PERIPHYTON COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN NIPAH PLANTS (Nypa fruticans Wurmb.) IN THE KAPUAS KECIL RIVER KALIMANTAN BARAT

Abstract

Resident activities, settlements and the planned construction of the Kapuas III bridge on the Kapuas Kecil River have contributed to the decline in water quality. Periphyton can be used as a bioindicator of water quality degradation, because it has different ecological adaptations and tolerance ranges for each species. Studies on the periphyton community structure of nipa palms in the Kapuas Kecil River are not yet available, so this research is important to do. The purpose of this study was to obtain data on the structure of the periphyton community and the physical and chemical factors of the waters as life support factors. Sampling used a purposive random sampling method at three stations with two replications. Periphyton is found in 38 genera belonging to the classes Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Mediophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Imbricatea, Monogononta, Oligohymenophorea, and Tubulinea. The average value of periphyton abundance is in the moderate category. The average value of diversity index, dominance, and evenness in the medium category. Pinnularia (Bacillariophyceae) was found to dominate over the other genera. The physical and chemical conditions of water that are still suitable for periphyton life include current velocity, depth, pH, temperature, salinity, free carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate. Low brightness values (<0.4 m) and phosphate content that exceeds the optimum limit (>1,8 mg/L) of periphyton life.

Keywords: Bacillariophyceae, Kalimantan Barat, Kapuas Kecil River, Periphyton, pinnularia