Surface Sediment Diatom as A Water Quality Indicator: Case Study: Cilalay and Cibuntu Ponds, Cibinong

Abstract

Diatom is classified as algae within the Division of Bacillariophyta. They are unicellular eukaryotic organisms characterized by siliceous cell walls that can be long preserved in sediments. Therefore, diatom analysis in sediment records is a potential water quality indicator for present or paleo studies. The current knowledge on the distribution and diversity of diatoms in the sediment in the urban pond is poorly known. This study aimed to identify the distribution and diversity of diatoms from the sediments of the pond. We expect to obtain a primary database of a variety of diatoms. The sediment samples were taken from Cibuntu and Cilalay Ponds in Cibinong Botanical Garden. Sediments were digested using HCL and H2O2. The resulting diatom solution was dried and transferred onto glass coverslip, which subsequently mounted onto microscope slides using Naphrax (Refraction index 1.7). Diatom identification was examined using a light microscope at 1,000x magnification. Diatom communities in Cibuntu Pond were dominated by species Aulacoseria ambigua, Eunotia bilunaris, Cymbopleura sp, Discostella stelligera, and Rossithidium sp with diversity index of 2.4 and species evenness of 0.8. Whereas, species Fragilaria sp, Eunotia monodon, Navicymbula pusilla, Eunotia bilunaris, and Pinnularia viridis were predominant in Cilalay Pond with diversity index of 1.6 and species evenness of 0.5. Based on the diatom community, Cibuntu Pond is eutrophic indicated by the occurrence of Aulacoseria ambigua, whereas Cilalay Pond is meso-eutrophic indicated by the dominance of Fragillaria. This exploratory survey provides the first inventory of diatom assemblage in Cibuntu and Cilalay Ponds for roughly inferring the environmental changes in a shallow lake ecosystem.

Evaluasi Karakteristik Fisik Kimiawi Perairan Situ Cibuntu, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat

“…The TDS value at the Cibuntu Pond is still in the category of natural waters as it is usually less than 500 mg/L (Moran, 2018). The measured TDS parameter with an average value of 28.78 mg/L was lower when compared to the results of the previous studies with a value of 50 mg/L (Dianto et al, 2020). The value was also lower when compared to the TDS value in Pond Lebak Wangi, which had an average of 56.78 mg/L (Elfidasari et al, 2015).…”

“…The measurable pH parameter with an average value of 6.44 was lower when compared to the results of the previous studies with a value of 6.14, 7.15, and 6.82 (Sulawesty, 2005;Tarigan, 2008;Dianto et al, 2020). The pH value is generally not different from that in other waters in Bogor area, including Cikaret and Gintung Ponds, which have a range of 6-9 (Soliha et al, 2016;Bahri et al, 2015).…”

“…Figure 7 shows a DO value during observation with a range of 5.54 mg/L-10.51 mg/L. The measured DO parameter has an average value of 7.22 mg/L which was lower than that of the study of Dianto et al (2020) with 10.3 mg/L. In contrast, the value was higher than that of the observation by Tarigan (2008) with a value of 5.52 mg/L.…”