Population genetics and ecology of Sumatran camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica) in natural and community-owned forests in Indonesia

Abstract

Ritonga FN, Dwiyanti FG, Kusmana C, Siregar UJ, Siregar IZ. 2018. Population genetics and ecology of Sumatran camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica) in natural and community-owned forests in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 2175-2182. Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f. (Sumatran camphor) is a valuable tree species that produces borneol (camphor) and good-quality timber. However, the population of this species has declined due to illegal logging and conversion of forests into plantations and has been classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This study aimed to examine the genetic variation and spatial distribution of this species in a community-owned forest (Barus) and two natural forests (Singkohor and Danau Paris) in Indonesia using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA marker. The results of this study showed that D. aromatica had moderate levels of genetic variation (expected heterozygosity [He] = 0.1760 [Barus population] to 0.2134 [Singkohor population]) and genetic differentiation (Nei’s Gst = 0.1257). The genetic distance was the smallest between the Singkohor and Danau Paris populations (Nei’s distance = 0.0363) and greatest between the Singkohor and Barus populations (Nei’s distance = 0.0534). The spatial distribution of D. aromatica was grouped in both Barus and Danau Paris based on Morisita’s index of diversity (ip = 0.06 and 0.043, respectively). These findings indicated that genetic conservation might be performed in situ in combination with enrichment planting using locally propagated sources.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic position of Taxus sumatrana (Miq.) de Laub. (Taxaceae) in Sumatra, Indonesia based on trnL-trnF region

“…Similar investigations carried out in Sumatra have demonstrated a positive correlation between geographic and genetic distances. This phenomenon is evident in the population structuring of species like Styrax sumatrana (Rachmat et al 2017), Eurycoma apiculata (Zulfahmi et al 2021), Hopea hainanensis (Wang et al 2020), dan Dryobalanops aromatica (Ritonga et al 2018). Furthermore, several studies on Taxus also support the significant influence of physical barriers on the genetic structure of the species, as seen in Taxus baccata (Litkowiec et al 2018;Maroso et al 2021;Komárková et al 2022;Hematzadeh et al 2023), and Taxus wallichiana var.…”

How Wood Identification Technologies Help Ensure Timber Legality in Indonesia

“…Stable isotope and DNA analysis were able to distinguish merbau that originated in Papua, Indonesia, from merbau that originated in Papua New Guinea. Cao et al 2009;Lee et al 2016;Lowe and Cross 2011;Ritonga et al 2018. analysis had not yet been applied in illegal logging investigations in Indonesia, but some researchers outside of Indonesia have shown its potential to distinguish timber origin.…”