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The Biology UGM Halmahera Walking Shark Research Team Secures Prestigious Grant from the Indonesian Youth Elasmobranch Scholarship (IYES)

Yogyakarta, September 12, 2024,  The Biology UGM Halmahera Walking Shark Research Team has been awarded a distinguished research grant under the Indonesian Youth Elasmobranch Scholarship (IYES) program, which is facilitated by Conservation Indonesia and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Their study, titled “Diet Analyses and Population Genetic Structure of Hemiscyllium halmahera,” will explore the dietary patterns and genetic structure of the Halmahera Walking Shark, an endemic species that was granted full protection by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs in 2023.


The team is led by Calvin Muliawan (Biology 2021), with Andari Sekarningrum (Biology 2020) and Raihan Widarianto Putra (Biology 2020) as team members. They are under the supervision of Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, S.Si., M.Si., and Dr. Rury Eprilurahman, S.Si., M.Sc., from the Animal Systematics Laboratory, as well as Akbar Reza, M.Sc., from the Ecology and Conservation Laboratory.

The study is design to achieve two objectives:

  1. Dietary Composition Analysis: This objective involves determining the diet composition of Hemiscyllium halmahera

    through fecal DNA (fDNA) metabarcoding, an advanced, non-invasive technique that facilitates the identification of prey species without causing harm or stress to the sharks.
  1. Genetic Population Structure: The study will examine the genetic structure, diversity, and connectivity between populations of

    H. halmahera

    within the Halmahera region using molecular genetic approaches. 

 A notable innovation in this research is the use of fDNA cloacal swabs to study the H. halmahera diet, an unprecedented method for

Hemiscyllium halmahera

research. This breakthrough is anticipated to advance future studies on sharks and rays in Indonesia, contributing significantly to national and global elasmobranch conservation.

The study will be conducted from September 2024 through March 2025, and the data generated will be instrumental in developing robust conservation strategies for the Halmahera Walking Shark. Beyond its scientific impact, this research will enhance understanding of shark ecology in Indonesia, promote youth engagement in marine conservation, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Moreover, the findings will form part of the team members undergraduate thesis work.

This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water, focusing on the sustainable management and conservation of marine biodiversity. The study also supports SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaboration with local communities and advancing sustainable research methodologies.

The team expresses profound gratitude to the Indonesian Youth Elasmobranch Scholarship (IYES) for their financial support and to their faculty mentors for providing guidance and expertise throughout the project.
Tags: SDG 14 : Develop Life Below Water SDG 15 : Advance Life On Land SDG 17 : Build Partnerships for the Goals SDG 4 : Provide Quality Education SDG 5 : Gender Equality SDGs