A team of undergraduate Biology students led by Nur Farah Susilowati along with Kotimah, won first place in the National Scientific Writing Competition organized by the Biology Education Student Association of Tidar University namely “Optimizing the Ability to Conserve a Paradise of Biodiversity”. This event was conducted online with the final presentation held on August 18, 2023, and the announcement of winners on August 22, 2023. In this competition, the team were guided by Dr. Siti Nurbaiti, S.Si., addressing the sub-theme “Efforts to Address Biodiversity Degradation.” Their scientific paper was titled “Microalgae Biodiversity as a Potential Indicator of Ecosystem Quality at the Elephant Conservation Center.”
The writing of this scientific paper was motivated by the potential of microalgae to be implemented in addressing biodiversity issues in the elephant ecosystem. The aim of this scientific paper was to analyze the role of microalgae as a bioindicator, with diversity index as a parameter for the stability of a community within an ecosystem, or disturbances that occur due to environmental and biotic factors. This scientific paper was compiled using a scientific journal literacy approach, referring to the identification and calculation of the diversity of microalgae species from water and sediment samples at the elephant ecosystem. The diversity of microalgae species was used as an index of ecosystem quality, with a correlation to the characteristics of microalgae that have specific tolerance limits to physical and chemical factors, serving as bioremediation materials, food sources, bioactive substances, and containing long-chain hydrocarbons that can be utilized as an energy source. The results of this research showed varying levels of microalgae diversity as an identification of water quality at the Elephant Conservation Center, indicating the stability of its ecosystem.