International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) |Volume IX, Issue IX, September 2022|ISSN 2321-2705
The Diversity of Mammals in the Wehea-Kelay Landscape, East Kalimantan
Sajidah Salsabila Annisa1*, Rachmat Budiwijaya Suba2, Jusmaldi1
1Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Mulawarman University, Indonesia
2Faculty of Forestry, Mulawarman University, Indonesia
*Corresponding author
Abstract: The Wehea-Kelay landscape is an area with a tropical rainforest ecosystem which is the habitat for various types of mammals. Ecologically, the existence of mammal species plays role in maintaining the balance of the forest ecosystem, thus the balance of a forest ecosystem can be measured by the level of species diversity. The aim of this study is to determine the diversity, conservation status, relative abundance of mammal species, and the sepan conditions in the Wehea-Kelay landscape. The research was conducted from January to June 2020. The data collection method was the direct observation, signs searching, camera traps, and data analysis. The results of this study are 12 species, 9 families, and 4 orders of mammals were found. Based on the conservation status, 6 species as protected animals, 1 species is critically endangered, and 2 species are in appendix I. Overall, the highest relative abundance of mammals based on the presence frequency of the camera traps is M. muntjak and the lowest is T. kanchil. The species of mammals found based on the encounter rate in the Wehea Protected Forest were more than PT. Gunung Gajah Abadi, and the highest abundance of mammals is 1.67±1.529 individuals/km in Wehea Protected Forest and 1.00±1.00 individuals/km in PT. Gunung Gajah Abadi of H. malayanus. The feeding class of mammals found consisted of 9 species of Omnivores and 3 species of Herbivores. The sepan area in the Wehea Protected Forest is an area that must be conserved because it is a source of minerals for mammals.
Keywords: diversity, camera trap, mammals, sepan area, wehea-kelay landscape.
I. INTRODUCTION
Etymologically, the landscape is a heterogeneous land area with a width of several kilometers which consists of a set of stands or interacting ecosystems that is repeated in a similar form (Forman & Godron, 1981). Understand that the land can not be conserved separately, a landscape approach offers a process to find a balance between conservation, use of natural resources, and improving human welfare by implementing sustainable agriculture, forestry production, and conservation of natural resources.
The Wehea-Kelay landscape is one of the areas with a tropical rain forest ecosystem, as a representation of lowland and highland forests. Its existence has an essential value as a source of clean air and a source of water for the Wahau River, Kelay River, and Telen River that are beneficial to the surrounding humans. The Wehea-Kelay landscape is also a habitat for around 1,282 individual Bornean Orangutans, 507 other wildlife species, and 713 plant species (Atmoko et al.,