Struktur dan Sebaran Komunitas Bintang Laut (Asteroidea) di Perairan Pulau Sapudi, Kabupaten Sumenep, Madura

Abstract

One of the marine life which has not been widely known for its benefits are sea stars (starfish). Research on sea stars have not been widely reported or investigated in Indonesia compared to other countries such as Australia and Japan. The purpose of this research is to know the community structure of sea star (Asteroidea) and to know the relation between sea star with its characteristic of habitat. This study was conducted in June that starts with a site survey on June 28, 2012. Primary data collection at the study site on June 30, 2012 to July 3, 2012. This research was conducted in the coastal Sapudi Island, Sumenep, Madura. Data were collected by the line transect method which lay down along 50 meters. At each transect lines were laid 1 x 1 meter transect plots. Data analysis using the calculation of density of seagrass, density, dominance and the pattern of sea stars spreading and the relation between sea star and habitat characteristic. There are 4 species of starfish that can be found in the Sapudi Island, such as Arcaster typicus, Culcita novaeguineae, Linckia laevigata, and Protoreaster nodosus. Linkia levigata is one of the starfish species that can be found in every station. Five species of seagrass as one of the starfish habitat can be found in Sapudi Island, such as Cymodocea rotundata, Enhalus acoroides, Halophila ovalis, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassia hemprichii. Thalassia hemprichii is the most dominated species in Site 1, Site 3, and Site 4. In Site 1, there can be found two types of seagrass, they are Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium isoetifolium. Based on Morisita index, spread of Asteroidea in Sapudi Island consist of two species of distribution, such as cluster for Protoreaster nodosus and Arcaster typicus and kindred Linckia laevigata and Culcita novaeguineae.