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Sanghyang Kenit Cave is a cave that has an aquatic environment and a potential habitat for plankton. Plankton can be a bioindicator of water because of its sensitivity to the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity, interrelationship factors, and linkages of plankton with the environment in the waters of Sanghyang Kenit Rajamandala Cave, West Bandung. This research was conducted from August 2021 to September 2022. The study employed a purposive sampling method, identifying three sampling zones (The Light, Twilight, and Dark zones) during morning, afternoon, and evening periods. Sampling was done by taking a sample of 10 liters and then filtering using plankton net. The Physico-chemical parameters measured included water temperature, light intensity, pH, DO, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate. Based on the results of data analysis found 4 classes with 12 plankton morphospecies. Diversity index values in the Light zone (1.10), Twilight zone (1.08), and dark zone (1.08). Abundance index value in the light zone is 2.537 cells/l, the twilight zone is 501 cells/l, and the dark zone is 29 cells/l. Diversity and plankton in the waters of Sanghyang Kenit Cave have a very strong correlation with water temperature, light intensity, and pH of water. This can be the basis for the development of further research on the management and monitoring of caves that are used as tourist attractions. Keywords Diversity Plankton Sanghyang Kenit Cave Environment

The Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC) buffer zone is designed to support conservation efforts. However, agriculture in this area is dominated by conventional farming that excessively uses synthetic fertilizers, which threatens soil quality. Introducing an organic fertilizer and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is expected to enhance soil quality recovery in this area. This study aimed to analyze the differences in soil arthropod communities between organic and conventional agriculture and a forest in the TNGC buffer zone to assess soil quality improvement generated by the application of the organic fertilizer and PGPR. Soil arthropods were collected with Berlese-Tullgren funnels and pitfall traps. Several associated environmental parameters, including soil pH, C-organic, temperature, and moisture, were also measured. Data were analyzed using ecological indices (i.e., richness, diversity, evenness, dominance, similarity) and soil biological quality (QBS-ar). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to examine the relation of arthropods with environmental parameters. In total, 957 individuals of soil arthropods belonging to four classes and 15 orders were recorded. Berlese-Tullgren and pitfall traps resulted in a similar tendency in most variables, with higher richness, diversity, and evenness values in the forest, followed by organic and conventional habitats. In addition, similarity and QBS-ar indicated that forest and organic communities were more similar than conventional community. C-organic, soil moisture and pH were considered the most deciding environmental parameters for arthropod assemblages. All measured variables in this study illustrated better soil quality in organic than in conventional agriculture. This study implicates the benefit of utilizing organic fertilizers and PGPR for soil quality restoration in agroecosystems.

Arthropods are the most dominant fauna in cave realms. Ecological studies of cave-dwelling arthropods are essential for cave ecosystem conservation. This study was conducted to determine the ecological aspects of macroarthropods in Cikarae Cave, West Java, focusing on their diversity, distribution, and community structure. The cave passage was divided into three zones based on environmental disparities. Data collection was carried out through direct search and counting methods. Data were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and several ecological indices (diversity, evenness, and dominance). Nineteen macroarthropod morphospecies were recorded and distributed among 5 classes, 11 orders, and 18 families. Most of these morphospecies were troglophiles. A new troglobitic species (Isopoda: Philosciidae) with a high degree of troglomorphy and exclusive microhabitat was registered. Most morphospecies were collected in Zone 1 (17), followed by Zone 3 (9) and Zone 2 (8). Collected macroarthropods preferred cave walls over floors and ceilings. Overall, Cikarae showed a low diversity index (0.782) and evenness (0.265), while dominance was relatively high (0.692). Trachyjulus tjampeanus, Rhaphidophora sp., and Theridiosomatidae sp. were the most dominant taxa.

Cave crickets are considered as a keystone species that can be used as a cave ecosystem bioindicator. Developing caves as tourism has considerable potential to disturb cave cricket populations. This study aimed to investigate cave cricket population structure and their habitat preference in Sanghyang Kenit cave one year after it developed into a show cave. Data were collected through standardized visual searching in three cave zones: entrance, twilight, and dark. Besides cave crickets, other macroarthropods discovered in each zone were also recorded. Abiotic parameters of habitat comprised air and soil temperatures, RH, soil moisture, soil pH, and light intensity were measured. Data were analyzed to show cave crickets abundance, density, sex ratio, and age structure. Statistical analysis comprising Kruskal Wallis, non-metric multidimensional scaling, and correlation tests were performed. The cave cricket population in Sanghyang Kenit belonged to a single species, Rhaphidophora sp. The population was around 78-108 individuals and distributed in all cave zones. The abundance and density in twilight and dark zones were significantly higher than in the entrance. The number of males outperformed females with a 2.16 ratio. Besides, the population was dominated by the sub-adult class. Environmental parameters of twilight and dark zones tended to be similar to one another compared to the entrance. Cave crickets preferred habitats with dark, humid, and acidic soil pH. Heteropoda sp. and Catagaeus sp. were considered potential predators. This study implies the importance of protecting cave crickets in Sanghyang Kenit.