The Relationship of Megazoobenthos Association with Seagrass Ecosystem Conditions in Ujung Genteng Waters, Sukabumi

Abstract

Seagrass beds in Ujung Genteng waters are one of the shallow marine ecosystems that have relatively high biodiversity. Seagrass ecosystem as one of the coastal ecosystems in these waters has a diversity of marine life that is associated with it. The purpose of this study was to establish the association pattern and the correlation of mega zoobenthos to seagrass ecosystem conditions. The method used was a survey method by conducting a survey direct observation of the stations that have been determined.  Three seagrass species were identified, namely: Thallasia hemprichii, Cymodoceae rotundata and Enhalus acoroides. The highest density of seagrass was found in station 2 with the type of seagrass Thallasia hemprichii as much as 207 ind/m2. Fifteen mega zoobenthos species were identified representing 3 phyla. Species Mega zoobenthos which is most commonly found in Ujung Genteng waters is Ophiothrix fragilis, Ophiocoma erinaceus, and Diadema setosum. The mega zoobenthos Diversity Index at the observation station is included in the medium category that is 2.33-2.66 and the evenness index is 0.63-0.84. Correlation of seagrass density with mega zoobenthos obtained by 0.92 shows that there is a very strong relationship between seagrass density with mega zoobenthos. The result shows that there are 4 patterns of close association and 2 patterns of very close association. Ophiocoma erinaceus of the ophiuroidea class has a pattern of very close positive associations with seagrass Cymodoceae rotundata and Dendrodoris sp of the order nudibranchia has a pattern of very close negative associations with seagrass Cymodoceae rotundata.