Spatial Distribution of Maleo Birds (Macrocephalon maleo) In Three Sites of Central Sulawesi: Impacts of Environmental Change and Habitat Degradation

¹ Program of Biology Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Luwuk Banggai, Jl. KH Ahmad Dahlan, Luwuk, 94771, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
² Program of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
³ Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Jl. Ompi, Ampana District City, Una-Una Regency, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo) is a species endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, belonging to the Megapodiidae family and known for its unique egg-laying behavior, which involves using geothermal heat or the sun to incubate its eggs in warm sandy soil. Research on the spatial distribution of maleo birds and the impact of environmental change and habitat degradation in Sulawesi is still limited. This study aimed to determine the spatial distribution of maleo birds at Three Sites of Central Sulawesi (LNG-Batui ring road Batui, Bualemo, and Tojo Districts). Spatial distribution analysis using the Morisita Index and the relationship between maleo birds and environmental factors were performed using R Studio 4.5.1. The Equipment used to measure the environmental temperature and humidity (thermohygrometer), pH measurement for soil/sand, wind speed (anemometer), light intensity (lux meter), coordinate points, and height (GPS). All Morisita Index values exceeded 1, indicating that birds at each site were distributed in clustered patterns rather than randomly or uniformly. This study identified sand temperature as the most influential environmental factor affecting the abundance of maleo birds.Sand temperature plays an important role in maleo reproductive ecology because it relies on external heat from sand to incubate its eggs.