Judul: Interactions between Natural Enemies Herbivores and Cacao in Palolo Valley, Central Sulawesi
Abstrak: This study on interactions between natural enemies, herbivores and cacao was conducted in Palolo valley at the eatern margin of the Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi between April 2001 and June 2003. The research focused on four main aspects : (1) tritrophic interactions between ants, Homoptera and cacao; (2) effects of habitat isolation on ants communities in cacao plantation; (3) effects of ant communities on cacao pests and disease; (4) the potential of artificial nesting sites for increasing population density of the black cacao ant. The main objectives of the research were to study: (a) the importance of cacao agroforestry for maintaining biodiversity, and (b) the interactions between natural enemies such as ants and cacao pests and disease.
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Judul: Function Of Some Ecosystem Components At Natural Forest And Cacao Agroindustry Sustem At The Margin Of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi
Abstrak: Cacao agroforestry is a traditional form of agriculture practiced by the people of Central Sulawesi. These agroforestry systems vary from a simple system, following selective cutting of forest trees, to a more sophisticated planting design. The aims of this research were (1) to determine litterfall dynamics, leaf-litter decomposition, and fine root biomass, (2) to determine active fraction on soil macro-organic matter (SOM) in natural forest and cacao agroforestry systems, and (3) to assess nitrogen resorption and nitrogen use efficiency (N NUE) and implication for cacao establishment. The field studies were conducted in three types of cacao agroforestry systems at the northeastern margin of Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP). Field study sites covering in natural forest (NF) and in three cacao agroforestry systems that is cacao was planted under remaining forest cover (CF1), under planted trees (CF2), and between shade trees Gliricidia sepium (CP). The parameters are nitrogen soil content, fine root biomass, soil macro-organic matter by size and density fractionation, soil surface organic layer by quadrant, litterfall production by litter trap, and rate of decomposition by litter bag, nitrogen use efficiency in cacao plant and ecosystem scale, and nitrogen resorption.
Keyword: litterfall dynamics, leaf-litter decomposition, find-root biomass, nitrogen resorption, Central Sulawesi

Judul: Membran Komposit Polistirena Tersulfonasi–SiO2 untuk Aplikasi Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
Abstrak: Nafion® merupakan membran elektrolit pada direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) yang memiliki nilai permeabilitas metanol yang tinggi. Oleh karena itu, membran alternatif seperti polistirena tersulfonasi (PSS) yang ditambahi SiO2 dikembangkan untuk mengurangi tingginya permeabilitas metanol tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan pengaruh tambahan SiO2 pada kinerja PSS. Keberhasilan proses sulfonasi ditunjukkan oleh nilai derajat sulfonasi (DS) dari PSS dengan konsentrasi PS 15% sebesar 81%. Membran komposit dibuat dengan ragam konsentrasi 3%, 5%, dan 7%. Spektrum inframerah transformasi fourier membran komposit menunjukkan gugus sulfonat (-SO3) pada 1008 cm-1 dan O-Si-O pada 1013 cm-1. Nilai konduktivitas proton dan beda potensial tertinggi dihasilkan pada membran PSS-SiO2 3% dengan nilai berturut-turut 2.1 × 10-4 S/cm dan 79 mV. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, membran komposit PSS-SiO2 dapat diaplikasikan untuk DMFC.
Keyword: membran komposit, SiO2, polistirena tersulfonasi, sel bahan bakar metanol