Species diversity Mekongga World Riveting

The team of researchers from the University of California-Davis, United States, fascinated by the diversity of biodiversity that they found in Mekongga Mountains, Southeast Sulawesi. From the results of the research while, the team concluded that Mekongga Mountains is one of the areas with the richest biodiversity in the world.

"During the research in Mekongga, we see diversity (biodiversity) is remarkable," says Professor Lynn Kimsey, Saturday (23/07/2011). Lynn is one of the entomologists (insect) which for the past month conduct joint research team from the Indonesian Institute of Science in the Mountains Mekongga.

Lynn added that during the research in the mountains located in Kolaka and North Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, he managed to collect 100,000 samples of insects. Of that number, half are predicted Lynn is a new kind that has never encountered before.

Director of the Bohart Museum of UC-Davis also added, compared to some places that have examined, such as Chile, Panama, Papua, and Australia, the insects were found in Mekongga has a unique character. "For example, we found a giant bee in the world (along the 4 cm) are not found anywhere else," he said.

Over the past month, the combined team LIPI and UC-Davis is doing advanced research in the Mountains Mekongga within the framework of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group-Indonesia, which has been ongoing since 2009. This study aimed to assess biodiversity Mekongga Mountains and saw the prospect of flora and fauna that can be used for pharmaceuticals, energy, disease or pest.

In addition to Lynn, there are two other experts from UC-Davis, namely Bob Kimsey (entomology) and Alan Thomas Hitch (vertebrate ecology). The LIPI team of 18 experts consisting of flora and fauna, such as expert mammals, plants, reptiles, birds, and fish, which one of his team leader is an expert botanist LIPI, Elizabeth A Widjaja.

Posted in: Flora,Sains