Abstract. Dharmono, Mahrudin, Irianti R, Fajeriadi H. 2022. Aquatic plants as niche for lay eggs and raising juveniles by freshwater
fish in three swamp habitats in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 1520-1526. Swamp is an area that is almost always
waterlogged throughout the year, making it a very unique ecosystem. There is a wide variety of ecosystem services provided by swamp
ecosystems, one of those is a habitat of freshwater fish, which is related to the presence of swamp vegetation. This study aimed to
investigate swamp plants used as niches for freshwater fish to lay eggs and raise its offspring in three swamp areas in three regencies
(i.e., Hulu Sungai Utara Regency, Tanah Laut Regency and Barito Kuala Regency) in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Purposive
random sampling was conducted in each swamp by observing and documenting the types of plants where fish eggs and offspring were
found. We recorded 26 species of aquatic plants used by 17 species of swamp fish to lay eggs and raise offspring/fry. Eichhornia
crassipes was the most widely used aquatic plant species with 100% of all freshwater fish species found (17 fish species), followed by
Pistia stratiotes by 70.6% (12 fish species) and Cyperus digitatus, Lemna minor, Nelumbo nucifera, Utricularia aurea and Crinum
asiaticum with each used by 52.9% (9 fish species). These plant species favored by fish need to be maintained and controlled to support
the population of the fish.
Abstract. Dharmono, Mahrudin, Irianti R, Fajeriadi H. 2022. Aquatic plants as niche for lay eggs and raising juveniles by freshwater
fish in three swamp habitats in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 1520-1526. Swamp is an area that is almost always
waterlogged throughout the year, making it a very unique ecosystem. There is a wide variety of ecosystem services provided by swamp
ecosystems, one of those is a habitat of freshwater fish, which is related to the presence of swamp vegetation. This study aimed to
investigate swamp plants used as niches for freshwater fish to lay eggs and raise its offspring in three swamp areas in three regencies
(i.e., Hulu Sungai Utara Regency, Tanah Laut Regency and Barito Kuala Regency) in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Purposive
random sampling was conducted in each swamp by observing and documenting the types of plants where fish eggs and offspring were
found. We recorded 26 species of aquatic plants used by 17 species of swamp fish to lay eggs and raise offspring/fry. Eichhornia
crassipes was the most widely used aquatic plant species with 100% of all freshwater fish species found (17 fish species), followed by
Pistia stratiotes by 70.6% (12 fish species) and Cyperus digitatus, Lemna minor, Nelumbo nucifera, Utricularia aurea and Crinum
asiaticum with each used by 52.9% (9 fish species). These plant species favored by fish need to be maintained and controlled to support
the population of the fish.