Struktur Komunitas Karang Keras dan Indikasi Cekaman Suhu Tinggi (Degree Heating Week) di KKP Liukang Tangaya

Abstract

Terumbu karang adalah ekosistem penting yang mudah terpengaruh oleh kenaikan suhu permukaan laut yang menyebabkan stres termal dan pemutihan karang. Pemantauan kondisi terumbu karang dan tingkat cekaman suhu tinggi berperan penting dalam mengidentifikasi status kesehatan ekosistem berdasarkan indeks Degree Heating Week (DHW). Penelitian bertujuan menganalisis struktur komunitas karang keras dan mengidentifikasi tingkat cekaman suhu tinggi di KKP Liukang Tangaya. Penelitian dilakukan di 26 stasiun menggunakan metode Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) untuk mengamati tutupan substrat dan komunitas karang, menganalisis cekaman suhu permukaan laut dari citra Aqua MODIS. Kondisi ekosistem terumbu karang termasuk kategori sedang, dengan rata-rata tutupan karang keras (41,44 ± 4,68) %. Komunitas karang didominasi oleh Acropora bercabang. Nilai DHW sebesar 0,76 °C/minggu kategori watch (siaga). Kelimpahan koloni karang sehat lebih tinggi (1052 koloni) dibandingkan karang yang mengalami pemutihan (144 koloni). Secara keseluruhan, kondisi perairan masih mendukung pemulihan ekosistem terumbu karang di KKP Liukang Tangaya.

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that are highly susceptible to rising sea surface temperatures, which induce thermal stress and coral bleaching. Monitoring coral reef conditions and heat stress levels plays a crucial role in evaluating ecosystem health based on the Degree Heating Week (DHW) index. This study aimed to analyze hard coral community structure and identify heat stress levels in the Liukang Tangaya Marine Protected Area (MPA). The research was conducted across 26 stations using the Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) method to assess substrate cover and coral communities, while sea surface temperature stress was analyzed using Aqua MODIS satellite imagery. The overall condition of the coral reef ecosystem fell into the moderate category, with an average hard coral cover of (41.44 ± 4.68) %. The coral community was dominated by branching Acropora. The recorded DHW value of 0.76°C-weeks fell within the "watch" category. The abundance of healthy coral colonies was substantially higher (1,052 colonies) compared to bleached corals (144 colonies). Overall, environmental water conditions continue to support the recovery of the coral reef ecosystem in the Liukang Tangaya MPA.