Sea bunnies as a potential marine ecotourism in sumberkima, Buleleng Regency, Bali

Abstract

The Sumberkima Village has a vital coral reef ecosystem since the ecosystem has become home to some incredible marine biotas, including sea bunnies, a sea slug or Nudibranch species. The Nudibranch community can indicate the health of the ecosystem from its diversity and structure. This study aims to determine the distribution and value of the Nudibranchia Ecological Index and provide an example informative infographic of sea bunnies to support marine ecotourism at Sumberkima Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency, Bali Province. The research method applied is observation by visual census with an underwater camera (underwater visual census) and SCUBA diving equipment at a depth range of 5-25 meters. Observation data were collected in April 2021. A total of 15 species were found at ten dive sites.: Chromodoris annae, Chromodoris magnifica, Goniobranchus reticulatus, Hypselodoris apolegma, Hypselodoris bullockii, Nembrotha cristata, Nembrotha kubaryana, Nembrotha sp, Notodoris serenae, Phyllidia elegans, Phyllidia varicosa, Phyllidiopsis pipecki, Phyllidiopsis shireenae. The most dominant species was a member of Phyllidia genus, and an uncommon species is Goniobranchus reticulatus.