The Effect of Light and Salinity on the Abundance and Biomass of Skeletonema Sp. Microalgae

Abstract

Microalgae is one type of material that has great potential for human life, because it can grow in a relatively short time and can be developed in a limited area, and several types of microalgae have a high protein content, namely Skeletonema sp. Skeletonema sp. microalgae is a type of microalgae that has a wide geographical range, both in temperate and tropical waters. One of the most influential environmental parameters in the growth of Skeletonema sp. is light and salinity. This is because the light is needed by microalgae in the process of photosynthesis while optimal salinity will affect the osmotic pressure between the protoplasm of organic cells and their environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the best light and salinity treatment on cell density and biomass of the Skeletonema sp. microalgae. This research was conducted at the Aquatic Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, University of Riau in August 2022. This research used the experimental method of Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with Completely Randomized Factorial Design, using 2 treatments, namely Light (P1) coming from LED lights with different doses, CR (3600 lux), CS (5400 lux), and CT (7200 lux) and Salinity (P2) originating from Dumai Sea waters with different doses, SR (26 ppt), SS (28 ppt) and ST (30 ppt). Based on the analytical results of the density of variance of Skeletonema sp. shows that there is a very real effect (α 0.01). Skeletonema sp. cell density. the highest was in the treatment of moderate salinity (SS) 28 ppt with an average cell of 1,045.000 cells/ml and high light (CT) 7200 lux with an average cell of 1,418.000 cells/ml while the lowest abundance was in the second hour -0 lies in the administration of low light (CR) 3600 lux with an average cell of 87.000 cells/ml and high salinity (ST) of 30 ppt with an average cell of 99.000 cells/ml. There is an increase in the abundance of Skeletonema sp. caused by the optimal salinity given and also the high light rays that cause continuous cell division.