Source: SEAMEO BIOTROP's Research Grant | 2012

Abstract:

Reclamation or restoration is pivotal to return an ecosystem to its condition prior to human disturbance, recreating a landscape so that its structure and function closely resemble a natural community. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information whether the reclamation will accomplish sustainable of ecosystem or not. Therefore, ecosystem assessments are crucial to acquire the evidence about restoration success in reclamation area. The objective of this research is to study the importance of insect as bioindicator of reclamation success. Ecological research was conducted in reclamation area of PT. Berau Coal in Binungan, Berau District, East Kalimantan. Several ages of reclamation area were selected for observation i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years and also natural forest as comparison. Sampling insect was conducted from July to August 2012. On each plot, insects were sampled using pitfall trap and malaise trap within 100 meter. The result showed that insect
diversity collected from reclamation area in Berau differes, depending on age of reclamation area. Based on ordistep within CCA revealed that environmental factors such as change of pioneer plant age, vegetation diversity (tree and scrub) and soil chemistry (N total) affect insect diversity in reclamation area. The NMDS analysis showed that ants have different species composition on different age of reclamation area. Therefore, ants are potential bioindicator to assess reclamation success in post-mining area.

Keywords
Ant, Berau, reclamation area, revegetation, species composition

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