Dragonfly (Odonata) assemblages in contrasting riparian land uses of Central Halmahera: An exploratory baseline survey and its prospects for biology learning

Abdu Masud; Zulkifli Ahmad; Sundari Sundari

doi:10.33387/j.edu.v24i2.13006

Authors

Abdu Masud Universitas Khairun https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5813-7187
Zulkifli Ahmad Universitas Khairun https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5488-5962
Sundari Sundari Universitas Khairun https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9440-3350

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33387/j.edu.v24i2.13006

Keywords:

Bioindicator, Habitat disturbance, Halmahera, Odonata, Riparian

Abstract

Wallacean odonates remain poorly documented, and biology courses at Universitas Khairun lack curated local data on freshwater insects for research-based learning. This exploratory study documented adult dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) under three contrasting riparian land uses in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, and outlined how the data could support biology learning. Six sites (two each near forest, agriculture/plantation, and settlement/industry) were surveyed once in August–September 2026 along ±300 m bank transects. Richness was compared using rarefaction of Hill numbers standardised to six individuals, with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. In total, 38 individuals of seven taxa from five families were recorded. No taxon was shared among land-use categories, but replicate sites within categories also shared no taxa. Rarefied richness was 2.00 (95% CI 1.66–2.34) for forest, 2.80 (2.23–3.37) for agriculture/plantation, and 1.29 (1.00–1.71) for settlement/industry, where Ischnura senegalensis from one drainage ditch dominated. Drepanosticta sp. and Rhinocypha sp. occurred only in shaded forest streams. Because land use was confounded with elevation, stream type, location, and date, these differences are descriptive. The data provide a baseline and testable hypotheses for replicated sampling, and we propose, but have not yet evaluated, integrating them into biology courses through course-based field research.

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Author Biographies

Abdu Masud, Universitas Khairun

Biology Education Study Program

Zulkifli Ahmad, Universitas Khairun

Master's Biology Education Study Program

Sundari Sundari, Universitas Khairun

Pharmacy Study Program

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