The extreme weather affecting several regions in Indonesia has drawn public attention. According to observations by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), daytime maximum temperatures measured through the end of September 2023 in several regions reached between 35.4°C and 38°C. This was due to minimal cloud growth and low humidity. This phenomenon impacts the lives of living things, including fauna.
Head of Development and Services of the Research Center for Climate Change, University of Indonesia (RCCC UI), Dr. Nurul L. Winarni, a biology expert from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI, said that the potential impacts on fauna in tropical climates include food and water availability, migration, and habitat distribution. Indonesia is located in the tropics, so its animals are typically tropical species. These animals range from charismatic animals such as tigers, elephants, rhinos, to various species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and more.
Extreme weather has a significant impact on various types of fauna. Dr. Nurul gave an example, such as birds living in the mountains, whose habitats are increasingly limited due to the influence of increasingly hot temperatures. Exothermic species, such as amphibians, are sensitive to temperature changes. If the temperature is too hot, it can affect vital conditions, such as digestion, reproduction, and metabolism, as well as the availability of water in their habitats experiencing drought. With the increasingly limited green open space (RTH) in urban areas, fauna such as birds and butterflies are also expected to lose their habitats.
Furthermore, extreme weather will impact the availability of food for these animals. Many animals rely on plants, which are naturally affected by extreme weather and resulting drought. Plants play a crucial role as a food source for animals. Nectar and fruit production can be affected, and flowering and fruiting patterns can shift. This forces animals to seek alternative resources.
According to Dr. Nurul, fauna with the potential to migrate, such as birds, which make seasonal journeys from their habitats experiencing summer to winter, will migrate to warmer areas, such as tropical climates. Once winter ends, they will return to their original habitat. Meanwhile, for animals living in tropical areas, migration does not occur. However, these animals require an adequate supply of water sources. Animal movements may occur in search of places that still provide food and other sources of water.
Water and shelter. Competition between animals may occur for these resources.
Meanwhile, extreme weather can also increase the likelihood of forest fires, which threaten habitat loss for species living in those forests. Extreme weather can also cause drought in aquatic habitats such as swamps, rivers, and lakes, which can threaten the existence of certain fish species. This can also impact the ecosystem cycles of animals, such as food chains and food webs.
According to Dr. Nurul, if one part of the food chain is lost, it will affect the trophic levels of producers, consumers, and decomposers, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. This can occur due to changes in food resources, which can lead to changes in the composition of the animal community within the ecosystem. This can result in the loss of certain species or an increase in the population of other, more dominant organisms.
To mitigate the impact of extreme weather on fauna, Dr. Nurul outlined short-term measures, including providing water sources, preventing forest fires, and planting fruit trees and flowering plants in urban areas. Long-term measures include habitat restoration and protection, providing alternative habitats, particularly in urban areas, by providing green open spaces such as parks, utilizing yards, and conserving water resources.
