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 & Biology. 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.

Microplastic in the deep-sea sediment of southwestern sumatran waters

Abstract: Indonesia was recently ranked second on the list of countries producing plastic waste. Plastic can be degraded by thermal oxidation either with ultraviolet radiation and by mechanical to a very small size the size will be smaller. Degraded plastic with small sizes (<5 mm) measured has been micrometers known as microplastic. We took sediment samples on 07-18 May 2015 in EWIN 2015 cruise, which part of the contribution of Indonesian researchers for the International Indian Ocean Expedition-2 program, at 66.8 to 2182 m below sea level. Microplastic analysis from the sediment was carried out by using flotation methods. We found microplastic in 8 locations out of 10 sampling locations. We found 41 particles microplastic with a form of granules (35 particles) and fibers (6 particles). Most of microplastic particles were found at depths less than 500 m with 20 particles. The discovery of microplastic in the sediment from the sea of western Sumatra at a depth more than 2000 m, indicated that plastic, considered new developed materials (early nineteen centuries made), has invaded marine areas, including pristine areas. It confirms the statement that plastic waste has spread widely to different areas of the seas and oceans, including remote and mostly unknown areas such as the deep sea.

Evolutionary origins of ultrasonic hearing and laryngeal echolocation in bats inferred from morphological analyses of the inner ear

Abstract: Many mammals have evolved highly adapted hearing associated with ecological specialisation. Of these, bats possess the widest frequency range of vocalisations and associated hearing sensitivities, with frequencies of above 200 kHz in some lineages that use laryngeal echolocation. High frequency hearing in bats appears to have evolved via structural modifications of the inner ear, however, studying these minute features presents considerable challenges and hitherto few such attempts have been made. To understand these adaptations more fully, as well as gain insights into the evolutionary origins of ultrasonic hearing and echolocation in bats, we undertook micro-computed tomography (μCT) scans of the cochleae of representative bat species from 16 families, encompassing their broad range of ecological diversity. To characterise cochlear gross morphology, we measured the relative basilar membrane length and number of turns, and compared these values between echolocating and non-echolocating bats, as well as other mammals. We found that hearing and echolocation call frequencies in bats correlated with both measures of cochlear morphology. In particular, relative basilar membrane length was typically longer in echolocating species, and also correlated positively with the number of cochlear turns. Ancestral reconstructions of these parameters suggested that the common ancestor of all extant bats was probably capable of ultrasonic hearing; however, we also found evidence of a significant decrease in the rate of morphological evolution of the basilar membrane in multiple ancestral branches within the Yangochiroptera suborder. Within the echolocating Yinpterochiroptera, there was some evidence of an increase in the rate of basilar membrane evolution in some tips of the tree, possibly associated with reported shifts in call frequency associated with recent speciation events. The two main groups of echolocating bat were found to display highly variable inner ear morphologies. Ancestral reconstructions and rate shift analyses of ear morphology point to a complex evolutionary history, with the former supporting ultrasonic hearing in the common bat ancestor but the latter suggesting that morphological changes associated with echolocation might have occurred later. These findings are consistent with theories that sophisticated laryngeal echolocation, as seen in modern lineages, evolved following the divergence of the two main suborders.

Seismicity of the Sunda Strait: Evidence for crustal extension and volcanological implications

Abstract: The Sunda Strait is located in the transitional zone between two different modes of subduction: the Java frontal subduction and the Sumatra oblique subduction. This setting implies that the Sunda Strait region is a key to the understanding of the geodynamic processes involved. In order to study the shallow seismicity, a microearthquake survey was carried out in that region. Twelve stations, accurately located by the aim of satellite positionning, recorded about 300 local events in the summer 1984. From this set, 174 shallow earthquakes have been precisely located. The results of this study reveal that the crustal earthquakes in the Sunda Strait area occurs in three main areas: (1) beneath the Krakatau complex, where earthquakes are generated by double-couples and are of tectonic origin; (2) inside a graben in the western part of the strait; and (3) in a more diffused zone to the south of Sumatra. The individual and composite focal mechanisms from the events inside the strait show an extensional regime. A stress tensor, which have been deduced from the individual focal mechanisms of earthquakes of the Krakatau group shows that the tensional axis is oriented N130oE. This study confirms that the Sunda Strait is in an extensional tectonic regime as a result of the northwestward movement of the Sumatra sliver plate along the Semangko fault zone.

Deforestation and Avian Extinction on Tropical Landbridge Islands

Abstract: There are few empirical data, particularly collected simultaneously from multiple sites, on extinctions resulting from human-driven land-use change. Southeast Asia has the highest deforestation rate in the world, but the resulting losses of biological diversity remain poorly documented. Between November 2006 and March 2008, we conducted bird surveys on six landbridge islands in Malaysia and Indonesia. These islands were surveyed previously for birds in the early 1900 s, when they were extensively forested. Our bird inventories of the islands were nearly complete, as indicated by sampling saturation curves and nonparametric true richness estimators. From zero (Pulau Malawali and Pulau Mantanani) to 15 (Pulau Bintan) diurnal resident landbird species were apparently extirpated since the early 1900 s. Adding comparable but published extinction data from Singapore to our regression analyses, we found there were proportionally fewer forest bird extinctions in areas with greater remaining forest cover. Nevertheless, the statistical evidence to support this relationship was weak, owing to our unavoidably small sample size. Bird species that are restricted to the Indomalayan region, lay few eggs, are heavier, and occupy a narrower habitat breadth, were most vulnerable to extinction on Pulau Bintan. This was the only island where sufficient data existed to analyze the correlates of extinction. Forest preservation and restoration are needed on these islands to conserve the remaining forest avifauna. Our study of landbridge islands indicates that deforestation may increasingly threaten Southeast Asian biodiversity.