The effect of hydro-oceanographic factors on the community structure of plankton in natural and artificial coral reefs in Paiton waters

Abstract

Hydrooceanographic factors influence the plankton occurrence. These are aquatic environmental parameters that take important role in plankton community structure. This study was aimed at knowing the effect of the hydro-oceanographic factors on the abundance and the diversity of plankton in the natural coral reef ecosystem and the artificial reef in the waters of Steam-Based-Electric Power Plant (SBEPP), Paiton. It employed quantitative analysis and Principle Component Analysis (PCA) method. Results showed that the phytoplankton abundance in the natural coral reef ecosystem ranged from 3,209 to 5,589 cells L-1 and in the artificial reef from 598 to 856 cells L-1. Zooplankton abundance in the natural coral reef and the artificial reef were 48-70 ind L-1 and 23-36 ind L-1 respectively. Phytoplankton abundance in both localities was more than 500 cells L-1 reflected high fertility category of the waters, while plankton diversity of both localities of 2.19-3.25 indicated moderate diversity. PCA analysis showed that water brightness and pH were moderately correlated with plankton abundance and diversity. Water salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and phophate were very strongly positively correlated with plankton abundance and diversity, while water temperature and nitrate were very strongly negatively correlated with plankton abundance and diversity. The latter in the natural coral reef is indicated with increased plakton abundance in low nitrate and phosphate concentrations, while in the artificial reef, the plankton abundance was low in the high nitrate and phosphate concentrations. Key Words: plankton, coral reef, abundance, diversity, Paiton.