Exploring Collembola Diversity in the Green Open Spaces of Baruga Forest, Kendari City, Indonesia.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The rapid development of Kendari City as the capital of Southeast Sulawesi Province has led to changes in land use patterns, particularly an increase in built-up areas, which threaten environmental stability. Rapid population growth contributes to rising carbon dioxide emissions, impacting air quality. Green spaces like Baruga Forest are ideal for environmental balance and bioservation. This study aims to identify the diversity of Collembola species in Baruga Forest, Kendari and understand the environmental factors influencing their presence. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Collembola was collected in the Baruga Forest using a Berlese funnel, then identified and classified based on the family by counting the number of individuals in each taxonomic group. The diversity of Collembola was measured using the Shannon-Wiener index, while the evenness of individual distribution in each family was assessed using an evenness index. Additionally, environmental parameters such as air temperature, air humidity and soil pH were measured. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. <b>Results:</b> The research results indicate that there are 75 individuals of Collembola belonging to the class Entognatha. The dominant order observed is Entomobryomorpha, consisting of three families: Oncopoduridae with 60 individuals, Isotomidae with 7 individuals and Orchesellidae with 5 individuals. Additionally, there is the order Symphypleona, represented by a single family, Bourletiellidae, with one individual. The biodiversity index (H') yielded a moderate value of 0.622, where the most significant contribution comes from the genus Isotomidae. Meanwhile, the evenness index (E) indicates a uniform distribution among the various genera of Collembola. <b>Conclusion:</b> Observed variations in temperature, humidity and soil pH changes underscore the need for ongoing management and conservation of Baruga Forest to maintain the diversity of Collembola species and the sustainability of the ecosystem in Baruga Forest.