The stability of mangrove ecosystems for edu-tourism based on macrozoobenthos ecological indicators in the educational fish ponds of Hasanuddin University

Abstract

This study was conducted from June to November 2018 around the educational fish ponds of Hasanuddin University, Bojo Village, Mallusetasi Sub-District, Barru District, Indonesia. This study aimed to identify the mangrove species present, the crustacean and molluscan macrozoobenthos associated with the mangrove ecosystem, and to evaluate the level of stability of the mangrove ecosystem for the development of edu-tourism activities at the study site employing a Macrozoobenthos Ecological Index. Data on mangrove, macrozoobenthos, and other environmental parameters, were collected at five stations with three replicates per station. Mangrove data was collected within 10 m × 10 m plots, while macrozoobenthos were collected with a shovel and sieve net. Seven mangrove species were found: Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Ceriops decandra, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora stylosa, and Sonneratia alba. The width of the mangrove belt ranged from 28.23 to 57.00 m meaning that it was well below the national green belt standard (50-200 m). The organisms associated with mangroves included crustaceans (three species) and molluscs (seven species) with an abundance of 0.01 - 0.07 ind/m2. The Diversity Index was in the average category (1.49 - 1.92), while the Evenness Index ranged from unstable to under pressure (0.476 to 0.64). The Dominance Index was in the unstable category (0.185 - 0.264). Based on the Macrozoobenthos Ecology Indicator, the mangrove ecosystem in the fish ponds was categorised as stable to average. The land suitability analysis indicated that the mangrove ecosystem in the study site was in the conditionally appropriate category for the development of mangrove edu-tourism activities.