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Dian Rosleine, Ph.D., stated that this field course is one of the mandatory components of the Biosystematics Course, designed to provide students with direct learning experiences in studying marine ecosystems, coastal forests, lowland forests, and grasslands, along with the diverse animal and plant species that inhabit them.

Students are not only taught how to collect animal and plant specimens using standard methods, but also learn appropriate preservation techniques for each taxon.

“Furthermore, the outcome of this field course activity aims to equip students with the ability to directly recognize the distinctive characteristics of various taxa – both animal and plant – in their natural environment, as well as train cooperation in groups. Hopefully, this field study experience can broaden students’ understanding of Indonesia’s biodiversity and foster a sense of appreciation and care in preserving biological diversity,” she said.

In this activity, students gained additional knowledge about the ethics of handling animal samples and methods of observing snakes through a presentation from Tomonari Kodoma, Ph.D., a postdoctoral program researcher from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency.

This year’s field study was conducted in the Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve and Nature Tourism Park, located in Pandandaran Village, Pangandaran District, Pangandaran Regency, West Java. This area is recognized as one of the conservation areas rich in biodiversity. Students made their observations at various locations, such as Pasir Putih Beach, Nature Reserve Beach, Cikamal River, Cikamal Grassland, Parat Cave, and the Rengganis area. These diverse locations allowed students to observe biological variations across multiple ecosystems within a single integrated area.

During the field study, students conducted observations and collected plant and animal samples across various ecosystems. In coastal areas such as Pasir Putih Beach, students observed and collected algae samples, as well as marine invertebrates and vertebrates using hand collecting and the fishnet method.

At Cikamal River, activities continued with collecting herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) at night using similar methods, as well as on-site recording for species that could not be collected. For bird observations, students used binoculars in Cikamal Grassland during the morning and around Parat Cave, and the Rengganis in the afternoon. Each observed bird was documented through photography, sketches, and recordings of distinct morphological characteristics.

Furthermore, students conducted visual observations of nocturnal mammals around Parat Cave and the Rengganis area, both during the day and night, with tools such as binoculars for small mammals. Each observed mammals were documented through photography, sketches, and recording of distinct morphological characteristics.

Collecting Arthropods was also a key part of the field study. Students caught flying arthropods in the Cikamal Grassland using a sweeping net, and ground-dwelling arthropods using the pitfall trap method set up in the morning.

Students also made observations of coastal plants around Nature Reserve Beach, as well as observations of higher plant species during their journey from Cikamal Grassland to the lowland forest, the Nature Tourism Park Forest, and into the Rengganis forest area.

In addition to providing academic experience, this field study gave profoundly memorable moments for students. Each team has its own stories from the activity, ranging from the terrain they traversed, the observation process, and direct interactions with the natural environment, group members, teaching assistant, and the professors.

This field study offered a learning experience that was not only enjoyable but also highly beneficial for students. “This field study is very useful. At first, I thought the field study was a tiring activity. However, in the end, it turns out to be an exciting and memorable experience. I learned many new things, from how to reserve marine life, flying and ground-dwelling arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, and plants. I also learned how to capture ground-dwelling arthropods using the pitfall method and flying arthropods using sweeping nets. Most interestingly, I learned how to observe birds and identify them through sound,” said Revalina, one of the participants of the field study.

Reporter: Wanda Dantini Putri (Biology, 2021)
Translator: Senandung Shauma Bidadari (Management, 2026)