Abstract. Setyawan AD, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Sunarto, Sulton MN. 2026. Climatic and elevational drivers of Selaginella species richness in Java, Indonesia. Nusantara Bioscience 18 (1): n180106. https://doi.org/10.13057/nusbiosci/n180106. Understanding environmental factors that shape species richness patterns, yet the determinants of Selaginella diversity in Java, Indonesia, remain poorly understood. Selaginella, an ancient lycophyte genus widely distributed in tropical regions, is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly moisture availability and temperature. This study examined the relationships between Selaginella species richness and elevational and climatic gradients across Java, Indonesia. A total of 1,962 occurrence records representing 21 identified species and one unidentified taxon were compiled from field surveys, herbarium collections, and verified biodiversity databases. Species richness was estimated using a 0.25° × 0.25° grid system and spatially visualized through Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation. The influence of elevation, Annual Mean Temperature, Annual Mean Precipitation, Annual Mean Solar Radiation, and Annual Mean Moisture Index on species richness was evaluated using polynomial regression, Pearson correlation analysis, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Species richness showed pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with hotspots concentrated in the humid montane regions of West Java. Richness exhibited nonlinear relationships with all environmental variables and peaked at intermediate elevations. Annual Mean Moisture Index (R² = 0.616) and Annual Mean Precipitation (R² = 0.527) were the variables most strongly associated with species richness, whereas Annual Mean Temperature and solar radiation showed negative relationships. Correlation and PCA results further indicated that moisture availability is closely linked to richness patterns, while elevation influences richness indirectly through its effects on local climatic conditions. These findings demonstrate that humid submontane and montane environments are critical for maintaining Selaginella diversity in Java and highlight the importance of conserving climatically suitable habitats under future environmental change.
Abstract. Setyawan AD, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Sunarto, Nursamsi I, Sulton MN, Nugroho GD. 2026. Prediction of potential climate change impacts on the geographic distribution shift of Selaginella kraussiana and S. uncinata in East, South and Southeast Asia. Nusantara Bioscience 18 (1): n180105. https://doi.org/10.13057/nusbiosci/n180105. Climate change is increasingly altering the geographic distribution of invasive plant species, yet comparative assessments of closely related invasive taxa remain limited. This study evaluated the potential impacts of climate change on the future distribution of two invasive lycophytes, Selaginella kraussiana and S. uncinata, across East, South, and Southeast Asia. Species distribution models were developed using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm based on occurrence records compiled from GBIF, field observations, and published literature. The models incorporated 15 environmental variables representing bioclimatic, edaphic, UVB-radiation, and topographic factors. Future habitat suitability was projected for 2030, 2050, and 2080 under four Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). Model performance was high for both species, with AUC values of 0.935 for S. kraussiana and 0.966 for S. uncinata, indicating excellent predictive accuracy. Environmental controls differed markedly between the species. Selaginella kraussiana was primarily associated with temperature-related variables, particularly the minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio_6), whereas S. uncinata was more strongly associated with annual precipitation (bio_12) and other moisture-related variables. Future projections indicated substantial habitat expansion for S. kraussiana, with total suitable habitat increasing from 11.47 × 10⁶ km² under current conditions to 16.43 × 10⁶ km² under RCP 8.5 by 2080. Expansion was projected mainly into higher-latitude and higher-elevation subtropical and temperate regions. In contrast, S. uncinata exhibited relatively stable distribution patterns, with total suitable habitat changing only slightly from 2.95 × 10⁶ km² to 3.04 × 10⁶ km² across future climate scenarios. These findings suggest that S. kraussiana may experience a greater climate-driven increase in invasion potential than S. uncinata and demonstrate the value of integrating species distribution modeling with ecological interpretation to support invasion-risk assessment, early detection, and climate-adaptive management of invasive lycophytes in Asia.
Abstract. Setyawan AD, Chikmawati T, Miftahudin, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Sunarto. 2025. Short Communication: Exploratory AFLP-based genetic structuring among selected Selaginella species from Indonesia. Nusantara Bioscience 17 (2): 375-386. Selaginella is one of the oldest groups of living vascular plants and helps us understand how early land plants evolved and diversified. Despite its ecological and morphological diversity, molecular data remain limited for many tropical species. This study presents an exploratory assessment of multilocus genetic structuring among selected Selaginella species using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. AFLP profiles were generated using four selective primer combinations, producing a total of 248 polymorphic fragments. Genetic similarity among species was quantified using Jaccard’s coefficient, and patterns of multilocus resemblance were examined through UPGMA clustering and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Pairwise similarity values ranged from 0.59 to 1.00, indicating a continuum of genetic differentiation rather than sharply delimited genetic groups. UPGMA clustering and PCoA revealed two broad species assemblages and substantial variation in multilocus genetic similarity among the analyzed taxa. The clustering pattern showed partial correspondence with major growth-form categories, with predominantly creeping to ascending species grouped separately from taxa exhibiting a cypress-like habit together with S. ornata. At the same time, several morphologically distinct species exhibited relatively high AFLP similarity, highlighting both congruence and incongruence between molecular and morphological patterns. Because the final comparative analyses were based on representative AFLP profiles for each species, the results should be regarded as an exploratory overview of interspecific multilocus differentiation rather than an assessment of intraspecific variation. Although AFLP markers do not permit direct phylogenetic inference, the findings provide a useful molecular baseline for future studies employing broader sampling and sequence-based or genomic approaches. Our findings demonstrate the value of integrating multilocus AFLP data with morphological evidence to better understand genetic structuring and species relationships in Selaginella. Although exploratory in nature, this study provides a useful molecular baseline for future sequence-based and genomic investigations.
Handayani T, Wawangningrum H, Yuzammi, Efendi M, Yulistyarini T. 2026. Functional guild complementarity and morphological filtering in Annonaceae seed dispersal within a managed tropical garden. Nusantara Bioscience 18 (1): n180103. https://doi.org/10.13057/nusbiosci/n180103. Understanding the mechanisms that structure plant-frugivore interactions in managed ex situ environments is essential for maintaining Seed Dispersal Effectiveness (SDE), genetic diversity, and long-term plant persistence. This study assessed the possible morphological filtering effect of Annonaceae fruit and seed traits on four co-existing frugivore guilds (birds, bats, squirrels, and civets) in the protected environment of the Bogor Botanical Gardens (BBG), Indonesia. To ensure a comprehensive dataset, we performed detailed morphological measurements and conducted twice-weekly observations across 22 Annonaceae species to identify fruit consumption patterns. We recorded fruit color, size, and shape, and statistically tested the classical morphological filtering hypothesis using Chi-Square, ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analyses. Our results showed a generally generalist interaction system, with the apocarpous fruit type being the most prevalent (12 species). The morphological specialization hypothesis was rejected, as fruit and seed size dimensions did not significantly correlate with specific visitor guilds (chi(2) = 9.793, df = 18, P = 0.938). Spearman's rank correlation confirmed strong internal morphological constraints within the fruit (rho> 0.70, P < 0.05), while no external ecological filtering regarding animal attraction was detected (rho> 0.70, P > 0.05). This pattern indicates that frugivores in these managed collections exhibit high behavioral flexibility, utilizing a broad range of resources regardless of specific morphological traits. Despite this lack of strict matching, SDE is maintained through functional guild complementarity: bats act as long-distance dispersal specialists, while civets provide niche coverage for the largest fruits. However, the aggregated seed clumps deposited by civets remain a concern for recruitment. These findings show that generalist interactions, supported by complementary guild functions, underpin effective seed dispersal. Conserving the full frugivore assemblage is therefore critical to sustaining ecological processes in botanical gardens and should directly inform faunal management strategies.
Nacionales AMB, Paguntalan DP. 2026. Disease assessment and pathogenicity of Phomopsis spp. in fruits of eggplants (Solanum melongena) in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. Nusantara Bioscience 18 (1): n180102. https://doi.org/10.13057/nusbiosci/n180102. Fruit rot is an economically important disease affecting eggplant (Solanum melongena) production worldwide. This study assessed the incidence, severity, and economic impact of fruit rot in Barangay Oyungan, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines and characterized its causal pathogen. Across three harvests, disease incidence averaged 35.05%, with 14.75% specifically attributed to fruit rot. The Percent Disease Index (PDI) was consistently high (mean 54.79%). Economic losses were substantial, with rejected fruit peaking at 51.55% of the harvest on 17 March 2024. Morpho-cultural characterization of fungal isolates revealed nine colonies, of which AES2R3 and AES3R3 exhibited typical Phomopsis spp. characteristics. AES2R3 produced both alpha-and beta-conidia, whereas AES3R3 produced only alpha-conidia. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that both isolates were pathogenic, producing characteristic sunken, gray-to-brown lesions and dark pycnidia by 22 days post-inoculation. These findings establish that Phomopsis spp. is a major cause of eggplant fruit rot in the locality and demonstrate its significant impact on yield and quality. Results highlight the importance of implementing integrated disease management strategies, varietal screening, and seasonal monitoring to reduce losses and support farmer profitability. This is the first study to report the occurrence of Phomopsis species causing fruit rot in Miagao, Iloilo.
