PELAKITA.ID – Amid increasing environmental pressures in Indonesia’s coastal areas, the story of seagrass in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, presents an unusual narrative.
Seagrass—highly developed marine plants with roots, rhizomes, and true leaves—is generally known to thrive in clear waters with abundant sunlight.
However, research conducted by Dafiuddin Salim, under the guidance of Rohani Ambo Rappe, Supriadi, and Nadiarti Nurdin Kadir, shows that seagrass in Tanah Bumbu can survive and adapt in turbid waters that are ecologically challenging.
Seagrass plays a crucial role in coastal ecosystems. It serves as habitat and nursery grounds for various marine organisms, stabilizes sediments, buffers wave energy, and contributes to blue carbon sequestration. Yet, its presence is highly sensitive to environmental changes.
Factors such as water depth, substrate type and size, organic content, temperature, availability of light and nutrients, salinity, and water turbidity all strongly influence its growth and survival.
The Uniqueness of Tanah Bumbu Seagrass
Preliminary studies revealed seagrass habitats in Tanah Bumbu across three types of waters: marine waters, straits, and aquaculture ponds. This is unique because it demonstrates the ability of seagrass to adapt to highly turbid conditions.
Another scientifically significant finding is the discovery of seagrass from the genus Ruppia, specifically Ruppia brevipedunculata—a species that in some Indonesian waters is considered extinct or extremely rare.
These conditions prompted more in-depth research to fill gaps in knowledge about seagrass ecology in South Kalimantan waters and to enhance national understanding of seagrass resilience in extreme environments.
A Comprehensive Research Approach
The study employed an exploratory-descriptive approach, combining remote sensing technology with field surveys. Satellite imagery and drones were used to analyze the extent of seagrass habitats and the impact of land-use changes in river basins (DAS) on coastal conditions.
Field surveys were conducted to directly observe seagrass vegetation and collect samples of water, sediment, and seagrass tissue.
Laboratory analyses measured water and sediment quality and included genetic analysis of Ruppia brevipedunculata, confirmed as a newly recorded species in these waters.
Key Findings Across Three Water Types
The research showed that seagrass habitats in Tanah Bumbu face various potential threats, primarily hydro-meteorological factors and increasing sedimentation and turbidity related to land-use changes in the DAS.
Spatially, seagrass was found in:
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Marine waters covering approximately 47.29 hectares,
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Strait waters covering ±916.48 m²,
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Aquaculture pond waters covering ±28,488.5 m².
In marine waters, three main seagrass species were identified: Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, and Syringodium isoetifolium. Vegetation in this zone is sensitive, showing positive correlations with organic matter and pH but negative correlations with turbidity and excessive nutrient concentrations.
In strait waters, Enhalus acoroides dominates. Seagrass vegetation here shows significant positive relationships with nutrients—both dissolved and in sediments—as well as with light intensity and mud texture.
The aquaculture pond waters presented the most interesting finding. In the intertidal pond zone, submerged aquatic plants were identified as Ruppia brevipedunculata, growing as a monotypic stand.
Seagrass in ponds responded significantly to all environmental parameters, with variations across seasons.
Ecological Implications and Management
The study concluded that seagrass habitats in marine waters of Tanah Bumbu are relatively stable but beginning to experience species degradation. Conversely, seagrass in strait and pond waters remains relatively stable.
These findings convey an important message: seagrass ecosystems are ecologically resilient but still require careful management.
Integrated coastal management—considering upstream-downstream connections, land use in river basins, and aquaculture practices—is key to sustaining seagrass ecosystems.
Beyond academic significance, this research reinforces that protecting seagrass means safeguarding livelihoods of coastal communities, ecological balance, and long-term human well-being.
Tanah Bumbu, with all its uniqueness, has now become a vital natural laboratory for the future of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystem management.
About Dafiuddin Salim
Dafiuddin Salim is an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), South Kalimantan.
He is an alumnus of Marine Science at Universitas Hasanuddin, class of 1997, and is active in marine and coastal studies, particularly related to seagrass, mangroves, and environmental dynamics in marine, estuarine, and aquaculture waters.
His academic involvement extends beyond teaching to strengthening marine research capacity in South Kalimantan.
In research, Dafiuddin Salim has contributed to numerous national and international scientific publications. A major focus of his work is seagrass ecosystems in turbid waters, including in-depth studies of Ruppia brevipedunculata in Tanah Bumbu.
This research is strategic as it enriches understanding of seagrass adaptation in extreme environments and fills gaps in scientific data on seagrass distribution and condition in central and eastern Indonesia.
Beyond research, he engages in academic and institutional activities, including inter-university collaborations and institutional capacity building.
His contributions reflect the role of an academic not only in producing knowledge but also in promoting science-based, sustainable coastal management that supports community welfare. His work serves as an important reference for future coastal ecosystem management in South Kalimantan.
Editor: Denun