Sebaran Spons Laut Berdasarkan Kedalaman pada Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) di Perairan Lombok Utara, Provinsi NTB

Abstract

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) adalah komunitas terumbu karang yang bergantung pada cahaya mulai dari 30-40 meter dan meluas ke bagian bawah zona photic mencapai kedalaman 150 meter. Spons merupakan komponen penyusun utama MCEs yang memiliki banyak manfaat namun keberadaannya kurang dipahami. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi serta mengetahui hubungan kedalaman dan sebaran genus spons pada MCEs dan menguji perbedaan nyata genus yang ditemukan terhadap kedalaman di Perairan Lombok Utara, Provinsi NTB menggunakan metode Underwater Photo Transect (UPT). Pengambilan data dilakukan pada tanggal 3-5 September 2020. Berdasarkan identifikasi ditemukan 32 genera spons yang tersebar di 3 Stasiun pada perairan Lombok Utara. Semakin dalam, jumlah genus yang ditemukan pada ketiga stasiun penelitian semakin banyak. Hal tersebut membuktikan sebaran komunitas spons pada Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) di Perairan Lombok Utara dipengaruhi oleh kedalaman. Hasil uji ANOVA menunjukkan beberapa genus spons yang berbeda nyata antar kedalaman yaitu Callyspongia, Theonella, Clathria, Stylotella, dan Spirastrella.

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) are light-dependent coral reef communities ranging from 30-40 meters and extending to the bottom of the photic zone to a depth of 150 meters. Sponges are the main component of MCEs that have many benefits but their existence is poorly understood. This study was conducted to identify and determine the relation between depth and distribution of sponge genera in Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) and to examine the significant differences affected by depth between sponges genera found in North Lombok Waters, NTB Province using the Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) method. Field data were collected on 3-5 September 2020. Based on the identification results, 32 genera of sponges were found spread over three stations in the waters of North Lombok. The deeper, the more genera found at the three research stations. It indicates that the distribution of sponge communities in MCEs in North Lombok Waters is influenced by depth. Based on the ANOVA test, several genera of sponges show significant differences between depths, namely Callyspongia, Theonella, Clathria, Stylotella, and Spirastrella.