In 2019, data from National Geographic Indonesia revealed that Indonesia ranked sixth globally for the highest decline in biodiversity, causing many species to face extinction.
One such species is the rare orchid Dendrobium capra J.J.Smith. This orchid is listed as Appendix II in CITES and categorized as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The lack of attention towards this orchid has resulted in a significant decrease in its population.
Despite its decline, a new population of Dendrobium capra was recently discovered in a productive forest area in Gunungkidul—a region vulnerable to human intervention. A team of students from the UGM Faculty of Biology, participating in the Student Creativity Program in Exact Science Research (PKM-RE), researched the increasingly rare Dendrobium capra.
“This is a new record, as it was only recently found in the Gunungkidul area, Yogyakarta,” said Akmal Bunyamin at the UGM Faculty of Biology on Wednesday (Aug. 7).
Bunyamin, the team leader, explained that the PKM-RE team conducted a population study on the Dendrobium capra orchid to monitor its existence in its natural habitat. The team also constructed DNA barcodes for this species to facilitate identification.
“This is necessary due to the difficulty in distinguishing between Dendrobium species through morphological observation alone, so we are providing a barcode for identifying Dendrobium capra in the database,” he explained.
The PKM-RE team, all UGM Faculty of Biology students, call themselves the PKM-RE D’caprangers. Besides Akmal Bunyamin (class of 2021), the team includes Syafira Nurul Aisya (class of 2021), Astrid Rayna Afandi (class of 2022), Nimas Sukma Puspita (class of 2022), and Dary Saka Fitrady (class of 2023).
Professor Budi Setiadi Daryono supervises the PKM-RE D’caprangers team, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology funds their research.
Akmal Bunyamin stated that the population survey of this orchid was conducted in a small forest located in Playen District, Gunungkidul Regency, at an altitude of 192-211 meters above sea level, classified as lowland.
In this population, 103 individuals of Dendrobium capra were found living epiphytically, attached to mahogany trees (Swietenia sp.) and rose apple trees (Syzygium sp.).
Through this research, Bunyamin said that Dendrobium capra can be saved from the threat of extinction by monitoring its condition in its natural habitat.
“This data can also be used to develop further conservation strategies,” he stated.
Bunyamin added that the barcode product can be submitted to public genetic databases, such as The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), as the official molecular identity of Dendrobium capra.
Given the absence of this sequence in the database and the orchid’s increasing rarity, this step is crucial for further accurate identification.
“We hope that this research can be one of the efforts to preserve Indonesia’s biodiversity, especially the Dendrobium capra orchid, as one of Indonesia’s iconic floral species, preventing extinction,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photo: Trubus
Post-editor: Afif