Vegetation on nesting sand and its effect to existence of nest of pig-nosed turtle in Kaimana, Papua

Abstract

Triantoro RGN, Yuliana S. 2017. Vegetation on nesting sand and its effect to existence of nest of pig-nosed turtle in Kaimana, Papua. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 3: 287-293. Wetland regions in Papua have various species of turtles that potential to be developed. One of the potential turtles in Papua is pig-nosed turtle (Carretochelys insculpta). This species is a protected species in Indonesia and naturally dispersed only in the southern region of Papua. The population of pig-nosed turtle in wild has been facing pressure due to the activities of harvesting eggs from natural nests and the illegal trade on the hatchlings. Another threat related to the success of nesting is predicted come from the vegetation presence on the nesting sand. The aims of this study were to determine the species of vegetation on nesting sand and its relation to the presence of nest of pig-nosed turtle. The method of survey and observation were applied to collect data and information about the vegetation and the nest of pig-nosed turtle on Jeprey and Omba rivers in Kaimana, Papua. The results showed that it was found nesting sands of pig-nosed turtle with vegetation as many as 3 locations from 10 locations in Jeprey River and two locations from 9 locations of nesting sands in Omba River. The total numbers of plant species found in all of locations were 30 species from 20 families. The highest number of vegetation was found at first nesting sand in Jeprey River and second nesting sand in Ombra River, each of 14 species from 9 families. Ninth nesting sand in Jeprey River has the fewest number of vegetation (7 species from 7 families). The species of Anthocephalus chinensis is a species that can be found throughout vegetatednesting sand locations in both rivers. The similarity index was 0,389 indicates that the similarity of vegetation in nesting sand between both locations is low. The highest number of nests was found on nesting sand with vegetation in Jeprey River, while in Omba River the highest number of nest was found on nesting sand without vegetation. Some species of vegetation needed to be considered related to the effect on the nesting habitat of pig-nosed turtle, i.e. Mimosa pudica and Merremia peltata, which already have a status as an invasive alien species (IAS) globally.