Pengaruh Kerusakan Penutupan Vegetasi Rawa Gambut Terhadap Komunitas Ikan di Sungai Merang, Kabupaten Musi

Abstract

Vegetation around Merang River is the last peat swamp forest in South Sumatera. Before the year of 2000, forest usage rights/licences (HPH) activity was the main cause destroyig peat swamp vegetation but recently illegal logging is the main factor of ecosystem and fish community damage. The aim of this reseach was to observe the effect of vegetation damage on fish community. Method used was field survey to collected basic data of vegetation, soil, water quality, animal and fisheries biology. The ecosystem of peat swamp forest in Merang River was degradated because of HPH activity, since 1989 until 2002. It made the peat swamp forest became secondary forest gaining 90% from the original ecosystem. At least 21 kinds of trees with medium diversity in this forest. The most of important value index were on manggris, punak and rengas types. The sum of type and individu of vegetation and fish in upstream area were more than borderland and below areas. The diversity of fish was medium with sum of fish type above 40 type. Linier Regression Analysis showed that vegetation cover had a positive impact to fish population. The vegetation covered channel area including seep and floodland area. Often the fish was not afford to live in the opened area, without the covering vegetation. Another factor affecting to fish population was water quality. Illegal logging activity caused oxidation of pirit to sulphate acid. Based on canonic variable, the higher alight, the lower debit and the low turbidity made the more uniform the fish. The other factor affecting fish population was electricity elusive kit to catch fish by poeple .