Magnitudes and tourist perception of marine debris on small tourism island: Assessment of Tidung Island, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The sources of marine debris (MD) on a small island are largely dependent on the activities on and around the island, one of which is tourism. In this study, the magnitude and tourists' perceptions of MD on a small tourism island (Tidung Islands, Jakarta, Indonesia) were assessed. The results indicated that the tourism is one of the largest waste-generating sources. Plastic waste formed the major proportion of the solid waste, accounting for 83.86% of the total. The unmanaged tourism waste led to a clean-coastal index corresponding to the category "extremely dirty" and decreasing visitors' acceptance index. The resulting conditions will make the tourism unsustainable. In tourism, waste management should be focused on, including prevention and collaborative actions with residents and tourism actors. In addition, the tourist awareness campaigns must be conducted prior to tourist-visitation on the island.

Marine debris in Indonesia: A review of research and status.

With the status as the world's top contributor of marine plastic debris, Indonesia has committed to reduce marine plastic debris up to 70% in 2025 by establishing the National Action Plan (NAP) on Marine Debris. The high amount of marine plastic debris as a result of transport and accumulation become a complex issue in Indonesia due to its ocean-atmospheric circulation, high population of coastal communities, and marine activities. Based on our findings, there are gap of publications related to marine debris in Indonesia that had been already published. Marine debris is ubiquitous and transboundary, as they were found in marine environment and transported by currents to various direction including uninhabited islands, thus, we propose more comprehensive future research about the impact of marine debris on ecosystem (e.g. biological impact of organisms in the water column, ecological alteration in distribution pattern, and invasive species), human health, and economic loss.

The Invisible Carbon Footprint as a hidden impact of peatland degradation inducing marine carbonate dissolution in Sumatra, Indonesia.

In Indonesia, land use change (LUC) in the form of peatland degradation induces carbon loss through direct CO2 emissions, but also via soil leaching of which circa 50% is decomposed and emitted as CO2 from the rivers. However, the fate of the remaining exported leached carbon is uncertain. Here, we show that the majority of this carbon is respired in the estuaries and emitted to the atmosphere. However, a portion is adsorbed into the marine carbon pool where it favors CaCO3 dissolution and can therefore be seen as the invisible carbon footprint. We conclude that the effects of LUC stretch beyond the terrestrial realm and are not limited to CO2 emissions, but also affect marine ecosystems. Considering the ecological and economical importance of these ecosystems, it is important that this so far invisible carbon footprint, as well as the aquatic and marine CO2 emissions, are included in climate mitigation strategies.

Population status of a cryptic top predator: an island-wide assessment of tigers in Sumatran rainforests.

Large carnivores living in tropical rainforests are under immense pressure from the rapid conversion of their habitat. In response, millions of dollars are spent on conserving these species. However, the cost-effectiveness of such investments is poorly understood and this is largely because the requisite population estimates are difficult to achieve at appropriate spatial scales for these secretive species. Here, we apply a robust detection/non-detection sampling technique to produce the first reliable population metric (occupancy) for a critically endangered large carnivore; the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). From 2007-2009, seven landscapes were surveyed through 13,511 km of transects in 394 grid cells (17×17 km). Tiger sign was detected in 206 cells, producing a naive estimate of 0.52. However, after controlling for an unequal detection probability (where p = 0.13±0.017; ±S.E.), the estimated tiger occupancy was 0.72±0.048. Whilst the Sumatra-wide survey results gives cause for optimism, a significant negative correlation between occupancy and recent deforestation was found. For example, the Northern Riau landscape had an average deforestation rate of 9.8%/yr and by far the lowest occupancy (0.33±0.055). Our results highlight the key tiger areas in need of protection and have led to one area (Leuser-Ulu Masen) being upgraded as a 'global priority' for wild tiger conservation. However, Sumatra has one of the highest global deforestation rates and the two largest tiger landscapes identified in this study will become highly fragmented if their respective proposed roads networks are approved. Thus, it is vital that the Indonesian government tackles these threats, e.g. through improved land-use planning, if it is to succeed in meeting its ambitious National Tiger Recovery Plan targets of doubling the number of Sumatran tigers by 2022.

Genetic, antigenic and serologic characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from Indonesia.

To examine the genetic and antigenic characteristics of HIV-1 in Indonesia, samples from 19 HIV-positive volunteers were studied. By a combination of PCR typing and DNA sequence analysis, 12 of the 19 volunteers were determined to be infected with HIV-1 clade B and seven with clade E. Six of the seven Indonesian clade E isolates were from volunteers associated with the Indonesian Military during a peacekeeping mission in Cambodia. Infectivity reduction neutralization assays showed that the Indonesian E viruses were effectively neutralized by Thailand clade E HIV-1 antisera but not by U.S. clade B antisera. The Indonesian clade B virus tested was neutralized by U.S. clade B antisera and not by the Thailand E antisera. Using a previously described serologic typing ELISA based on clade B and E V3 peptides, genetic clade was accurately determined in eight of eight sera tested. This is the first report of the genetic and antigenic analysis of HIV-1 isolates from Indonesia. The data indicate that at least two genetic and antigenic HIV-1 clades (clade E and B) circulate in Indonesia.

Two years' investigation of epidemic hepatitis E virus transmission in West Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia.

Two years' follow-up investigation of a hepatitis E virus (HEV) outbreak in West Kalimantan, Indonesia in 1991 was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of epidemic HEV transmission and the persistence of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response. Sixty cases identified as anti-HEV IgG positive during the outbreak in 1991 were matched with 67 controls and examined, together with 318 members of their families. Overall, the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among the 445 subjects (representing 127 households) was 59%. There was no significant difference in anti-HEV prevalence between cases (72%) and controls (61%). Loss of detectable anti-HEV IgG after 2 years was demonstrated in 17 of 60 subjects (28%) who were originally positive for anti-HEV in 1991. The mean number of anti-HEV positive subjects per household was 2.04. Cross-sectional prevalence of anti-HEV IgG increased significantly with age (P = 0.01). When communities were grouped into areas of low (< 40%), medium (40-59%) and high (> or = 60%) anti-HEV prevalence, use of river water for drinking and cooking (P < 0.001), personal washing (P < 0.0001), and human excreta disposal (P < 0.001) were associated with high prevalence communities. Conversely, boiling drinking water was negatively associated with increased prevalence (P = 0.02). Subnormal rainfall during the month (August) leading up to the 1991 outbreak (19 cm compared to the monthly mean of 209 cm in 1985-1993) may have contributed to favourable epidemic conditions.