Barnacle Biodiversity of Lesser Sunda Islands

Prabowo RE

Faculty of Biology, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia

Abstract

This research will conduct a biodiversity survey on intertidal barnacles across Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in the middle-south part of Maritime Southeast Asia. The Lesser Sunda Islands, from west to east, comprise of; Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Alor archipelago, Barat Daya Islands, and Tanimbar Islands. The Lesser Sunda Islands differ from the large islands of Java or Sumatra, containing many small islands as well as deep oceanic trenches. Flora and fauna immigration between islands is restricted, leading to the evolution of a high rate of localized species. The Wallace Line passes through the islands between Bali and Lombok, along the deep waters of the Lombok Strait which formed a water barrier even when lower sea levels linked the now-separated islands and landmasses on either side. Previous research conducted by me and my former research supervisor (Toshiyuki Yamaguchi) in 2002-2005, on the biodiversity of barnacle with lower resolution of sampling sites across Indonesian archipelago, suggest that the barnacle fauna also show restriction of barnacles species to the west and to the east of the Wallace Line. The endemism and discontinuity of barnacle distribution are very high in these islands. The nature of the geomorphologic profiles of the Lesser Sunda Island provides suitable conditions for speciation through endemism and discontinuity. We propose a biodiversity survey in the Lesser Sunda Islands with higher resolution of sampling sites to discover species list of barnacle and to delimit the true / correct modified Wallace Line for barnacle fauna in this region. Multivariate analysis will be employed in this research to describe the pattern of distribution of barnacles’ species across the islands. This proposed research will also deposit (register) samples for biodiversity record in our laboratory and to some museum such as: Bogor Zoological Museum; Japan National Science Museum, Tokyo; and National Museum of Natural History, Washington.

A Research Grant Scheme Granted by Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) Japan
A Two-year Research Grant Programme | 2010-2011

Sampling localities

Typical Lesser Sunda Islands coast