Frog Could Be Environmental Indicators

Frog expert scientists from Bogor Agricultural University, Dr Mirza D Kusrini suggests these animals may be an indicator of the environment in a region, so its presence should be maintained in order to remain sustainable.

"There are at least two factors related to the frog as an indicator of the environment," said researchers from the Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) was in the arena of the annual meeting of ATBC (Association for Tropical and Conservation) in Sanur, Bali Province, Thursday (22 / 7) .


In the ATBC meeting which followed about 900 domestic and foreign scientists, he explains the first factor, there are frogs that are known if he was there somewhere, which means that the environment is bad because he was able to enter the area. He gave reference of a popular frog-called "dirty frog."

"If we go into the woods and suddenly there was a frog dirty means soon there will be a village," he said. According to him, there is a frog species in Kalimantan, which is very invasive, so there is a new area is opened, the animal suddenly entered, but there's another one where the frog to particular kinds of tadpoles were just want to live in clear water and no toxic .

"So if there is pollution, he will disappear or will become disabled," he said. Whether the phenomenon is already happening in Indonesia, he explained until now there has been no study that strengthens, only the most feared in the event of habitat destruction and environmental damage, it is not impossible possible.

He menyontohkan in Borneo there are species of frogs that do not have lungs, it was the only one in the world. Frog breathing through two things namely the lungs and skin, so that water and oxygen enter through the skin directly.

In the case of frog species in Borneo, with absolutely no lungs and must stay in the cold upstream, highly saturated with oxygen, and the frog in the water and never rise up again.

"Well, the problem in Borneo was now starting to have mercury former illegal mining of gold, and that's what it is feared that the frogs could be lost," said Mickey - Mirza D Kusrini panggilang friend who is also President of the Community Herpetology of Indonesia.

While the second factor that could be an indicator, he said, there are several types of highly endemic frog, so he will not everywhere. Sebaga example, in research that does exist Cibeureum frogs in the area had a population of Mount Gede Pangrango there are only three places in Cibodas.

"It can still be found in the frog's ecosystem, but one place that has been lost in the highlands, we are worried about possible global warming, peerubahan temperature, disease, will be changed," he said.

When asked what is the impact if the frog does not exist anymore, according to him, the animals are part of the ecosystem of a chain of inter-related with other, like frogs eat insects, some frogs as predators at the same time, so if there is one eye Broken chains will interfere in its entirety.

ATBC is the oldest and largest professional organization in the world in terms of tropical biology and conservation. The organization has conducted regular annual meetings since 1963, especially in tropical countries and in 2010 Indonesia hosted for the first time by the responsible activity, LIPI and Universitas Indonesia.

ATBC which was formed in 1963 as its mission to empower and facilitate the exchange of research ideas in the field of tropical biology and the environment. As an association, ATBC publishes an international scientific publication which has become one of the most prominent publications in the field of Biotropica.

ATBC underway with a comprehensive focus, ranging from systematics to ecology, from microorganisms to large-sized flora and fauna, from freshwater to forests and oceans. Today ATBC even include the human dimension, taking into account the human interaction is often very decisive role of the disciplines of biology, and their interaction.

ATBC annual meeting is an important meeting, so that also operate conducted in various parts of the world, as an example the year 2001 in Bangalore, India (Symposia), in 2002 in Panama City, Panama (Symposia), in 2003 in Aberdeen, UK (Abstracts), 2004 in Miami, United States (Abstracts), 2005 in Uberlbndia, Brazil (Symposia), in 2006 in Kunming, China (Abstracts).

Then, in 2007 in Morelia, Mexico (Abstracts), 2008 in Paramaribo, Suriname (Abstracts), year 2009 in Marburg, Germany, while in 2010 in Indonesia with the theme "Tropical Diversity: Facing Food Crisis, Energy and Climate Change" ` .

In the meeting discussed matters of Coastal and Marine Biodiversity, Climate Change and Forestry-based Carbon, Health and Conservation, Traditional Knowledge Systems, Ecosystems in Papua and Papua New Guinea, Biogeography in Wallacea, Latter-utan, Ornithology, Entomology, and many others.

Activities that have been officially begins on July 19, 2010, on Wednesday (21 / 7) was opened by Vice President Boediono, and will end on Friday (23 / 7). Vice President Boediono said, the Government of Indonesia has committed to remove carbon dioxide emission by 26 commanded in 2020.

"To realize the commitment that our efforts have been done, including forest conservation and the environment," he said. He also said the government's policy to prioritize food security and energy in an effort to deal with climate change.

Therefore, Boediono said, the preservation of the natural environment must be maintained, including the balance between conservation and exploitation. "We have entered into an agreement of cooperation with Norway in terms of forest conservation and habitat," Kalla said.

Head of Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Prof. Dr. Lukman Hakim said the meeting was expected to make Indonesia a bigger role in biodiversity issues at the international level.

Declaration that will be produced at the meeting will be an input to various international conventions that the ends will be the benchmark for every state in making laws or regulations in their respective countries.

During this time, the countries that do not have the biodiversity, such as countries in Europe, even more dominant in this case, "he said. Dia mengatakan berbagai findings from the research done is expected to be the basis for decision-makers." We want knowledge and research and policy were not far apart, "he said