Dr Ni Kadek Dita Cahyani1, Dr. Danwei Huang2, Dr. Diah Permata Wijayanti3, Dwi Haryanti3, Muhammad Danie Al Malik4, Eka Maya Kurniasih4, Melvie Aulya4, Aulia Seto Sandhi Sanova5, Angka Mahardini5
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia, 2Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, , Singapore, 3Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia, 4Diponegoro Biodiversity Project (DBP) Laboratory, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia, 5Marine Science Study Program, Faculty of Science and Agricultural Technology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
Biography:
Ni Kadek Dita Cahyani is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Indonesia. Her work focuses on marine biodiversity and molecular ecology. She completed her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she investigated patterns of Indonesian marine diversity using molecular tools. Her current research centers on advanced technologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA) and DNA metabarcoding for ecosystem monitoring and the conservation of marine and terrestrial species in Indonesia. She also conducts studies in ecology and biosystematics, including species identification using DNA barcoding and phylogenetics. In addition to leading various international research grants as a principal investigator, Dr. Cahyani is an active author, publishing eDNA technical guidebooks and scientific articles in both national and international journals.
Abstract:
Coral spawning is important for the long-term sustainability of coral reef ecosystems. However, our understanding of these events, particularly which coral taxa are actively spawning and how surrounding communities of coral reefs respond before, during, and after spawning, remains limited. Conventional monitoring approaches such as visual observation are constrained by labor intensity, observer bias, and invasive sampling techniques. To address these challenges, we introduce JALAKARANG (“Jejaring Analisis Larva dan Karang”), the Larvae and Coral Analysis Network, an initiative that integrates environmental DNA (eDNA) with citizen science as a community-driven scientific effort, to bridge the gap between real-world ecosystem monitoring and the broader application of eDNA technologies. The eDNA workflow targets multiple genetic loci, 12S rRNA (fish and corals), COI (invertebrates), and ITS2 (coral) to generate a multi-taxa biodiversity profile associated with spawning events, encompassing both species composition and relative abundance. A standardized sampling protocol has been developed across three temporal periods (before, during, and after spawning) and two diel phases (daytime and nighttime) to ensure consistency across sites. A pilot study conducted in Karimunjawa National Park in April 2026 demonstrated the practicality and feasibility of the eDNA sampling protocol during spawning events. The second phase of JALAKARANG aims to scale this model nationwide through a citizen science platform, empowering local communities and Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers to contribute to a centralized repository of coral spawning data. This integrated approach offers a scalable and cost-effective framework for high-resolution biodiversity monitoring and strengthening conservation strategies for Indonesia’s coral reef ecosystems.