Tropical Animals

Marsono Marsono

Bird diversity plays a key role in maintaining ecosystem stability, yet habitat modification and land use pressure continue to threaten avian communities, even within protected areas. This study assessed bird species diversity, abundance, evenness, and dominance at the Tretes Waterfall Resort, part of the Raden Soerjo Grand Forest Park in East Java, Indonesia. Field observations were conducted at two sampling stations using the point count method from 06:00–09:00 WIB over a two day period (February 1–2, 2020), totaling 6 hours of observation effort per station. In total, 29 bird species representing 8 orders and 16 families were recorded. Shannon–Wiener diversity values were 2.77 at Station 1 and 2.75 at Station 2, indicating moderate species diversity. Evenness indices (0.898 and 0.891) suggested balanced species distributions, while low dominance values (0.079 and 0.083) indicated the absence of a single dominant taxon. Several conservation priority species were detected, including protected and endemic taxa such as Heleia javanica, Psilopogon javensis, and Harpactes oreskios. Although the short sampling duration limits broader ecological generalization, findings indicate that the resort’s heterogeneous forest edge mosaic supports relatively stable bird communities. These results reinforce the ecological value of upland forest habitats and highlight the need for ongoing habitat preservation.

Tropical Animals

Irvan Ardian

Amphibians of the order Anura are highly sensitive to environmental change, making them important indicators for ecological studies and relevant objects for biology education. However, vertebrate zoology practicums in Aceh, Indonesia, still lack contextual, local-based learning resources derived from field biodiversity data. This study had two interconnected aims: (1) to document Anura species and their morphological ecological characteristics in the Pucoek Krueng Alue Seulaseh area, Southwest Aceh, and (2) to transform the resulting field data into research-based learning media for vertebrate zoology practicum. Exploratory field surveys were conducted over three consecutive days using visual encounter methods across terrestrial and aquatic microhabitats during morning, midday, and evening periods. Four Anura species from four families were recorded, namely Phrynoidis aspera (19 individuals), Kaloula pulchra (3 individuals), Fejervarya cancrivora (9 individuals), and Odorrana hosii (26 individuals), yielding a total of 57 individuals. Each species exhibited distinct habitat associations, substrate use, skin texture, coloration, and behavioral activity. Given the short survey duration and limited temporal coverage, the recorded species richness represents a minimum baseline estimate rather than a complete inventory. The biological findings were adapted into educational outputs, including a practicum module, reference book, instructional video, and preserved specimens. Expert validation indicated feasibility scores of 85.7% for the reference book and 75% for the instructional video, while student responses (n = 10) yielded an average score of 90%. These results demonstrate the novelty of integrating local amphibian data into contextual learning media while underscoring the need for further ecological and educational evaluation.

Tropical Animals

Hani Khoirunnisa, Astuti Kusumorini

The Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch), an endangered primate endemic to Java, faces increasing threats from habitat loss and human disturbance that alter natural behavior and limit opportunities for direct observation in the wild. Under these conditions, behavioral studies in captivity are essential for understanding activity patterns and human animal interactions that support welfare management and conservation planning. This study aimed to describe the daily activity budget of captive Javan gibbons and to examine their behavioral responses to visitor presence in a zoo environment. Observations were conducted over 31 consecutive days at Bandung Zoo on two individuals: one male (Ukis, 16 years) and one female (Kiskis, 15 years), using ad libitum sampling. Activities were classified into locomotion, resting, feeding, grooming, vocalization, agonistic behavior, and urination. Locomotion was the most dominant activity in both individuals, accounting for 55.30% in the male and 48.27% in the female, followed by resting (19.23% and 22.46%, respectively), while urination and agonistic behaviors were rarely observed. Resting showed the longest average duration, particularly in the female. Environmental conditions during observations ranged from 25–28 °C in temperature and 74–85% in relative humidity and were associated with daily activity patterns, with increased resting during warmer periods. Behavioral responses to visitor presence varied between individuals; the male more frequently displayed agonistic and avoidance-related responses, whereas the female showed more affiliative and neutral behaviors. These findings indicate that captive Javan gibbon behavior is associated with environmental conditions and visitor interactions.

Tropical Animals

Okta Fina Arianti

Urbanization and habitat fragmentation threaten biodiversity and contribute to ecological imbalance, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. Dragonflies (Odonata), which are highly sensitive to environmental changes, serve as reliable indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. However, research on Odonata diversity in urban rivers remains limited, including in Surabaya. This study aims to determine dragonfly species diversity and identify habitat-related factors influencing their distribution along the Segara Kenjeran River. A quantitative ecological survey was conducted at three observation stations with differing habitat characteristics. Data were collected using the Visual Encounter Survey technique, enabling direct identification and counting of individuals in the field. Sampling took place from October to November 2022 under similar weather conditions to reduce environmental variability. The three stations were selected based on variations in vegetation structure, shading, canopy cover, and riverbank conditions. Station 3 exhibited the highest species diversity and abundance, while Station 1 had the lowest. Dominant species across all stations included Orthetrum sabina and Pantala flavescens, both known for broad ecological tolerance. Environmental measurements showed that dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were highest at Station 3, whereas biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) was lowest, indicating better water quality. These results align with dragonfly preference for well-oxygenated habitats. Shannon Wiener diversity indices confirmed the observed patterns, highlighting more stable ecological conditions at Station 3. Overall, the Segara Kenjeran River supports moderate Odonata diversity, shaped by environmental factors such as DO levels, vegetation, and water flow. Continued monitoring is recommended to track ecological changes in this urban river system.

Tropical Animals

Suci Pratiwi, Teti Rostikawati

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is critically endangered due to poaching and habitat loss, yet learning media based on authentic behavioral data are limited. This research and development study aimed to observe the behavior of captive Sumatran tigers and integrate the findings into a digital biology e-magazine. Observations were conducted at Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta, over 14 days (December 2023–January 2024), totaling 84 hours. The subjects were a 13-year-old male and a 15-year-old female tiger, observed using focal animal sampling and continuous recording during two daily sessions (08:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00 WIB). Behaviors were categorized into resting, locomotion, social interaction, elimination, and other activities. Resting behavior dominated the activity budget of both tigers (male: 50.56%; female: 49.05%), which is typical for captive carnivores and influenced by enclosure conditions and daytime heat. Social interaction and elimination were the least frequently observed behaviors. The behavioral results were used to develop a digital e-magazine through analysis, design, validation, and revision stages. Product feasibility was evaluated using Likert-scale questionnaires completed by three expert validators and four senior high school biology teachers. The validation results indicated high feasibility, with expert and teacher scores of 93.3 percent and 85 percent, respectively, suggesting strong potential for classroom application. This study demonstrates that ex-situ behavioral data can be transformed into accessible digital learning media to support biodiversity education and conservation awareness aligned with SDG 15. Nevertheless, behavioral interpretations should be considered preliminary, as observations were limited to two captive individuals and learning outcomes were not assessed.

Tropical Animals