The Bambusa research group has conducted research activities in the form of analyzing the vegetation structure and association of the Pancur Block bamboo forest in Alas Purwo National Park on July 12, 2024 to July 13, 2024. The research title of this research group is “Vegetation Structure and Association of Sadengan-Pancur Bamboo Forest, Alas Purwo National Park.” As the title implies, the research aims to determine the vegetation structure and the form of association produced between bamboo species in Alas Purwo National Park. The benefits of the research are useful data for further research and information for conducting bamboo forest conservation activities. The Bambusa research group itself is a group that comes from the Botany study group, Unair biology study program. The Bambusa research group consists of thirteen Unair biology students who are guided by supervisors and field lecturers. The Bambusa research group was formed based on the annual agenda of the Unair Biology Student Association activities in the form of P3L 2024.
P3L ALAS PURWO
Biology Student Association of Universitas Airlangga has an annual research and innovation agenda called Field Research Training and Development or P3L. This year, the Biology Student Association organized P3L in Alas Purwo National Park. There are six study groups participating in P3L activities with various research topics, one of which is the Bambusa research group. Alas Purwo National Park was chosen as the location of P3L because it has high biodiversity and can be explored further. Alas Purwo National Park has a diversity of vegetation such as mangrove forest, savanna, jungle forest, and bamboo forest. The vegetation that makes up Alas Purwo National Park has an important ecological role as a conservation of living things in it and becomes an important habitat niche for the ecosystem.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The Bambusa Research Group conducted research activities for two days at two different locations, namely Bamboo Forest near Pancur Beach on July 12, 2024 and Bamboo Forest near Sadengan Savanna on July 13, 2024. Although in two different locations, these locations are still within the Pancur Block area. The study used a double belt transect method with a size of 20×100m2 with two transects for each location, resulting in four double belt transects that have been used in analyzing the vegetation structure and association of bamboo forests.
Data were collected in the form of vegetation analysis and bamboo species identification. In addition, there were physical and chemical parameter data taken such as light intensity, air humidity, soil pH, and water salinity to determine the suitability of habitat conditions that influence the vegetation structure of the bamboo forest. There were obstacles in collecting field data due to the large number of bamboo reeds, there were bamboo organ modifications such as thorns that hindered data collection, and difficulties in mobilization and communication due to the dense bamboo forest.
Research results from Field Research Training and Development activities will be disseminated and published in the form of articles or journals. The hope for the Bambusa research group is to be able to provide good and useful analysis results for the Alas Purwo National Park, Airlangga University, and researchers in Indonesia. Another big hope is that the results of this group’s research publications will be able to make a major contribution and bring the good name of the biology study program in the field of natural research.
