluation of the potential impact of global climate change. Nest temperatures were monitored during the 2013 nesting season of the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, at Piai and Sayang Islands, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Nest temperatures increased from 29oC early in the incubation to 34-36oC in the middle, before decreasing again. Monitored nest temperatures were similar across all beaches. Nest temperatures increased 2-4oC during the middle third of incubation due to metabolic heating. Hatchling sex ratio inferred from nest temperature profiles indicated a strong female bias. This finding is consistent with the relatively warm thermal profiles of the majority of the nesting beaches. This also included some extremely warm nest temperatures that were associated with lower hatching success. Information from this study provides a foundation for developing conservation strategies for enhancing hatchling production with optimal sex ratios at the most important nesting beaches for the western Pacific green sea turtle. This study is the first comprehensive assessment of sex ratios for green sea turtles in Raja Ampat and represents the initiation of a long-term database that can be used at a local level to develop strategies that could potentially offset the impact of long-term climate change on the western Pacific green sea turtle.Keywords: Chelonia mydas, hatching success, Piai, Sayang, sex determinatio

Profil Suhu Pantai Peneluran Penyu Sidey: Implikasi Estimasi Jenis Kelamin Tukik Penyu

Changes in the temperature of the nesting habitat due to the impact of global warming cause damage to turtle eggs and will result in failure of hatching in turtle nests. The temperature of the turtle nesting beach on Sidey beach as a secondary nesting beach has a contribution to the existence of turtle populations in the wild. The analysis of the temperature profile of the Sidey turtle nesting beach aims to relate the temperature of the turtle nesting beach sand to hatching success, and to estimate the sex of hatchlings based on the temperature during the incubation period and the temperature of the beach sand. Temperature recording using a data logger, then analyzed using HOBOware software. The results of the analysis of the mean temperature for Sidey 1 beach of 31.75±1.70⁰C, Sidey 2 beach of 32.29±0.23⁰C, incubation temperature of nest 1 was 28.14±0.75⁰C and at nest 2 of 30.13±0.82⁰C. The mean temperature range of the Sidey beach was above the pivotal temperature for leatherback turtles for the East Pacific region, which is 29.4⁰C, while  the two nest samples have a temperature mean above or below the pivotal temperature, so that the estimation of hatchling sex for Sidey beaches are female and have low hatching success.Perubahan suhu habitat peneluran akibat dampak pemanasan global menyebabkan kerusakan pada telur penyu dan akan mengakibatkan kegagalan penetasan pada sarang-sarang penyu. Suhu pantai peneluran penyu yang ada di pantai Sidey sebagai pantai peneluran sekunder memiliki kontribusi terhadap keberadaan populasi penyu di alam. Analisis profil suhu pantai peneluran penyu Sidey bertujuan untuk menghubungkan suhu pasir pantai peneluran penyu dengan sukses penetasan, dan mengestimasi jenis kelamin tukik berdasarkan suhu selama masa inkubasi dan suhu pasir pantai. Perekaman suhu yang menggunakan data logger, kemudian dianalisis dengan menggunakan software HOBOware. Hasil analisis data, rata-rata suhu pantai Sidey 1 adalah 31.75±1.70⁰C dan pantai Sidey 2 adalah 32.29±0.23⁰C, rata-rata suhu inkubasi sarang 1 adalah 28.14±0.75⁰C dan pada sarang 2 adalah 30.13±0.82⁰C. Kisaran rata-rata suhu yang dimiliki oleh pantai Sidey berada di atas suhu penting penyu belimbing untuk wilayah Pasifik Timur yaitu 29.4⁰C, sedangkan untuk kedua sampel sarang memiliki rataan suhu yang berada di atas maupun di bawah suhu penting, sehingga estimasi jenis kelamin tukik untuk Pantai Sidey adalah betina serta memiliki tingkat penetasan yang rendah

Diversity and Abundance of Plankton in Mangrove Waters

The mangrove forest is an environment that is very rich in nutrients and it becomes an important element for plankton growth. This article aims to determine the diversity and abundance of plankton species in the mangrove area. The method used in this writing is a literature study, by exploring written sources in the form of books, articles, journals, or other documents relevant to the problem being presented. The information obtained from the literature study can be used as a reference to strengthen the existing arguments. The results of the writing show that the abundance and diversity of plankton in mangrove waters are strongly influenced by the physical and chemical conditions of the water, local conditions, tides, zoning, and mangrove density. In general, phytoplankton from the Bacillariophyceae class dominate mangrove waters compared to zooplankton. A mangrove forest management strategy needs to be implemented so that it can function for organisms and the surrounding environment

Evaluation of Conditioned Taste Aversion as a Method to Reduce Predation of Wildlife Eggs by Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)

Feral pigs are introduced predators to Australia and New Guinea. Predation by feral pigs on eggs and hatchlings of nationally protected sea turtles and other wildlife can cause significant mortality

Rapid coral reef assessment using 3D modelling and acoustics: acoustic indices correlate to fish abundance, diversity and environmental indicators in West Papua, Indonesia

Background Providing coral reef systems with the greatest chance of survival requires effective assessment and monitoring to guide management at a range of scales from community to government. The development of rapid monitoring approaches amenable to collection at community level, yet recognised by policymakers, remains a challenge. Technologies can increase the scope of data collection. Two promising visual and audio approaches are (i) 3D habitat models, generated through photogrammetry from video footage, providing assessment of coral cover structural metrics and (ii) audio, from which acoustic indices shown to correlate to vertebrate and invertebrate diversity, can be extracted. Methods We collected audio and video imagery using low cost underwater cameras (GoPro Hero7™) from 34 reef samples from West Papua (Indonesia). Using photogrammetry one camera was used to generate 3D models of 4 m2 reef, the other was used to estimate fish abundance and collect audio to generate acoustic indices. We investigated relationships between acoustic metrics, fish abundance/diversity/functional groups, live coral cover and reef structural metrics. Results Generalized linear modelling identified significant but weak correlations between live coral cover and structural metrics extracted from 3D models and stronger relationships between live coral and fish abundance. Acoustic indices correlated to fish abundance, species richness and reef functional metrics associated with overfishing and algal control. Acoustic Evenness (1,200–11,000 Hz) and Root Mean Square RMS (100–1,200 Hz) were the best individual predictors overall suggesting traditional bioacoustic indices, providing information on sound energy and the variability in sound levels in specific frequency bands, can contribute to reef assessment. Conclusion Acoustics and 3D modelling contribute to low-cost, rapid reef assessment tools, amenable to community-level data collection, and generate information for coral reef management. Future work should explore whether 3D models of standardised transects and acoustic indices generated from low cost underwater cameras can replicate or support ‘gold standard’ reef assessment methodologies recognised by policy makers in marine management

Evaluasi Kondisi Terumbu Karang Di Pulau Mansinam Menggunakan Aplikasi Metode Underwater Photo Transect (UPT)

Sejak tahun 2016, diperkenalkan metode monitor menggunakan Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) untuk menghasilkan hasil monitoring yang bersifat jangka panjang pada stasiun pengamatan yang tetap. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk menganalisis kondisi terumbu karang di Pulau Mansinam berdasarkan penerapan metode UPT, dan manfaat yang ingin dicapai dalam pemantauan kesehatan terumbu karang adalah tersedianya basis data dan informasi tentang kondisi ekosistem terumbu karang di Pulau Mansinam. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa kondisi persen tutupan karang berdasarkan bentuk pertumbuhan berkisar 32-56%, sehingga dikategorikan sedang. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa Pulau Mansinam memiliki terumbu karang yang cukup baik tetapi mengalami tekanan aktifitas manusia yang merusak maupun karena adanya tekanan dari faktor alam. Nilai rata-rata tutupan karang di perairan pulau mansinam menunjukkan tingginya kerusakan karang, hal ini ditunjukkan dengan nilai patahan karang yaitu 25.62% dan karang hidup umumnya memiliki nilai yang rendah, berkisar antara 3-19%

Trend Kunjungan Wisatawan Mancanegara di Kawasan Konservasi Taman Nasional Teluk Cenderawasih dengan Wisata Minat Khusus Hiu Paus (Rhincodon typus)

Tourist areas have a significant role in several aspects including economic, social and environmental. The national park has a considerable potential in the aspect of tourism. In addition to having mega biodiversity, the Cenderawasih Bay National Park (TNTC) also has a strong special attraction in term of whale shark, available year-round. Therefore, foreign tourism potential at TNTC is very high and much in demand by both local and foreign tourists. By processing visitation data, we were able to obtain trend and potentials in supporting the carrying capacity of whale shark tourism areas. Through these data, the estimated number of visitors in 2020 at TNTC was also obtained. Data were performed by country grouping and quantified the number of tourists visiting TNTC. By determining the number of foreign visitors, it was found out the intensity of the visit of each country and also countries which are targeted for TNTC’s future promotions. Countries with high intensity visit are suitable for future promotion targets including Australia, USA, UK, Germany and Switzerland.Kawasan wisata memiliki peran yang signifikan dalam beberapa aspek diantaranya aspek ekonomi, sosial, dan lingkungan. Taman Nasional memiliki potensi yang cukup besar dalam aspek wisata. Selain memiliki keanekaragaman hayati yang tinggi, kawasan konservasi Taman Nasional Teluk Cenderawasih (TNTC) juga mempunyai daya tarik khusus yang cukup kuat berupa keberadaan hiu paus yang selalu ada tiap tahunnya, sehingga potensi wisata pada TNTC sangat tinggi dan karenanya banyak diminati oleh wisatawan baik lokal maupun mancanegara. Data diolah untuk mengelompokan negara dan   jumlah wisatawan yang mengunjungi TNTC. Melalui pengolahan data kunjungan wisatawan mancanegara antara tahun 2013-2019, terlihat trend dan potensi minat khusus whale shark dalam menunjang daya dukung kawasan wisata TNTC. Trend juga dapat menduga jumlah wisatawan mancanegara pada tahun 2020. Dari jumlah pengunjung dapat diketahui intensitas kunjungan pengunjung berdasarkan negara sehingga dapat diketahui negara mana yang menjadi sasaran/potensi bagi TNTC untuk melakukan promosi wisata. Negara yang memiliki intensitas kunjungan yang tinggi cocok menjadi sasaran promosi TNTC diantaranya Australia, Amerika, Inggris, Jerman, dan Swiss

Stable Isotope Tracking of Endangered Sea Turtles: Validation with Satellite Telemetry and δ15N Analysis of Amino Acids

Effective conservation strategies for highly migratory species must incorporate information about long-distance movements and locations of high-use foraging areas. However, the inherent challenges of directly monitoring these factors call for creative research approaches and innovative application of existing tools. Highly migratory marine species, such as marine turtles, regularly travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers between breeding and feeding areas, but identification of migratory routes and habitat use patterns remains elusive. Here we use satellite telemetry in combination with compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids to confirm that insights from bulk tissue stable isotope analysis can reveal divergent migratory strategies and within-population segregation of foraging groups of critically endangered leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) across the Pacific Ocean. Among the 78 turtles studied, we found a distinct dichotomy in δ15N values of bulk skin, with distinct “low δ15N” and “high δ15N” groups. δ15N analysis of amino acids confirmed that this disparity resulted from isotopic differences at the base of the food chain and not from differences in trophic position between the two groups. Satellite tracking of 13 individuals indicated that their bulk skin δ15N value was linked to the particular foraging region of each turtle. These findings confirm that prevailing marine isoscapes of foraging areas can be reflected in the isotopic compositions of marine turtle body tissues sampled at nesting beaches. We use a Bayesian mixture model to show that between 82 and 100% of the 78 skin-sampled turtles could be assigned with confidence to either the eastern Pacific or western Pacific, with 33 to 66% of all turtles foraging in the eastern Pacific. Our forensic approach validates the use of stable isotopes to depict leatherback turtle movements over broad spatial ranges and is timely for establishing wise conservation efforts in light of this species’ imminent risk of extinction in the Pacific