The potential stocks and carbon uptake by seagrass meadows at Pari Island, Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia

Abstract

The development of human civilization during the last century has increased carbon dioxide content in nature that will contribute to global climate change. However, ocean water will reduce this increase by absorbing CO2. The increasing CO2 content in the ocean could decrease pH and carbonate ion, which will have negative impacts on the life of marine organisms, food production and human life. Seagrass meadows through photosynthetic processes could absorb CO2 and store carbon in large amounts for an extended period. This process could be the strategic way of resolving global climate change. The purpose of this research was to identify the species of seagrass, quantify the density and coverage of seagrass, and calculate biomass and carbon stock in seagrass meadows at Pari Island, Kepulauan Seribu. The research was carried out in February 2019. This research used quantitative field observation with the purposive sampling method. Samples were collected from 3 locations with nine stations. The obtained samples were analyzed at the Laboratory of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Diponegoro University. Carbon and sediment samples were analyzed using Loss in the Ignition (LOI) method. The results showed that there are three species of seagrass in Pari Island, i.e. Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, and Cymodocea rotundata. Total density value was 129.19 individual m−2 and total coverage value was 62.59%. Total stock potential of carbon value in Pari Island was 87.80 ton per ha with total area of seagrass meadows of 3.48 ha. Silty-sands mainly dominated sediment textures. It can be concluded that seagrass meadows are potential habitats to control CO2 concentration in coastal waters and to hold the rate of climate change.