From our exploration in the forest of Kampung Teluk Sumbang, Berau we found populations of Rafflesia sp. in various stages: copula, bractea, perigone and post-bloom. The Rafflesia sp. individuals found in the perigone stage were severely predated, with some organs starting to rot, and are unlikely to reach the blooming stage. By the last day of our fieldwork, the two perigones had not shown any signs of blooming, preventing us from identifying the species through morphological observation. We set camera traps to obtain evidence and further study the predation phenomenon affecting Rafflesia and how this predation impacts the sustainability of its population.
However, we did find another genus from the Rafflesiaceae family, Rhizanthes sp., which had not been previously reported in this forest area. We successfully collected four species of Tetrastigma spp. living in the area, two of which are hosts for Rafflesia sp. and Rhizanthes sp. Additionally, we collected Mangifera pajang, an endemic mango species with vulnerable conservation status, to conserve ex-situ at the Purwodadi botanical garden.
At the end of our activities, we conducted a knowledge-sharing session with the Teluk Sumbang community about the importance of Rafflesia and its conservation, encouraging them to maintain and conserve the habitat. Conserving Rafflesia is a significant challenge, but collaborating with the local community and all stakeholders makes it possible to achieve this goal step by step.
No comments:
Post a Comment