SURVIVAL OF MOLUCCAN MEGAPODE (EULIPOA WALLACEI GRAY, 1860) POPULATION IN CENTRAL MOLUCCAN

• Main Author: Erwin Pier Leimena, Handy
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/50174
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Moluccan megapoda (Eulipoa wallacei) has a limited distribution in Maluku Islands and is threatened by egg collection and habitat destruction. On the other side, community perceptions of bird egg utilization are also one of the factors that influence the sustainability of its population. Population survival is defined as the probability of the population to survive at a specific time interval. Therefore this study aims to predict the survival of moluccan megapode population which is formulated as follows: (1) to determine the structure and dynamics of the bird population, (2) to determine its habitat use and habitat preferences of birds, and (3) measuring their use by the community. The study was conducted on Haruku Island, Central Maluku. The population structure and dynamics were analyzed using direct count method, radio tracking, individual growth, and continuous recording sampling. Habitat was analyzed using vegetation analysis and radio tracking. Eggs utilization was analyzed using interviews and questionnaires. The results showed that the structure and dynamics of moluccan megapode population differed between egg removal conditions and without egg removal conditions. The moluccan megapode population has a low mortality rate, while the bird population has a smaller birth rate, fecundity, and net reproductive rate in condition without egg removal when compared to egg removal conditions. The small value of the reproduction parameters of bird populations in egg removal conditions causes the intrinsic rate of population growth to be only 0,535 when compared to the intrinsic rate of population growth in conditions without egg removal which reaches 1,200. These results indicate that the growth of the bird population is slower under egg removal conditions. The results of the study also found that the newly hatched chick of moluccan megapode has different habitat uses and preferences than those of previously hatched and adult birds. On the other hand, adult birds use the habitat Imperata cylindrica - Cyperus rotundus dryland. The difference between bird habitat preferences and their habitat use was due to a difference in the size of habitat type used by birds and the size of that habitat type available at the study site. The highest habitat preference for chick in the first 24 hours after hatching is in the habitat Imperata cylindrica - Cyperus rotundus dryland. After 24 hours, chick and adult birds preference is in the habitat Pluchea indica - Lansium domesticum dryland. This study shows that most of the community agreed (86,67%) to take and use eggs even though the management aspect was not economically profitable (net B/C = - 1). Community perception for bird conservation was classified as moderate (67,42%) while participation for bird conservation was low for egg and high for birds nesting site and adult bird. The result concludes that the lack of community perception and participation of egg conservation determine egg removal activity and reduce the value of the reproductive and population dynamics component. The habitat use and preference of newly hatched chick in the early stages of growth around their hatching site determine the probabilities of chick survival to reach their adult stage. Based on the intrinsic rate of population growth, this study concludes that in the current egg removal condition, moluccan megapode population in Haruku Island is still surviving. The efforts to maintain and increase the survival of moluccan megapode population can be done by limiting the number of eggs taken by the community and maintaining bird nesting habitat.