Estimation of ecological carrying capacity of the timor deer (Cervus timorensis) habitat in Cikamal Grassland Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Firdaus FI, Irwanto RR, Sumarga E. 2022. Estimation of ecological carrying capacity of the timor deer (Cervus timorensis) habitat in Cikamal Grassland Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 8: 31-38. Timor deer (Cervus timorensis, de Blainville 1822) is a protected, vast distribution animal in Indonesia, including Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Timor deer in this area often move outside the nature reserve, which is potentially dangerous for the deer and people in the area. This phenomenon was related to the destruction of the deer grazing area in the Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve. Until 2009 there were three feeding grounds in Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve: Badeto, Nanggorak, and Cikamal. However, currently, only the Cikamal feeding ground remains. To rehabilitate the function of the Cikamal feeding ground area, this study was conducted to determine the carrying capacity of the Cikamal feeding ground habitat to accommodate the current deer population. This research includes a study of the population of timor deer and the productivity of deer forage plants in feeding grounds in Cikamal. The method used in this research is a population census, analysis of undergrowth vegetation, field experiments in the form of cutting and weighing of vegetation periodically, and estimation of carrying capacity based on the productivity of forage plants and the level of timor deer feed consumption. The results showed that the population of timor deer in the Pananjung Pangandaran area was 43, consisting of 17 adult males, 14 adult females, 2 young males, 2 young females, and 8 juveniles. The percentage of deer feed plants in the Cikamal area was 68.33% in an area of ??4.4 hectares with details: Cynodon dactylon 53.00%, Abildgaardia ovata 8.20%, Chrysopogon aciculatus 6.40%, Grona triflora 0.60%, and Axonopus compressus 0.13%. The productivity of deer feed plants in Cikamal based on fresh weight was 63,408 kg/year, while the estimated carrying capacity of the Cikamal grassland as a habitat for Timor deer is 18 deer/year.