Journal of Biotropical Research and Nature Technology

Addressing Biodiversity and Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities in Asia

Bahareh Rafiei — 2025-04-09

Asia is marked by high biodiversity. At the same time, it suffers from serious multi-factor threats to such biodiversity. Forest ecosystems and their species are threatened due to large-scale land conversion to plantations of agriculture. Land conversion to grasslands due to livestock activities leads to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. In addition, global warming is linked to the expansion of pest infestations, resulting in increased application of pesticides that negatively impacts biodiversity. Climate change also facilitates the dissemination of vector-borne disease, further endangering wildlife and human health. Besides, climate change has accelerated biodiversity loss in Asia through alteration of ecosystems, coral bleaching, and melting of Himalayan glaciers threatening freshwater ecosystems. Increased temperature and extreme weather conditions pose a great threat to species survival. Although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do emphasize the need for biodiversity conservation, this has been outlined in Goal 15, Life on Land, and Goal 14, Life Below Water. In tackling these goals, Asia has a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and Global Biodiversity Framework; in core protection ecosystems ensure sustainable development. Much more could be done in reversing, if not definitely halting, this ongoing loss in this region. In conclusion, agriculture, livestock, and climate change pose immense challenges to the biodiversity of Asia, which acts as a barrier to achieving sustainable development goals. Such challenges require enhanced conservation efforts and the adoption of sustainable practices in different sectors.

Keanekaragaman dan Sebaran Nepenthes di Hutan Pendidikan Hampangen Universitas Palangka Raya, Kalimantan Tengah

Muhammad Hanafi — 2025-04-10

This study aims to identify Nepenthes species' diversity and distribution to analyze spatial dispersion patterns in Hampangen Educational Forest, University of Palangka Raya. The study used an explorative method using purposive sampling techniques in three observation sites. Environmental parameters such as air temperature, humidity, and soil pH were measured to analyze habitat conditions. The results indicate the presence of four Nepenthes species: Nepenthes gracilis, Nepenthes rafflesiana, Nepenthes ampullaria, and Nepenthes mirabilis. The distribution of these species varies across different observation sites, with N. ampullaria being the specifically distributed species. Habitat characteristics show that these Nepenthes thrive in secondary peat swamp forests. This research provides baseline data for conservation efforts and further ecological studies.

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Trichogramma Wasps through Innovative Formulations

Seyed Reza Fani — 2025-04-10

The mass of Trichogramma wasp larvae, recognized as a vital agent for pest biocontrol in Iran, is produced primarily in the form of Trichocards. These bacteria are utilized for the biocontrol of key and significant pests, such as rice stem borers, corn stem borers, apple worms, and pomegranate fruit worms. However, the application of this formulation presents several drawbacks, including the difficulty of installing cards across fields and orchards, the destruction of larvae by predatory insects, and the sensitivity of larvae to dryness and high temperatures, which can impair the effectiveness of the method. Alternative formulations such as capsules, balls, and liquids have been introduced in various countries to address these application issues. These alternatives offer advantages such as increased durability of larvae under adverse conditions, increased lifespan and efficiency of wasps, reduced production costs, faster operational speed, and greater willingness among farmers and orchardists to adopt biological methods. Given that the method of supplying Trichogramma larvae has remained unchanged in its production stages over the past 30 years in Iran, a continuous dynamic growth trend in the application of Trichogramma wasps will undoubtedly require a reassessment of various supply stages and an improvement in the production process.

Food Safety Alert: Traces of Formalin and Rhodamine B Found in Children's Snacks Near Schools in Lubuklinggau, South Sumatra

Sephia Eka Putri Agustina — 2025-04-12

Security food is an important global issue, especially in the context of snack child school. The research aims to test the existence of content material addition food, such as formalin and rhodamine B, in snacks school at Public Elementary School 58 Lubuklinggau City. Testing was done using descriptive qualitative with a special test kit to detect formalin and rhodamine B content in various types of snacks. Research results show that all sample snacks from Elementary School 58 Lubuklinggau City negative contain formalin and rhodamine B. This is to signify that snacks sold at SDN 58 Lubuklinggau City are safe for consumption by children, but education for the community still needs to be done to prevent children from snacking carelessly. Education this can give through inspection laboratory tours and activities Communication, Information and Education (KIE) by the POM Center in Lubuklinggau City has contributed positively to increasing awareness among the public about choosing safe food for children in school.

A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Azotobacter chroococcum and Beijerinckia indica as Biofertilizers for Enhancing the Growth of Alternanthera ficoidea

Dwi Nur Rikhma Sari — 2025-04-16

The increasing global demand for food has driven the development of environmentally friendly technologies in agriculture, one of which involves the use of nitrogen-fixing bacteria-based biofertilizers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two nitrogen-fixing bacterial species, Azotobacter chroococcum and Beijerinckia indica, in enhancing the growth of red spinach (Alternanthera ficoidea) in acidic soil conditions. The results revealed that treatments with various concentrations of bacterial inoculants did not have a statistically significant effect on plant height, based on a two-way ANOVA test (α > 0.05). However, descriptively, B. indica demonstrated more optimal performance compared to A. chroococcum and their combination, particularly at a concentration of 15 mL, which produced the highest plant height (31.00 cm). B. indica exhibited better survival and functionality in acidic soil (pH 4–4.5), whereas A. chroococcum was less efficient under such conditions. These findings underscore the importance of selecting bacterial strains that are compatible with specific soil characteristics to enhance the efficacy of biofertilizers and support the growth of ornamental plants such as A. ficoidea.

Teknik Isolasi DNA dari Daging Ikan Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) Tuna (Thunnus obesus) dan Tongkol (Euthynnus affinis) Menggunakan Metode Spin Column

Ardra Khonsa Estinia — 2025-04-17

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi efektivitas metode spin column dalam isolasi DNA dari jaringan daging ikan Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), Tuna (Thunnus obesus), dan Tongkol (Euthynnus affinis), tiga spesies bernilai ekonomi tinggi di sektor perikanan Indonesia. Isolasi DNA dilakukan menggunakan metode spin column dengan kit Tianamp, melalui tahapan lisis jaringan daging ikan, presipitasi DNA, pencucian kontaminan, dan elusi akhir, kemudian dianalisis kuantitas dan kemurniannya menggunakan spektrofotometri pada panjang gelombang 260/280 nm. Hasil menunjukkan konsentrasi DNA berkisar 50.8–183.3 ng/μL (rata-rata 109.3 ng/μL), namun kemurnian DNA (A260/A280) berada pada kisaran 1.19–1.83 (rata-rata 1.46), mengindikasikan kontaminasi protein/RNA. Ikan Salmon menunjukkan kemurnian tertinggi (1.83), sedangkan Tongkol memiliki konsentrasi tertinggi (183.3 ng/μL) tetapi kemurnian terendah (1.19). Diduga faktor pemanasan dan inhibitor sebagai penyebab rendahnya kemurnian DNA pada penelitian ini. Rekomendasi optimasi meliputi modifikasi suhu inkubasi, penggunaan fenol-kloroform, dan pengelolaan pasca-panen. Penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi dalam pengembangan teknik isolasi DNA untuk aplikasi biologi molekuler dan industri perikanan.