SEAGRASS, ENHALUS ACOROIDES, THALASSIA HEMPRICHII, PERCENT COVER, ECOLOGICAL STATUS

• Main Author: Reza Muhamad Fasya, Rifky
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Ilmu hayati ; Biologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/55721
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Seagrass is an advanced, higher-level plant that lives and grows immersed in the marine environment. Seagrass beds are a stretch of the ecosystem that covers a coastal area or shallow sea with a depth of fewer than 5 metres and can be formed from one (monospecific) or more (mixed) seagrass species, which ecologically act as primary producers, biota habitats, wave absorbers, sediment traps, and nutrient traps. The last monitoring of the Papagarang Island seagrass ecosystem in Komodo National Park was carried out in 2003. This study aims to (1) examine the current condition of seagrass coverage on the Papagarang Island and compare it with conditions in 2003; (2) compare the condition of seagrass cover near settlements (Station 1) with those far from settlements (Station 2); and (3) determine the ecological status of seagrass beds based on the Decree of the State Ministry for Environment Number 200 of 2004. Data collection was carried out in January 2021 using the SeagrassWatch method. Through the research results, there are two species of seagrass, namely Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii. The type of sediment found at Station 1 is coarse sand and coral fragments, while Station 2 is in the form of fine sand and mud. The average seagrass coverage in January 2021 decreased by 2.9% compared to July 2003. The mean height of the canopy at Station 1 and Station 2 was 26.7 cm and 62.9 cm respectively. The average algae cover of the substrate at Station 1 was 21.3% and Station 2 at 5.9%. The average epiphytic algae coverage at Station 1 was 27.7% and Station 2 at 31.4%. The seagrass coverage condition of the two stations was significantly different (p-value <0.05) for all variables, except for epiphytic algae coverage. The condition of seagrass coverage at Station 2 on Papagarang Island is classified as healthy, while Station 1 is classified as unhealthy.