Distribution of Seagrass in North Sulawesi: A Review

Abstract

Seagrasses are crucial coastal ecosystems that provide a multitude of ecological and economic benefits. The distribution of seagrass meadows plays a pivotal role in maintaining marine biodiversity, supporting fisheries, and contributing to carbon sequestration. Seagrass meadow ecosystems are important in the coastal environment. This ecosystem functions ecologically in the water as a habitat for various species of marine life, and has the ability to bind soil and sediment and dampen waves so that it helps protect the coast from erosion and storms. Seagrass ecosystems play a role in nutrient circulation, carbon storage, and play an important role in climate change mitigation. In addition, these ecosystems can potentially serve as a source of antioxidant compounds and bioindicators of aquatic environmental health. The coast of North Sulawesi has the potential for the existence of this ecosystem so it is necessary to assess the potential of seagrasses that are important in the coast of North Sulawesi Province. There are reportedly 10 seagrass species that have been identified in coastal North Sulawesi, consisting of Hydrocharitaceae and Cymodoceaceae families, namely Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Halophila ovalis, Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule uninervis, Cymodocea serrulata, Cymodocea rotundata, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Halophila spinulosa, and Halodule Pinifolia. Keywords: Seagrass, North Sulawesi, Bioindicator, ecosystem