Publications & Reports

Peer-reviewed papers, technical reporting for government and conservation partners, and an open record of our own work.

Publications

Research with real-world impact

At SORCE, research is not an add-on to our conservation work. It is one of the foundations that work is built on.

Our long-term monitoring, field research and conservation projects generate data that help us understand the marine ecosystems of southwest Lombok, weigh up threats and priorities, sharpen our own methods, and contribute to the wider scientific community.

Research has the greatest value when it is used, shared and communicated. So our work goes not only into peer-reviewed literature, but into technical reports for government and conservation partners, and into our own annual reporting on what we have done and what it achieved.

For students and early-career scientists joining us, that means working somewhere field data are collected for a purpose, and where research can carry through from survey to analysis, reporting and publication.

Technical report Priority megafauna species recorded by BRUV in western GITA NADA Submitted to UPTD BPSDKP Wilayah Lombok Survey summary SiteDepthRecords Key findings Monthly records Monitoring results go direct to the agencies managing the protected area, so that what is learned in the field can feed into management and planning. Each BRUV unit recorded for about 90 minutes, with no divers near the camera while it was recording, and the footage was then reviewed to identify the priority species that appeared, when, and how many. The survey recorded priority species across the western part of the protected area, with clear differences between sites. Some sites recorded more than one megafauna group, and turtles were detected most often. Recommendations Regular monitoring: BRUV monitoring should continue at regular intervals, with consistent observation periods and effort, to track changes over time in where priority megafauna species occur. Support for protected area management: the results should be used when developing habitat protection strategies, choosing priority sites for patrols, and managing priority megafauna species. Collaboration: monitoring should be strengthened through collaboration between the protected area managers, research institutions, universities, conservation organisations and local communities, to make it more effective and to support the conservation of marine megafauna in the area. Technical report3 Research article Comparison of coral growth and survival rates among species cultivated in a tree nursery in Batu Putih Village, West Lombok Siagian, R. A. S., Selan, S. U., Meutia, F. A. et al.
BIO Web of Conferences 248, 03005 (2026) Abstract Coral reef degradation in West Lombok, Indonesia, has increased the need for effective restoration strategies, yet comparative information on coral species performance in tree nurseries remains limited. This study compared the growth and survival of seven coral species grown on a tree nursery over six months. Branching species grew significantly faster than massive and foliose species, while survival remained high across all species throughout the monitoring period. Each fragment was photographed at the start of the study, after three months and after six months, and colony area was measured from the calibrated photographs. Fragments were hung from seven branches of the nursery at a depth of about 9 to 11 metres. Mean growth rate by species Results Mean growth rates differed significantly between species. The three fast-growing branching species formed one statistical group, while the remaining species formed a separate group with markedly lower rates. Survival was high throughout. Discussion The faster growth of the branching species is probably linked to their form. Branching corals generally extend their skeletons and colonies faster than massive, foliose and encrusting forms, because their structure gives a greater ratio of surface area to volume, better water exchange and more efficient calcification. Massive and foliose corals generally put more energy into tissue maintenance, skeletal thickening and structural stability than into rapid sideways growth. Although this means slower growth in planar area, it can make them more resistant to physical disturbance and environmental stress. From a restoration point of view, fast-growing branching corals can increase the three-dimensional complexity of the habitat, give shelter to reef-associated organisms and speed up the recovery of ecological function on degraded reefs. doi.org03005

Impact Report 2018–19 Research, conservation and education in Lombok

Peer-reviewed papers Papers published in academic journals, linked through their DOI.
Technical & government reports Monitoring and conservation reporting prepared for agencies, partners and stakeholders.
Annual reports A transparent record of our activities, research, education and impact.

Peer-reviewed papers

Contributing to marine science

Our scientific team turns long-term field data into research on tropical marine ecosystems and their conservation, working with resident scientists, university collaborators, research students and academic partners.

Open accessCoral reefs

Distribution of coral cover and benthic substrate composition in the GITA NADA Marine Protected Area, West Lombok

Authors: Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Relis Gabriel Sihaloho, Muhammad Farhan Anshory, Ivonne Herlina Tani, Muhamad Dipa Hariadi, Kara M. A. Majerus
Journal: Journal of Marine Research, 15(3), 576-590
Year: 2026

Coral reefs in Indonesia are under increasing pressure from natural and anthropogenic disturbances, requiring detailed spatial assessments to support effective management. This study assessed coral cover condition and benthic substrate composition across management zones of the Gili Tangkong-Gili Nanggu-Gili Sudak…

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DOI 10.14710/jmr.v15i3.56202

Open accessPlankton

Environmental drivers shaping plankton community structure across diverse coastal ecosystems in Sekotong Marine Protected Area, Indonesia

Authors: Widia Tri Utami, Chandrika Eka Larasati, Paryono, Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Kara Muriel Angela Majerus
Journal: Jurnal Perikanan Unram, 16(3), 1531-1543
Year: 2026

Plankton are crucial biological components driving the marine food web. This study aims to analyze the plankton community structure and identify the environmental drivers across diverse coastal ecosystems in Batu Putih Village, Sekotong Marine Protected Area (MPA), West Lombok. Field sampling was conducted in October…

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DOI 10.29303/jp.v16i3.2296

Open accessInvertebrates

Seasonal variation of megabenthos abundance and spatial distribution in the GITA NADA Marine Protected Area, Sekotong, West Lombok

Authors: Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Relis Gabriel Sihaloho, Muhammad Farhan Anshory, M. Gilang Aktia, Ruhul Anshori, Kara M. A. Majerus
Journal: Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 26(1), 1100-1111
Year: 2026

Megabenthos are organisms that inhabit the benthic zone and live on or within the substrate, including biota that attach, crawl, or burrow, and which function as important components of benthic food webs. This study aimed to determine the distribution patterns abundance and frequency of occurrence megabenthos during…

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DOI 10.29303/jbt.v26i1.11535

Open accessCoral restoration

Comparison of coral growth and survival rates among species cultivated in a tree nursery in Batu Putih Village, West Lombok

Authors: Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Siti Umia Selan, Fairuz Amira Mecca, Brilliant Rudzaky Ridwan Putra, Georgia Coward, Coral Humber, Kara M. A. Majerus
Journal: BIO Web of Conferences, 248, 03005
Year: 2026

Coral reef degradation in West Lombok, Indonesia, has increased the need for effective restoration strategies, yet comparative information on coral species performance in tree nurseries remains limited. This study compared growth and survival of seven coral species cultivated in a coral tree nursery system in Batu…

View the published paper

DOI 10.1051/bioconf/202624803005

Free to accessEducation & outreach

Peningkatan kepedulian lingkungan melalui edukasi dan praktik daur ulang sampah plastik pada siswa SD Negeri 04 Batu Putih, Kecamatan Sekotong, Lombok Barat, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat

Authors: Wiwid Lestariningsih, Gelsey Irene Eteua, Mahardika Rizqi Himawan, Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Kara Muriel Angela Majerus
Journal: Jurnal Pepadu, 7(2), 232-241
Year: 2026

Sampah plastik merupakan salah satu jenis sampah yang paling dominan mencari lingkungan pesisir karena sulit terurai secara alami. Rendahnya kesadaran masyarakat, khususnya anak usia sekolah, terhadap pengelolaan sampah plastik menjadi tantangan dalam upaya pelestarian lingkungan. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat…

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DOI 10.29303/pepadu.v7i2.10914

Open accessMangroves

Resource availability and use in restored, unmanaged, and aquaculture mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia

Authors: Coral Humber, Matthew W. Bulbert, Jessica Chavez, I Nyoman Yoga Parawangsa, Kara Majerus, Marco Campera
Journal: Resources, 13(9), 117
Year: 2024

Mangrove ecosystems are some of the most productive on our planet but have declined globally by 30-50%. Many species rely on mangrove habitats; thus, their conversion to aquaculture farms has led to noticeable losses in commodities such as wild fish stocks. This study aimed to assess the influence of aquaculture and…

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DOI 10.3390/resources13090117

Open accessMangroves

Estimasi cadangan karbon tegakan mangrove di Lombok Barat, Nusa Tenggara Barat

Authors: Wiwid Andriyani Lestariningsih, Mahardika Rizqi Himawan, Raja Aditya Sahala Siagian, Kara Muriel Angela Majerus, Brilliant Rudzaky Ridwan Putra, Aprilia Anggereni, Nurliah Buhari
Journal: Jurnal Sains Teknologi & Lingkungan, 10(4), 623-630
Year: 2024

Mangrove ecosystems are a vital form of aquatic ecosystem that significantly contribute to maintaining carbon balance in the atmosphere and support climate change mitigation efforts. Their ability to absorb and store carbon in both biomass and soil makes them among the most effective carbon sinks. This study aims to…

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DOI 10.29303/jstl.v10i4.729

Technical & government reports

Science for management and conservation

Many of our monitoring results, findings and recommendations go direct to government departments, conservation partners and other stakeholders. This means that what we learn in the field can feed directly into marine management and planning. Where permissions allow, they are published here.

Our research in Indonesia is carried out jointly with Yayasan SORCE Konservasi Indonesia, which holds the research permits and submits our monitoring reports to the provincial government.

Priority megafauna species recorded by BRUV in western GITA NADA

Prepared by: Yayasan SORCE Konservasi Indonesia and the SORCE science team
Submitted to: UPTD BPSDKP Wilayah Lombok
Year: 2026
Topic: Priority species monitoring
Language: Bahasa Indonesia

Between August 2025 and August 2026, 68 BRUV deployments at 28 sites recorded five priority megafauna groups: hawksbill and green turtles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, and eagle rays.