Stream in Aik Seruk, Spot 2, Sijuk District, Belitung, Indonesia

Environment

Environment

Untouched

Surrounding area

This biotope is located deep within the forest, far from human settlements, and serves as a tributary of the Aik Seruk River. The area is rich in wildlife and native plant species.

It is rarely visited, except by local fishermen, hunters, and researchers. As a result, the ecosystem remains largely undisturbed and well-preserved.

Underwater landscape

The water conditions in this biotope are quite dynamic. At times, the water is clear; at other times, it is slightly darkened by tannins, likely due to logging activities for oil palm plantations upstream. After rainfall, the water often becomes somewhat murky.

The riverbed consists of a mixture of gravel, soil, and rocks, while the banks are lined with tree roots, driftwood, stones, and fallen branches. As you move deeper into the forest along this tributary, aquatic vegetation becomes more noticeable—though I have yet to identify the specific plant species present. I hope to return and explore this stream further to collect more detailed observations.

Fish list:

• Rasbora cf. patrickyapi (Danionidae)
• Desmopuntius gemellus (Cyprinidae)
• Brevibora cheeya (Danionidae)
• Rasbora einthovenii (Danionidae)

Threats to ecology

Belitung is currently facing an environmental crisis due to widespread deforestation driven by the expansion of oil palm plantations, posing a serious threat to the island’s native flora and fauna.

We have observed that several areas near the biotope site have already been converted into oil palm fields. Moreover, some locations where wild Betta fish were once commonly found are now seeing a significant decline in their presence. We sincerely hope the Indonesian government will take meaningful action to preserve Belitung’s rich biodiversity.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat

Many -

Bibliography

• → UPAYA PELESTARIAN IKAN ENDEMIK KEPULAUAN BANGKA BELITUNG by Bidayani, E., Robin, R., & Anjani, T. P.
  
• Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) by Liao, T. Y., Kullander, S. O., & Fang, F.
  
• Desmopuntius gemellus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 by Ng, H. H. (2019). Desmopuntius gemellus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T181308A1720074.
  
• First record of Saddle Barb, Barbodes sellifer Kottelat & Lim 2021 (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), on Belitung, Indonesia, with an update of its geographic distribution by Hasan V, South J, Valen FS, Andriyono S, Vieira LO, Sambah AB, & Ottoni FP. (2024). First record of Saddle Barb, Barbodes sellifer Kottelat & Lim 2021 (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), on Belitung, Indonesia, with an update of its geographic distribution. Check List, 20(2), 524-9. DOI: 10.15560/20.2.
  

Sitography

Comment by the expert