MACROFAUNAL POPULATION DYNAMICS IN ELEPHANT FECES DECOMPOSITION IN TESSO NILO NATIONAL PARK

• Main Author: Jannah, Wardatul
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/45615
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Elephant feces plays an important role in restoring ecosystem nutrition, as a part of the nutrient cycle. This role will be hampered if feces cannot be decomposed, as they are present in big quantity. The presence of decomposing macrofauna is an important factor for the feces decomposition process as well as for other ecological functions. The lack of information and studies on feces decomposing macrofauna in the Sumatran Elephant conservation area provide the background of this research. This study aims to examine additional effect of forest canopy cover on the feces decomposition process. In this study, observations were conducted on the dynamics of macrofauna on the surface as well as inside elephant feces associated with its decomposition process. The study was conducted in Tesso Nilo National Park for 2 months (July-August 2018). In this study, fresh elephant feces were grouped into 5 different classes, namely 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% forest canopy cover. Macrofaunas contained in the process of feces decomposition are analyzed by measuring their presence on the surface and inside of feces on daily base and analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener Diversity index (H'). Macrofauna were sampled by modified Berlese Funnel sampling technique. The results showed that within 60 days the group of feces with 100%, 75% and 50% forest canopy cover had physical changes as it were physicall deformed, while the feces with 25% and 0% forest canopy cover remained intact. In this study, 4840 individuals of macrofauna were found, consisting of 27 families. A total of 12 families were found on the surface of the feces, dominated by Diptera and 15 families inside the feces, dominated by Coleoptera. Surface macrofaunas are recorded until the second weeks of observation, while those within the feces were observed until the 8th weeks of observation. Identification results also showed that macrofaunas which were found in feces have different functional roles on the process of decomposition of feces, consisting of 53.98% consumers, 42.67% predators, and 3.34% non-functional. Despite of the presence of predators in high number, decomposition process is still progressing. Shannon-Winner Index (H ') showed that the highest diversity value was found inside the feces with the value is 1.98. Similarity Test (JI) showed that feces with > 50% canopy cover have the value > 0.75.