Background: Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, lying between the Indian and Pacific Oceans and encompassing the heart of the Coral Triangle. Indonesia is home to the richest marine biodiversity on Earth, with nearly 20% of the world's coral reefs, 10% for seagrass and 15% for mangroves ecosystems. The Bird's Head Isthmus, also called the Birds Neck, connecting the Birds Head Peninsula with the rest of New Guinea is one of the last pristine areas remaining in Southeast Asia. Lengguru limestone karsts have evolved through complex tectonic uplift movements. For the last 10 million years, they have formed "islands within the island" which is today a major biodiversity reservoir with high levels of endemism.

Research: The "Lengguru 2017" scientific expedition is part of the multiyear program "Karst & Biodiversity in western Papua / Biodiversity assessment in reef twilight zone" and is headed by IRD and Indonesian partners from LIPI-P2O and Politeknik KP Sorong. It contribute to a science-based assessment of functional, genetic and morphological diversity for several marine biotas (vertebrates, invertebrates, seagrass) in an area with prime importance for biodiversity conservation. Several scientific disciplines will be involved: taxonomy, evolutionary genetics, ecology, ornithology, and marine biology. Our joint research program will fulfill the requirements of the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on "access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity".

Objectives: The "Lengguru 2017" scientific cruise aims to assess the functional, genetic and morphological diversity of several marine biotes (echinoderms, hard corals, gorgonians and reef fishes). Exploration and sampling effort were concentrated for the marine part on several reef slopes located in front of Kumawa and Lengguru ranges, in and off shore of Triton Bay (from -100 m to the surface). Sampling was performed by teams of divers in open circuit and closed circuit rebreather (CCR), as well as with nets. Barcoding was systematic. Other methods have been deployed: environmental DNA, baited cameras... Physico-chemical variables (CTD, other variables) were also measured.

Data: All samples are managed by indonesian institutions. All data will be shared by international databases (NCBI, BOLD, GBIF).

Joint Expedition of France and Indonesia Research Institutions: The Lengguru 2017 Expedition is based on a joint cooperation between Indonesian and European scientists and is covered by a MOU signed between LIPI and IRD on 5th April 2017. The project is co-organized by IRD (French Institution), LIPI-P2O (National counterpart) and Politeknik-KP-Sorong (Local counterpart). RISTEK Authorization: 3179/FRP/E5/Dit.KI/IX/2017.