Vegetation Composition of Savanna Ecosystem as a Habitat For The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on Padar and Komodo Islands, Flores East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia

The savanna ecosystems of Padar and Komodo Islands, crucial habitats for the endangered Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), exhibit 60% species composition similarity despite distinct local characteristics. The study identified 17 plant species across 11 families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae being dominant. Using nested plots and PRIMER software for cluster analysis and ANOSIM testing, researchers confirmed that while both islands share common vegetation traits, their savannas retain unique species profiles. These findings underscore the dual conservation threat posed by invasive alien plant species (IAPS) to these fragile ecosystems, emphasizing the need to protect remaining savanna habitats to safeguard Komodo dragon populations.

Sutomo, S. (2020). Vegetation Composition of Savanna Ecosystem as a Habitat For The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on Padar and Komodo Islands, Flores East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia. Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, 5(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.48280