DENSITY AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF ZOOXANTHELLAE IN PAHAWANG ISLAND, LAMPUNG

• Main Author: Zalhasmy Kardjono, Ilham
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/50767
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The high level of diversity of Indonesia's coral reefs, directly or indirectly has becomes a source of income for many people from various sectors, especially from tourism and fisheries sectors. However, the presence of high levels human disturbance threaten the sustainability of coral reefs, that already have a very slow recovery rates. Zooxanthellae play an important role in coral recovery. This research was conducted to determine the relationship between zooxanthellae and coral health conditions in Pahawang Island based on coral cover. The research was conducted in three locations of observation point, namely Tanam Nemo (TN), Cukuh Bedil (CB), and Gosong Pahawang (GP). The research activities included microclimate and seawater quality measurements, coral sampling, and zooxanthellae extraction from each plot. Furthermore, the calculation of cell density and measurement of chlorophyll absorbance were carried out in the laboratory. Microclimate measurements include air temperature and humidity, then light intensity. Parameters of seawater quality includes pH, water temperature, DO, salinity, ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate. In each plot, samples were taken within a radius of 100 meters from a depth of 3 to 5 meters. The samples were preserved with formalin 2% in the final concentration. Sample extraction was carried out by scraping the surface of the coral with an area of 1cm2, and was carried out by two methods, namely “preserved” (P) method and “scrap” (S) method. Zooxanthella density was calculated using a haemocytometer. The absorbance measurement used a visible spectrophotometer. The calculation results show that the highest zooxanthellae density is in the GP plot (356.740 and 240.592 cells/cm2), then the CB plot (258.666 and 162.074 cells/cm2), and finally the TN plot (160.592 and 139.841 cells/cm2). The values of density indicate a relationship, where high densities can be found in healthy coral conditions. The results of measuring chlorophyll levels showed different results. Measurement of chlorophyll levels using the P method, showed a positive relationship to cell density. Measurement of chlorophyll content using the S method gave different results on the TN plot, and could not be related to cell density. Chlorophyll measurement method P showed that low chlorophyll levels were found in poor coral conditions, and increased chlorophyll levels in fairly healthy or better conditions.