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Bucephalandra biotope in Sekadau, West Kalimantan

Indonesia, Sekadau, West Kalimantan

This research has been done in a stream originating in the rainforest of Simerah Putih Waterfall, Sekadau, West Kalimantan, which has slow to moderate water flow. The soil is oxysol or sand that lacks nutrients but is always available.

The temperature 20-28°C.
Transparent water.
pH 6.5 in rain season, more acid in dry season until pH 5.0.
KH-GH 1.0-2.0
TDS 15-22 ppm

Submitted by: Husni Pramudita
Approved by: Greg Martin & Peter Unmack

GPS: -0.1817995, 110.9306335

Geographical region: Southeastern Asia
Drainage Basin: Semerah Putih
River catchment: Semerah Putih
Water body type: Stream
Water body name: Semerah Putih
Water body part: Waterfall
Water body course: Lower course
Water body: tributary of: Stream
Tributary name: Semerah Putih

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type: Fresh water
Water color: Mixed water
Water transparency: Medium
Concentration of sediments: Medium
Water temperature: 20-28 °C
Water flow/curent: Strong

Chemical parameters

pH: 6.5
Conductivity: 3
GH: 1 mg/l
KH: 2 mg/l
Dissolved Oxygen: 2.98 %

Substrate in nature

Sand: Beige
Pebble/Gravel: Mixed
Stone: Black
Stone form: Irregular
Silt/Mud: Beige
Leaves: Many
Driftwood: Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation: Yes

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting: August 10th, 2011
Collecting area: River bank
Water depth: 0,5m
Air temperature: 20 °C
Sunlight: Partial shade

Environment

Environment

Affected by human activity

Affected by human activity

Deforestation

Deforestation

Initial

Surrounding area

A slow to medium streams originating in the rainforest of Sekadau, West Kalimantan (Borneo), where Bucephalandra is most common.

Underwater landscape

The source of the stream is a small waterfall in the hills of Sekadau Hulu. The bottom gravel is brownish. Bucephalandra prefers to grow on land or semi-submersed, although it is also commonly found in water. If water is too hard, the leaves tend to have holes. The water course of the small stream is also filled with fallen leaves, dark stones, driftwood.

Threats to ecology

Large-scale exploration of Bucephalandra for aquascaping decorations in the country or for export abroad. This plant is endemic only to the island of Kalimantan, so the prices become expensive.

On the other hand this plant requires a very long time to propagate in Nature: it needs a long dry season; according to some reliable sources it even requires El Nino and La Nina storms for some species to propagate.

Besides that, what usually happens is land clearing for oil palm cultivation. There is no law protecting the areas with Bucephalandra in Indonesia.