COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF SEAWEEDS IN THE WATERS OF GULF SEPANG BEACH BENGKULU CITY

Abstract

This research on the structure of the seaweed community was carried out in October 2021 in the Teluk Sepang beach, Bengkulu City. This study aims to identify the types of seaweed and to analyze the structure of the seaweed community in the Teluk Sepang beach, Bengkulu City which includes diversity, uniformity, and dominance indexes, density and percentage cover. The method used is a survey method, and data collection using a 50 x 50 cm quadratic transect. The types of seaweed found were 20 species conssibied in 3 different classes ; Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta classes. The highest number of types of seaweed is Chlorophyta with 10 species, followed by Rhodophyta with 7 species, and Phaeophyta with 3 species. The highest density of seaweed species at station 1 was 7.52 Ind./m2, the highest density at station 2 was 7.03 Ind./m2, the highest density at station 3 was 6.67 Ind./m2, and the highest density at station 4 was 2. 42 Ind./m2. The percentage of seaweed species cover at station 1 ranged from 0.15 to 6.50%, at station 2 it ranged from 0.24 to 16.58%, at station 3 ranged from 0.13 to 15.99%, and at station 3 4 ranged from 0.56 – 10.77%. The results of the calculation of the diversity index (H'), uniformity (E), and dominance (D) are in the low category, it means no species dominates at all stations. The results of the measurement of water quality parameters indicate that overall the waters of the Teluk Sepang beach are still in a reasonable range to support the growth of seaweed.

Keywords: Community structure, Seaweeds, Teluk Sepang Beach