CORAL REEF BENTHIC COMMUNITY OF PAHAWANG ISLANDS TOURISM SITE, LAMPUNG

• Main Author: Darmawan, Andika
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/48392
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Pahawang is Lampung tourism destination with 81.933 visits in 2016. Coral reefs ecosystem risked to degrade along with growing visits. Coral reefs monitoring is important to conduct in order to mitigate further degradation of ecosystem through abiotic and biotic examination. This research aims to examine benthic community composition, examine the coral reefs depth effect to tourism impact, and assess the coral reefs condition in Pahawang Island. Three observation station used, named Taman Nemo (TN), Cukuh Bedil (CB), and Gosong Pahawang (GP). Abiotic parameters examined are seawater condition and microclimate. Seawater condition parameters used are dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, temperature, light penetration, ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate. 3 PLIT (Photo Line Intercept Transect) are used in 3 m and 5 m depth with 10 m. Photos are measured with graphic application, later the coverages are classified based on life forms, then the species are identified. Sorensens Similarity Index (Is) used to compare the similarity of species composition between stations. Physical and chemical conditions of seawater are compared with Kepmen LH no. 51 tahun 2004 and the coral reefs coverage are compared with standard proposed by Maduppa & Zamani (2011). There are 32 benthic species in total, 15 in TN, 17 in CB, and 22 in GP. CB and GP community are most similar (Is=0,667). PLIT results in TN are 9% live coral. 11% dead coral, and 54% rubble. CB coverage are 49% live coral, 27% dead coral, and 17% rubble. GP has 51% live coral, 18% dead coral, and 18% rubble. Coral reefs in 5 m are less impacted from tourism activity than 3 m. All water conditions are standard except nitrate. Abiotic parameters are significantly different between stations except light intensity, pH, nitrate, and phosphate (?=0,05). Coral reefs condition for TN, CB, and GP are poor, fair, and good respectively.