Relationship of Sedimentation Rate to The Structure of Macrozoobenthos Community On Transitional in Ciletuh Bay, Sukabumi District, West Java

Abstract

Ciletuh is a coastal area located in Sukabumi Regency, West Java, which is currently included in the Geopark region in West Java. Ciletuh is a name of a bay that faces directly to the Indian Ocean, hence the similarity of its ocean characteristic. At present Ciletuh Bay has undergone massive sedimentation due to the large amount of sediment entering the surrounding bay coming from Ciwaru and Cimarinjung River and the existence of many floating net cages around the Ciletuh Bay, all of which empties into Ciletuh Bay. High sedimentation rate will disrupt environmental conditions especially organism found in sediments such as benthos. This research was designed using descriptive analytic methods in the form of field observations to determine the research station, sediment sampling and supporting parameters carried out at the research station point. The study was conducted at 5 sampling stations based on different characteristics. The purpose of this research is to see the relationship between sedimentation rate and structure of the macrozoobenthos community. Result presented that the species dominating the bay areas are Nassarius sp., Cerithium sp. Clypeamorus sp. Rhinodavis sp. Certhiidae, Coralliophila sp., Turricula sp., Olivia caerullea., Thais sp., Phos roseatus, Hemifusus sp. Diplomariza sp, Neritadae, Donax sp., Pyramidella sp., Terebia sp. Sedimentation rate calculated as 0,11 gr/cm2/day; 0,13 gr/cm2/day; 0,07 gr/cm2/day; and 0,3 gr/cm2/day. Based on sediment grain size, types of sediment founded on each station are (1) gravely mud, (2) sandy mud, (3) sandy mud with slight gravels, (4) mud with slight gravels, and; (5) sandy silt.