Threats to Seagrass Ecology and Indicators of the Importance of Seagrass Ecological Services in the Coastal Waters of East Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract

Seagrass ecology contributes to the preservation of fish and other biota diversity and is also an important livelihood source for fishermen and local communities. The purpose of our research was (1) to determine the source of the threats toseagrass ecology and to the ecological services it provides for the sustainability of fish resources and (2) to determine the main indicators defining the conservation needs of seagrass in the study area. Data were collected through direct observation, questionnaires, interviews and discussions. Data for fish in the seagrass bed research sites were obtained using mini-trawlers belonging to local fishermen. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses. The results showed that seagrass beds play an important role in fish ecology and that local livelihoods were highly dependent on small-scale fishing. However, fishermen and local communities also constituted the two main threats to the preservation and sustainability of fish and other biota in the area. Our results found, too, that there is a scarcity of some types of biota: some fish species, mollusks, crabs, see-urchin and some types of sea cucumber were very difficult to find in the seagrass beds that were the focus of our study. Our conclusion is that, given the scarcity of fifteen species of fish, as well as of other biota and the lack of diversity in fish food in our study area, it is imperative that seagrass conservation becomes an important priority for conservation interventions.

Carbon storage variability in seagrass meadows of Marine Poton Bako, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

“…Based on observations, there were six species of seagrass (two families, 6 genera) of the thirteen Indonesian seagrass species in Poton Bako, including Cymodocea rotundata, Enhalus acoroides, Halophila minor, Holodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii and Thalassodendron ciliatum. The composition of seagrass in Poton Bako was lower than the composition of nine species in Tanjung Luar East Lombok (Syukur et al 2017), eight species in Sanur Bali (Graha et al 2015), eight species in Menjangan Kecil Island, eight species in Pintok Karimunjawa Archipelago (Hartati et al 2017), seven species in Tanjung Lesung, Miskam Bay Banten (Rustam et al 2014), seven species in Kotania Seram Tenggara Bay (Wawo et al 2014), seven species in Pari Island (Husodo etal. 2017), and seven species in West Bali National Park (Purnomo et al 2017).…”

Seagrass-associated fish species’ richness: evidence to support conservation along the south coast of Lombok Island, Indonesia

“…The seagrass species reported at the locations in Central Lombok are as follows: Kute Bay (11 species), Grupuk Bay (10 species) (Kiswara and Winardi, 1994), and Teluk Awang (seven species) (Sari et al 2020). Meanwhile, nine seagrass species have been reported from the four sampling locations in East Lombok (Syukur et al 2017). In terms of the environmental conditions around the seagrass areas, some sites-such as Lungkak, Poton Bakau, and Awangwere close to the mangrove ecosystem.…”

“…The implications of this can significantly impact local food supply as well as global fishery production, carbon cycling, and biodiversity conservation (Unsworth et al 2018). The usual source of the threats is anthropogenic activity (Syukur et al 2017), and the danger of damage is a significant challenge in conservation efforts. Obstacles in seagrass conservation efforts are as follows: (i) affirmation must be provided so that the community realizes or recognizes the importance of seagrass; (ii) data and information on the current status and condition of seagrass are not yet regular; (iii) management actions at the local scale have not taken the appropriate steps; (iv) efforts are needed to balance human needs and survival; (v) there is limited scientific research output to support conservation actions; (vi) conservation efforts are increasingly difficult in the era of climate change (Unsworth et al 2019).…”

Distribution and Diversity of Echinoderms in the Coastal Waters of South Beach of Lombok Island

“…Padang lamun sebagai ekosistem memiliki fungsi ekologi diantaranya adalah pertama sumber keranekaraman genetik yang memiliki pengaruh yang besar terhadap produktivitas dan stabilitas ekosistem, kedua adalah fungsi kontrol pada konsumen pada sistem tropik, dan ketiga membantu pergerakan aktif konsumen di antara habitat yang berdekatan dalam hal siklus nutrisi, transfer tropik, produksi perikanan, dan keanekaragaman spesies contohnya pada keanekaragaman echinodermata sebagai biota yang hidup di sekitar lamun (Syukur, 2015;Duffy, 2006). Di Pulau Lombok Potensi ekologi lamun nya diduga telah mengalami degradasi dari beberapa indikator organisme asosiasinya seperti ikan, moluska, kepiting, sea-urchin, dan echinodermata yang sudah sangat sulit ditemukan (Syukur et al, 2017). Degradasi Lamun diduga karena Meningkatnya aktivitas nelayan lokal dan tradisi madak di sekitar pesisir pantai selatan Pulau Lombok menjadi penyebab menurunnya populasi echinodermata.…”