PERAN EKOLOGI BULU BABI DALAM KOMUNITAS RUMPUT LAUT DI PERAIRAN PESISIR KEMA KABUPATEN MINAHASA UTARA
ABSTRACT: A study on the
functional role of the sea urchin, Salmacis belli, on seagrass bed near the
coast of Kema, North Minahasa Regency, was done by analyzing the gut contents,
the food preference, and the feeding periodicity. Sea urchins and plants were
collected from the seagrass bed by snorkeling along a 100 M transect line with
30 quadrates randomly placed. The feeding periodicity was determined from the
gut index in 24 hours with 3 hour intervals.
The results showed that the sea urchin S. belli fed mainly on seagrass
Thallasia hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides and Halimeda opuntioa. The feeding
periodicity data indicated that the sea urchins actively fed in the day. The
grazing capacity of the sea urchin was not affected by their body size. In high density, sea urchins could
potentially cause negative impact on the seagrass bed (i.e., destruction of the
meadow).
Keywords: Ecological role, Sea
Urchin, Seagrass, Kema
Penulis: Ruddy D Moningkey
Kode Jurnal: jpperikanandd110099