KELIMPAHAN Acanthaster planci DAN TUTUPAN KARANG HIDUP DI PERAIRAN PULAU SAPARUA, PROVINSI MALUKU

Abstract

Achantaster planci atau Crown-of-thorns starfish merupakan hewan pemangsa karang yang secara langsung dapat menyebabkan degradasi pada ekosistem terumbu karang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kelimpahan dari A. planci dan kondisi karang di Pulau Saparua. Jumlah lokasi pengamatan sebanyak lima stasiun. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada November 2018 di Pulau Saparua, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Provinsi Maluku. Pengamatan tutupan karang hidup dan kelimpahan Achantaster planci dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode Line Intercept Transect (LIT), pengamatan Acanthaster planci menggunakan metode sabuk (Belt Transect) yang mengikuti garis LIT dengan panjang 70 meter dan lebar 2 meter sehingga luasan area pengamatan sebesar 140 m2. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kondisi tutupan karang hidup tergolong kedalam kriteria sedang hingga sangat baik (26,5%-89,54%) dan terdapat sepuluh bentuk pertumbuhan yang ditemukan pada lokasi ini. Indeks mortalitas karang tertinggi pada Stasiun (Stn) 2, daerah dimana tidak ditemukan A. planci. Keberadaan A. planci hanya ditemukan pada Stn 1, Stn 4 dan Stn 5, dengan kelimpahan A. planci tertinggi ditemukan pada Stn 1 sebanyak 0,036 ind/m2. Bentuk pertumbuhan karang Acropora mendominasi hampir pada seluruh stasiun dan A. planci ditemukan pada stasiun yang memiliki tutupan karang hidup yang didominasi oleh bentuk pertumbuhan Acropora branching dan coral branching. Korelasi baik tutupan karang dan kelimpahan A. planci maupun karang mati dan A. planci tergolong cukup dan tidak signifikan. Achantaster planci or Crown-of-thorns starfish are coral predators that can directly cause degradation of coral reef ecosystems. This study aims to determine the abundance of A. planci, live coral cover on Saparua Island. The number of observation stations was five locations. This research was conducted in November 2018 on Saparua Island, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. Observations of live coral cover and Achantaster planci abundance were carried out using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method, Acanthaster planci observations using the Belt Transect method which followed the LIT with a length of 70 meters and a width of 2 meters so that the area of the observation area was 140 m2. The results showed the condition of live coral cover was classified as moderate to very good criteria (26.5% -89.54%) and there were ten of coral lifeforms found at this location. The highest coral mortality index was determined in St 2 areas where A. planci was not found. The presence of A. planci was only found in St 1, St 4 and St 5, where the highest abundance of A. planci was found in St 1 by 0.036 ind / m2. Acropora coral growth forms dominate almost all stations and A. planci is found in stations that have live coral cover dominated by Acropora branching and coral branching growth forms. Correlation of both coral cover and abundance of A. planci and dead coral and A. planci is classified as sufficient and not significant.

Acanthaster plancias a Potential Source of Protein and Amino Acids for Fish Feed Ingredients

“…Acanthaster planci under normal conditions (10-20 individuals/m 2 ) act as controllers of coral ecology (Alustco et al, 2011) and become prey for reef fish, molluscs and lobsters (Alustco et al, 2011). Population explosions (>20 individuals/m 2 ) of these organisms become predators of corals (Ruli et al, 2020), and can kill corals with an area of 78 % within 6 months (Suharsono, 1991).…”