Diversity of raptors at different habitat in Nature Reserve/Natural Tourism Park of Kawah Kamojang, Garut, West Java

Abstract

The Nature Reserve/Natural Tourism Park of Kawah Kamojang has been fragmented and degraded by population growth and regional development, as well as disturbed by illegal logging and poaching. Accordingly, its function as conservation area has largely been decreased. This condition has created differences in the occurring habitat types, from natural forests to secondary natural forests, plantation forests, farmland and grassland. The presence of raptor as top predators can be used as one of indicators in the environmental changes. This study was conducted to determine the diversity and evenness index of eagle in relation to different habitats. The study was conducted in May 2019 using descriptive methods and sampling using the IPA method. The study found five species of raptor: Spilornis cheela, Ictinaetus malayensis, Nisaetus cirrhatus, Accipiter trivirgatus and Falco molluccensis. They spread separately in each habitat type. The habitat that has a highest diversity index value was secondary natural forest (H' = 1,434) and the lowest was plantation forest (H' = 0). In addition, the diversity index in plantation forest and grasslands had almost the same value, (H' = 1,389 for farmland and H' = 1,386 for grassland). The index value indicated that eagles were more dependent on the existence of natural forests. Eagles used forest habitats to hunt, perch and breed and used open areas (farmland and grassland) for hunting.