Conditions of megabenthos on coral reef ecosystem in Seribu Islands National Park, Jakarta
Dedy Kurniawan(1), Risandi Dwirama Putra(2), Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo(3), Ni Wayan Purnama Sari(3), Muhammad Abrar(3), Tengku Ersti Yulika Sari(4), and Hasnarika Hasnarika(5)

(1)Department of Aquatic Resource Management, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, MUniversity of Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Tanjungpinang, Indonesia
(2)Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Tanjungpinang, Indonesia
(3)Research Centre for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
(4)Department of Fishing Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
(5)Department of Accounting, Institute of Economic Science Pembangunan Tanjungpinang, Indonesia

Abstract

Seribu Islands National Park is located off the north coast of Jakarta which consists of 110 islands with an area of 108,000 hectares, with an elongated position from north to south marked by small white sandy islands and coral reefs. This study aims to determine the distribution and density of megabenthos in coral reef ecosystems in the Seribu Islands National Park. This research was conducted in November 2021, in the waters of the Seribu Islands National Park. Megabenthos observations were carried out using the Benthos Belt Transect method which is a development of the Belt Transect Method for monitoring megabenthos combined with the Reef Check Benthos method. Based on observations in the waters of the Seribu Islands National Park, five types of megabenthos were found, including clams (Tridacna sp.), lola (Trochus sp.), spiny starfish (Acanthaster planci), drupella (Drupella sp.), and sea urchins (Diadema sp.). The highest density of megabenthos was found on Kayuangin Genteng Island with a density of 8,786 ind/ha, while the lowest was on Peteloran Barat Island 429 ind/ha. Based on the type of megabenthos at all observation stations, the most abundant megabenthos found was Diadema sp. with a density of 43,397 ind/ha, while the least was Acanthaster planci of 214 ind/ha.

Keywords: Megabenthos- Coral Reef- Seribu Islands National Park

Topic: Aquatic Biodiversity (International)