Phytoplankton Chlorophyll-a Biomass and the Relationship with Water Quality in Barrang Caddi, Spermonde, Indonesia

Abstract

The investigation of spatial changes in phytoplankton biomass and turbidity provide essential information for survival of coral reef ecosystem. Phytoplankton biomass variations are driven by many factors such as nutrient inputs from anthropogenic and natural. While turbidity is determined by sediment resuspension or transport from terrestrial systems. The estimation of phytoplankton biomass is represented by chlorophyll-a concentration. This study aimed to analyze chlorophyll-a dynamics to water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and temperature. The in-situ data gathered at 26 stations in the waters of the Barrang Caddi Island in August 2020. Results show that chlorophyll-a and turbidity have negative correlation in western and eastern regions, due to turbidity inhibits the rate of photosynthesis and causes the decreasing of phytoplankton biomass. Nevertheless, the highest concentration of chlorophyll-a was found in the southern location where is in small spot areas around islands and reefs, including near Barrang Caddi Island. Total Suspended Solid has the significant effect on chlorophyll-a than other water parameters, such as turbidity, temperature, salinity in the study area.

Keywords

• turbidity
• chlorophyll-a
• total suspended solid
• barrang caddi island