Kelimpahan relatif, pola aktivitas, dan kesesuaian habitat kuau raja (Argusianus argus grayi) di Hutan Lindung Sungai Wain

Abstract

Kuau raja (Argusianus argus) merupakan spesies dari Phasianidae yang rentan dan dilindungi di Indonesia. Kuau raja lebih menyukai hutan primer dan rentan terhadap perubahan antropogenik dan lingkungan. Salah satu kawasan habitat potensial bagi kuau raja (Argusianus argus grayi) adalah Hutan Lindung Sungai Wain (HLSW). HLSW merupakan hutan hujan dipterocarpaceae dataran rendah yang terisolasi di Kalimantan Timur. Laju deforestasi telah mengancam keberlangsungan spesies dan ekosistem, termasuk kuau raja Kalimantan. Yayasan Pro Natura, sebagai salah satu pengelola, memiliki program monitoring satwa menggunakan camera trap jangka panjang untuk mengetahui keberadaan kuau raja Kalimantan. Namun, penelitian lebih lanjut mengenai kesesuaian habitat kuau raja Kalimantan masih perlu dieksplorasi di HLSW. Penelitian ini bertujuan; 1) mengestimasi kelimpahan relatif, 2) mendeskripsikan pola aktivitas, dan 3) memprediksi kesesuaian habitat kuau raja Kalimantan di HLSW. Data pengamatan camera trap di HLSW yang digunakan dari periode pemasangan tahun 2018-2022. Setiap camera trap dipasang dalam petak sampel berukuran 2 x 2 km2. Camera trap dipasang pada pohon dengan ketinggian 30-40 cm dari permukaan tanah dan dioperasikan selama 24 jam. Camera trap dipasang pada hutan primer, hutan sekunder tua, hutan sekunder muda, kecuali di hutan kemasyarakatan (konversi hutan lindung menjadi perkebunan). Data independent event dan trapnight digunakan untuk menganalisis relative abundance index (RAI). Keterangan waktu independent event kuau raja di HLSW dianalisis untuk melihat pola aktivitas dengan package “activity” pada R studio. Data kehadiran kuau raja dari titik pemasangan camera trap di HLSW, digunakan dalam analisis prediksi kesesuaian habitat dengan software MaxEnt. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, RAI terendah kuau raja Kalimantan pada tahun 2020, dan tertinggi pada tahun 2022. Secara keseluruhan, RAI kuau raja Kalimantan adalah 3,125 independent event per 100 trapnight yang mengindikasi kuau raja di HLSW cukup sering terlihat melalui camera trap. Pola aktivitas kuau raja Kalimantan dimulai saat fajar dengan puncak sekitar pukul 9-10 pagi dan terus menurun hingga senja. Selain itu, prediksi kesesuaian habitat kuau raja Kalimantan cenderung berada di hutan primer dan hutan sekunder tua. Jarak ke jalan, jarak ke bangunan, dan penggunaan lahan merupakan tiga variabel yang paling berpengaruh terhadap hasil pemodelan kesesuaian habitat. Kehilangan habitat dan kesesuaian habitat merupakan faktor yang dapat menentukan keberlanjutan populasi kuau raja Kalimantan. Selain itu, gangguan antropogenik akan meningkat seiring dengan perkembangan pembangunan di area sekitar HLSW, sehingga, perlu dilakukan perlindungan menyeluruh pada kawasan dengan potensi habitat yang sesuai untuk mempertahankan keberadaan kuau raja Kalimantan dan habitatnya.

Great Argus (Argusianus argus) is a vulnerable pheasant and is protected by law in Indonesia. Great argus prefers primary forests and is susceptible to anthropogenic and environmental changes. A potential habitat area for Bornean Great Argus (Argusianus argus grayi) is the Sungai Wain Protection Forest (SWPF). SWPF is an isolated lowland dipterocarps rainforest in East Kalimantan. The deforestation rate has threatened species sustainability in the ecosystem, including the Bornean Great Argus. Pro Natura Foundation, as one of the managements, has a monitoring program for animals uses long-period camera trap observation to determine the presence of Bornean Great Argus. However, further studies on the habitat suitability of the Bornean Great Argus remain to be discovered in the SWPF. This study aimed; 1) estimate the relative abundance, 2) describe activity patterns, and 3) predict the habitat suitability of Bornean Great Argus in SWPF. Camera trap data observations from 2018-2022 were used in the SWPF. Each camera trap was installed within a 2 x 2 km2 sampling grid. The camera trap was positioned onto trees approximately 30–40 cm on the ground and operated over 24 hours. Camera traps are installed in primary forests, old secondary forests, young secondary forests, except in community forests (conversion of protected forests to plantations). Independent event and trap night data were used to analyze the relative abundance index (RAI). Independent event time series of great argus in SWPF were analyzed for activity patterns using R studio's “activity” package. Great Argus presence data from camera trap installation points in SWPF were used in habitat suitability prediction analysis with Maximum Entropy software. Based on the results of this study, the lowest value of the Bornean Great Argus relative abundance index occurred during 2020, and the highest value occurred during 2022. In total, the relative abundance index of Bornean Great Argus in SWPF is around 3.125 independent events per 100-day trap night, indicating great argus in SWPF were often seen through camera traps. The activity pattern of Bornean Great Argus starts at dawn with a peak around 9-10 am and continues to decline until dusk. Distance to roads, distance to buildings, and land use are the three variables most important variables contributing to the modeling results of habitat suitability. Habitat loss and suitability are a significant determinant of Bornean Great Argus population sustainability. In addition, human anthropogenic disturbance increases with the growth of development in the area surrounding the SWPF reserve, thus, comprehensive protection of areas with suitable habitat potential is necessary to maintain the abundance of the Bornean Great Argus and habitat