Our project aims at providing a pioneering study of ant communities in different habitats in both Indonesian National Parks.

Indonesia is a country harbouring rich biodiversity due to its tropical climate, unique geological history, and archipelagic nature. Unfortunately, the economic pressures result in destruction of natural habitats there, threatening the existence of the biodiversity.

Ants, though seemingly trivial, possess ecological dominance in most terrestrial habitats, especially in the tropics. Consisting of high species diversity, ants disperse into various niches and play major role as small invertebrate predators. In Indonesia, ants are considered little studied, even in the basic field study of taxonomy, and much new knowledge of this group is yet to be discovered.

Ujung Kulon and Gede Pangrango are both well known National Parks in Java. Ujung Kulon contains Krakatau volcano and Javan rhino, while Gede Pangrango is a popular recreational and educational site for many people from the major cities nearby.

The study of ant communities in these sites will provide a baseline knowledge of ant ecology which are useful to recognize many aspects of the habitats they live in, including the degree of anthropogenic disturbance in the area. The result may then be used as a starting point for a long term monitoring study to assess the ant communities dynamics. From the outcome this project, we will also give recommendations to the local authorities regarding the management practices of the National Parks under study.

The project objectives are:

1) assessing ant community along various habitat types, namely: coastal vegetation, mangrove, tropical lowland forest, savannah, montane forest, subalpine forest;

2) constructing Java ant reference collection;

3) promoting public awareness regarding Indonesian ant diversity and its significance.

Results will be presented in scientific journals, seminars, posters, and website about Indonesian ants. We expect the publications could reach the general public, both local or international, to get them to appreciate the diversity of Indonesian ants, which would ultimately direct the people to the conservation efforts for ants and their natural habitats.