Seagrass distribution using remote sensing along the Ujunggenteng Coastal, Sukabumi

Abstract

Seagrass beds play an important role in marine ecosystems, primarily as a habitat that supports marine life. This study was undertaken to address the lack of available research regarding changes in seagrass density from year to year along the Ujunggenteng coastal, which is necessary to preserve seagrass beds in this area. More specifically, the purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of seagrass beds along the Ujunggenteng coastal and analyze their physical characteristics over a sixteen year period, from 2000–2016. The method used remote sensing technology that is used to look at the distribution of seagrass beds by performing calculations based on Lyzenga algorithms. Based on the results of data processing, seagrass in the study area was found to be distributed on three coral reefs. From year to year, the area of seagrass along the Ujunggenteng coastal appeared to increase. The physical characteristics affecting the distribution of seagrass along the Ujunggenteng coastal wered found to be sea surface temperature, salinity, and depth of sea water, and the physical characteristics that did not affect the distribution of seagrass were currents and sea water transparency.