Terrestrial, Sulawesi
Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in Indonesia.

Of the 128 indigenous mammal species, 79 or 62% of them are endemic to Sulawesi; that percentage rises to 98% if the bats are excluded. Rats and bats form a high proportion of the mammal fauna. New species of mammals continue to be found, as is the case throughout Indonesia (Hill 1983). A total of 17 genera of resident birds are endemic to Sulawesi and its surrounding islands. This includes a large number of spectacular species, such as the Dark Green Bee-eater (Meropogon forsteni), Brightly Colored Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix), Crowned Myna (Basilornis celebensis) and Finch-billed Starling (Scissirostrum dubium). Sulawesi’s best known bird is the Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo), which incubates in pits built by the adult birds. Of the poorly surveyed amphibians of Sulawesi, 76% of the 25 indigenous species are endemic. A total of 13 of the 40 known lizard species on Sulawesi are endemic. The Sulawesi invertebrate fauna is generally poorly known. However, of the 38 species of large and striking swallow tailed butterflies, 29% are endemic (Whitten et al. 2002).

Whitten et al. (2002) guess that the number of higher plant species in Sulawesi may be relatively low, approximately 5,000 species. They have had to guess because the flora of the island is incompletely surveyed and poorly known. Only seven species are known to be endemic (E. de Vogel in Whitten et al. 2002). While Sulawesi has the usual coastal habitats found elsewhere in Indonesia, freshwater habitats are generally nutrient poor and so freshwater vegetation is impoverished. Lowland and hill forests have the most tree species of forest types in Sulawesi, but they have a reduced assemblage of dipterocarps (seven species).

Sulawesi has relatively small areas of both Peat Swamp Forests (at Rawa Aopa- Watumohai National Park) and Freshwater Swamp Forests. These peat swamps appear to have a rich assemblage of animals, particularly birds. The vegetation varies over the swamp from low Casuarina sp. trees to large 35 m tall trees and many Livistona palms scattered among pools covered with lotus lilies (Nelumbo nucifersa) and mat plants. Freshwater swamps are normally found in Sulawesi in riverine alluvium, but they also occur on the alluvium around Lake Poso and the south of the Ranu Lakes (Whitten et al. 2002). The vegetation in these swamps is variable and none of the areas studied have dominant species in common. Nothing is known of their mega fauna.

Sulawesi forests growing on ultrabasic rocks occur in eastern parts of Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi. They are the most extensive such forests in the world; they cover some 8,000 sq. km. These forests are little studied, particularly their fauna, but on the western shore of Lake Ranu in Morowali Reserve, the trees are shorter and more scrubby than in other lowland forests (L. Clayton in Whitten et al. (2002). Such forests around Soroako are dominated by Iron Wood (Metrosideros sp), Agathis, Calophyllum, various Burseraceae and Sapotaceae and at least two dipterocarps (Vatica and Hopea celebica) (van Balgooy and Tantra 1986).

Forest on karst limestone in Sulawesi are distributed throughout the provinces, but are least common in Central Sulawesi, where they are absent from much of the western region. They tend to have vegetation that is an impoverished assemblage of forests found on deeper soils. A species of grass (Cymbopogon minutiflorus) appears endemic to limestone in Sulawesi. These limestone forests have been exploited to some degree, particularly those around Maros. Apart from molluscs, which are shown to have species endemic to limestone elsewhere in Asia, no fauna is known to be restricted to these limestone substrates.

The mountain forests have vegetation that is zoned and characterized similarly to that described for Sumatra; much of its flora is not found in the lowlands. Whereas the lowland forests are not dominated by one group of trees, the lower Montane Forests are dominated by the oaks (Lithocarpus spp.) and chestnuts (Castanopsis spp.). The Upper Montane Forests are characterized by Rhododendron spp. (19 of the 24 Sulawesi species are endemic) Wintergreen (Gaultheria) and Bilberries (Vacinium) (13 of the 16 Sulawesi species are endemic). The sub-alpine zone is dominated by myrtles (Leptospermum and Decaspermum) (Whitten et. al.2002).

One of the most alarming discoveries of the 1990’s is the extent to which hunting of wildlife, including the endemic Babirusa, Anoa and the Crested Black Macaque, for bush meat markets is destroying wildlife and pushing some endemics to extinction (Allard 2000). Breakdown of traditional methods of harvesting the eggs of the Maleo birds has also seen a dramatic reduction of populations of this species (Whitten et al. 2002). Many of the small islands associated with Sulawesi were deforested by 1920. The southwest peninsula of Sulawesi has lost much of its original vegetation because of human activities. Extensive grasslands of non-Alang alang grasses occur in the valleys to the east of Lore Lindu National Park (World Bank 2001). Consequently there is concern that a number of species on Sulawesi and its associated islands, particularly Talaud and Sangihe, are endangered. The IUCN include the following endangered species on the red list: Sulawesi Tarsier (Tarsius spectrum), Sulawesi Civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroeckii), Dugong (Dugong dugon), Babirusa, lowland Anoa, Mountain Anoa, Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Milky Stork (Ibis cinereus), Maleo, Estuarine Crocodile, LeatherbackTurtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Forten’s Tortoise (Indotestudo forsteni) Talaud Black Birdwing Butterfly (Triodes dohertyi), Palu Swallowtail (Atrophaneura palu) and Tambusisi Wood Nymph (Idea tanbusisiana).