Seagrass community structure as an indicator of ecosystem response on Pramuka Island
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/aes.v4i1.2026.3750Keywords:
seagrass community, anthropogenic pressure, coastal ecosystem, Pramuka Island, carbon sequestrationAbstract
Background: Seagrass ecosystems are important blue carbon habitats but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. This study analyzed seagrass community structure and ecological responses across different levels of human pressure on Pramuka Island, Indonesia. Methods: A quantitative approach was employed using quadrat transects at 3 stations subjected to different pressure A quantitative field survey was conducted using quadrat transects at 3 stations. Seagrass species composition, cover, diversity, evenness, dominance, and Importance Value Index (IVI) were analyzed. Water quality was measured in situ, while carbon sequestration was estimated using literature-based coefficients. Findings: A total of 6 seagrass species were identified, with Thalassia hemprichii as the dominant species. Station 2 showed the highest dominance and lowest diversity, whereas Station 3 had the highest diversity despite the lowest seagrass cover. Overall seagrass cover remained below 30%, while estimated carbon sequestration ranged from 0.42 to 0.55 tons C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Similar water quality among stations suggests that differences in community structure were more strongly influenced by habitat characteristics and hydrodynamic conditions than by physicochemical factors. Conclusion: The findings indicate that seagrass community structure is a more sensitive indicator of ecosystem condition than seagrass cover alone. Integrating community structure with cover measurements can improve ecological assessments and support evidence-based management of seagrass ecosystems under varying anthropogenic pressures. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study demonstrates the value of biodiversity-based indicators alongside seagrass cover for assessing ecosystem condition and informing blue carbon and coastal conservation strategies.
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