Abstract. Luliana S, Saputri FC, Abdullah S, Alwi RS, Mahayasih PGMW, Yan CC, Mun’im A. 2026. Comparative phytochemical profiling of leaves from three Indonesian Vitex species using spectrophotometry, HP-TLC, and LC-HRMS. Biodiversitas 27 (9): d270906. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270906. The genus Vitex is widely used in traditional medicine, yet comparative phytochemical data integrating quantitative assays and metabolite profiling for Indonesian collections remain limited. This study compared leaf extracts from three Indonesian Vitex collections representing Vitex pinnata, Vitex negundo, and Vitex trifolia. Leaves were extracted with 70% ethanol using microwave-assisted extraction. Extraction yield, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) were determined from three independent extraction batches (n = 3), while HP-TLC and LC-HRMS were used for qualitative phytochemical profiling. V. pinnata showed the highest extraction yield (34.77±1.54%), TPC (424.31±24.48 mg GAE/g extract), and TFC (32.03±2.01 mg QE/g extract). HP-TLC revealed distinct chromatographic fingerprint patterns among the three collections. LC-HRMS yielded 79 putatively annotated features (MSI Level 2), comprising 43 annotations in V. pinnata, 28 in V. negundo, and 39 in V. trifolia. All three collections shared seven features, while 10 were shared only by V. pinnata and V. trifolia, four by V. pinnata and V. negundo, and three by V. negundo and V. trifolia; 22, 14, and 19 features were unique to the respective collections. Flavonoids were most prominent in V. pinnata, iridoid-related annotations were comparatively abundant in V. negundo, and V. trifolia showed relatively high phenolic and terpenoid annotation counts. These findings provide a preliminary comparative phytochemical reference for Indonesian Vitex materials. Because each species was represented by a single geographically distinct collection, the observed differences should be interpreted at the collection level. Multisite sampling and confirmation using authentic standards are required to establish robust species-associated markers.
Abstract. Tompong JG, Mag-aso JR, Nuñeza OM, Tatil WT. 2026. Biodiversity baseline for ecotourism planning of Tinago Falls, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Biodiversitas 27 (7): d270728. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270728. Tinago Falls is a popularly visited waterfall ecosystem in Lanao del Norte, Philippines, but lacks an integrated biodiversity baseline. This study conducted a rapid, presence-based inventory of the vascular plants and vertebrates within the approximately 9-ha management area. Flora was sampled in ten 5-m-radius plots supplemented with walkover surveys. Vertebrates were surveyed across the wet and dry seasons using taxon-specific trapping, transect, visual, acoustic, mist-netting, and opportunistic methods. The survey recorded 173 vascular plant taxa in 65 families, comprising 152 species-level and 21 genus-level records. Of the 152 species, 97 were native, including 13 Philippine endemics. Another 29 were naturalized, 18 cultivated, and eight invasive. The vertebrate inventory comprised 145 taxa: 140 field-confirmed species, one genus-level record, and four provisional records based on informant reports and indirect evidence. Birds were the richest group (82), followed by reptiles (26), mammals (14), amphibians (12), and fishes (6). Endemics accounted for 59 species (42.14%), proportionally highest in amphibians and reptiles. Two retained specimens were morphologically identified as the Endangered Lake Lanao endemic Barbodes tumba through diagnostic meristic comparison at the Wetland and Linked Aquatic-Terrestrial Ecosystems Research (WATER) Laboratory, University of the Philippines, Diliman. This tentative first record awaits molecular confirmation. Tinago Falls continues to harbor substantial native and endemic biodiversity, threatened by invasive species, vegetation clearing, free-ranging animals, and potential water-quality pressures. This baseline can guide Iligan City and Linamon local government units in visitor zoning, riparian protection, invasive species management, and monitoring.
Abstract. Apriliani IM, Takahashi T. 2026. Catch composition and diversity of small-scale fisheries around mangrove ecosystems in Pangandaran, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 27 (8): d270803. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270803. Pangandaran District is an area in southern West Java that has a mangrove ecosystem and serves as a fishing ground. However, there is currently no baseline data on catch yields from small-scale fisheries in and around mangrove ecosystems. This study aims to analyze the composition, diversity and commodity status of fishermen's catches in the Pangandaran mangrove ecosystem. The mangrove ecosystems in this region are located at four sites: Babakan, Bojongsalawe, Batukaras, and Nusawiru. The research was conducted from September 2025 to January 2026 by collecting data on catches from fishermen using cast nets, traps, and handlines, with sampling conducted once every two weeks around the mangrove ecosystem. A total of 27 catch taxa from 20 families and 954 individuals were recorded, consisting of fish, shrimp, and crabs. Among the recorded taxa, 13 species were categorized as the main catch with high economic value. The diversity index (H') ranged from 2.288 to 2.742, the evenness index (E) from 0.740 to 0.842, the dominance index (C) from 0.049 to 0.122, and the species richness index (d) from 3.363 to 4.466, indicating that the catch community is in the moderate diversity category with low dominance. Descriptive Bray-Curtis similarity analysis indicated differences in catch composition among the four locations, with Batukaras and Nusawiru showing higher similarity compared to Babakan and Bojongsalawe. These differences may reflect qualitative differences in habitat condition and fishing-ground characteristics. This study provides a descriptive baseline inventory of catch composition and diversity at the Pangandaran mangrove ecosystem to support monitoring and management of small-scale fisheries.
Abstract. Sari SHJ, Yahya, Salmabila PS, Trianto D, Arianto RD, Fauziah AH, Yona D. 2026. Indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus from Pasuruan mangrove sediment initiate early-stage degradation of UV-pretreated PET and PS microplastics. Biodiversitas 27 (10): d271007. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d271007. Mangrove sediments contain diverse microorganisms with specialized metabolic traits, yet functional biodiversity of mangrove-associated bacterial resources remains underexplored. This study conducted an initial isolate-level screening of indigenous bacteria closely related to Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus from a composite sample in Pasuruan tropical mangrove sediment, East Java, Indonesia, identified using 16S rRNA gene Sanger sequencing and evaluated their potential to degrade Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polystyrene (PS) microplastics. Biodegradation experiments were conducted in triplicate using 30 ppt mineral salt medium containing 30-day UV-pretreated PET and PS microplastics smaller than 250 µm over a 40-day incubation period. Both strains showed active growth during the experiments, as indicated by OD600 values exceeding those of the control treatment. Results showed that B. thuringiensis achieved higher apparent mass loss on PS (25.78%) than PET (15.92%), while B. cereus displayed similar apparent mass loss for both plastics (26%). Abiotic controls recorded negligible apparent mass loss (PET: 2.02%, PS: 1.73%), confirming that the measured mass reduction was primarily attributable to bacterial activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed surface erosion and morphological changes on both polymers. However, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy detected only minor chemical structure changes. Together, these results point to early-stage biodegradation of UV-pretreated PET and PS, marked by biodeterioration and biofragmentation with limited chemical transformation, providing preliminary evidence of functional microplastic-degrading isolates in Pasuruan mangrove sediment.
Abstract. Nafisah AZ, Efendi D, Sukma D, Nurcholis W. 2026. Colchicine-induced polyploidization and phytochemical evaluation of selected lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) plantlets. Biodiversitas 27 (10): d271005. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d271005. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an introduced aromatic crop in Indonesia, and induced variation can widen its germplasm. We estimated the median Lethal Concentration (LC50) of colchicine for two-node in vitro explants, treated explants around this value, and characterized selected M1V3 lines by flow cytometry, stomatal traits, and colorimetric assays. Survival after 48 h immersion in 0-0.24% colchicine was analyzed with binomial models; the probit model gave an LC50 of 0.147% (95% CI 0.132-0.161%) four weeks after treatment. Explants were then treated with 0, 0.11, 0.14, and 0.17% colchicine. At M1V3, branch number was highest at 0.17% (3.20 versus 1.10 in the control), plantlets from 0.14% had the fewest leaves, and plantlet height did not differ among concentrations. Of five visually selected candidates, flow cytometry indicated one putative tetraploid (K1-B-1.3-1-1; fluorescence ratio 2.22 relative to the diploid control), one mixoploid (K1-B-4.3-1-2), and one putative hexaploid (K3-B-6.3-1-1; ratio 3.23), while two remained diploid. All candidates had lower stomatal density than the control, whereas stomatal size varied widely between leaves of the altered lines, which is consistent with chimerism. In three extraction replicates of pooled tissue per line, mean total flavonoid and phenolic contents and FRAP values of the putative tetraploid and putative hexaploid were 13-32% above those of the diploid control, DPPH values differed by less than 4%, and most extract values overlapped. Because each ploidy class was represented by a single selected line and ploidy stability was not cytologically confirmed, these phytochemical results describe the selected lines rather than a general effect of ploidy.
