Indonesian Institute of Sciences

About: Indonesian Institute of Sciences is a facility organization based out in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Genus. The organization has 4795 authors who have published 10544 publications receiving 76990 citations. The organization is also known as: Indonesian Institute of Sciences Cibinong, Indonesia.

Exploiting a readily available but hard to digest resource: A review of exudativorous mammals identified thus far and how they cope in captivity.

Abstract: Gum is a widely available carbohydrate, composed mainly of non-digestible structural carbohydrates. No mammalian enzymes can digest gum, therefore a mammal ingesting gum must rely on microbial fermentation in order to access the energy it possesses. Gums are known as relatively nutrient poor. Despite this, some mammals have evolved to exploit this food resource. We aim to review the literature for all mammal species which have been recorded to ingest gum, whether quantified or not and discuss this in context of their evolutionary adaptations. We also investigated the recommended captive diets for these species to look at if gum is recommended. We conducted a literature search on ISI Web of Knowledge to tabulate all mammal species observed ingesting gum and classify them as obligate, facultative or opportunistic feeders. We encountered 94 mammal species which eat gum in the wild (26 obligate feeders, 35 facultative feeders and 33 opportunistic feeders). Obligate feeders have entirely evolved to exploit this resource but were found to not be given gum in captivity, which may explain why they are failing to thrive, as opposed to facultative feeders which have fewer issues. Gum may be necessary for the health of obligate feeders in captivity. Future research should focus on the physiological effects that gum ingestion poses on different digestive systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Seismic imaging of forearc backthrusts at northern Sumatra subduction zone

Abstract: Forearc tectonics at accretionary convergent margins has variously been studied using analogue and numerical modelling techniques. Numerous geophysical investigations have targeted the subsurface structure of active forearc settings at convergent margins. However, several critical details of the structure, mode of tectonic evolution and the role forearcs play in the subduction seismic cycle remain to be further understood, especially for large accretionary margins. In this study, we present a high-resolution deep seismic reflection image of the northern Sumatran subduction forearc, near the 2004 December 26 Sumatra earthquake epicentral region. The profile clearly demarcates the backthrust branches at the seaward edge of the Aceh forearc basin, along which the inner forearc continues to evolve. Sharp bathymetric features at the seafloor suggest that the imaged backthrusts are active. Coincident wide-angle seismic tomographic image of the Sumatra forearc allows us to image the geometry of the seaward dipping backstop buttress, with which the imaged backthrust branches are associated. The presence of forearc backthrusting confirms model predictions for the development of backthrusting over seaward dipping backstops. The West Andaman fault at the seaward edge of Aceh basin appears to be a shallow tributary of the backthrust and sheds light on the complex deformation of the forearc. Uplifting along the backthrust branches may explain the presence of forearc islands observed all along Sumatran margin and help further constrain the tectonic models for their evolution. Moreover, if these backthrusts slip coseismically, they would contribute to tsunamigenesis and seismic risk in the region.

Climate-mediated activity of the Javan Slow Loris, Nycticebus javanicus

Abstract: Joint impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and climate change are of pressing concern for modern conservationists. Climate change patterns have various diminishing effects on the biodiversity of an ecosystem, requiring an understanding of a species’ ability to adapt. Agricultural practices are expanding at an altitudinal gradient on the Indonesian island of Java, forcing endemic species to range at increased elevation with lower temperatures, and in human-populated areas. One example is the Critically Endangered Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), which finds itself increasingly restricted to montane regions with extreme climate patterns and habitat disturbance. We observed wild N. javanicus in a highly fragmented, montane agroforest area to determine if climate variables and forest connectivity influence activity budget and behavior. Lorises ranged at different altitudes (1275 m above sea level (asl)—1570 m asl) and were observed for six months in Cipaganti, West Java. Using multinomial regression analyses, we found loris individuals were most likely to engage in increased foraging, feeding and travelling behavior than resting when relative humidity increases and in habitats with greater forest connectivity. Regression analyses found effects of relative humidity and forest connectivity to be the most significant predictors of N. javanicus foraging behavior (P = 0.001, P = 0.030). We suggest that future-climate shifts and increased anthropogenic disturbance will detrimentally influence wild populations of N. javanicus, requiring immediate plans for mitigation in conserving these already scarce wild populations. We also suggest the altering of reintroduction protocols in relation to climate and geographic region.

Recent rapid speciation and ecomorph divergence in Indo-Australian sea snakes.

Abstract: The viviparous sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) are a young radiation of at least 62 species that display spectacular morphological diversity and high levels of local sympatry. To shed light on the mechan ...