Community Structure Hydrophyte, Periphyton and Water Quality Encircle Fish Cage Negara River South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities within and around the Negara River ecosystems are the main threat to the dynamics of the diverse structure of aquatic plant communities and periphyton The purpose of this study was to analyze the environmental conditions of the waters around the river fish cage area of the Negara South Kalimantan, Indonesia using data hydrophyte, periphyton, and water quality. Sampling was carried out purposively from May to June 2022, in areas that were densely hydrophytes, near and far from fish cages. Hydrophyte, periphyton and water quality samples were collected at the beginning of each month based on a 1x1 m2 plot. Furthermore, the calculation of the biological index for hydrophytes and periphyton and their relationship to water quality at each location were carried out. The identification results showed a total of 10 families for hydrophytes and 6 classes for periphyton. The average total abundance of hydrophytes was 25,580 individuals/m2 and periphyton was 639,364 individuals/cm2. The highest abundance was at STA-1 in June, with the highest number of species found in the same month. Hydrophytes species that were always found were free-floating types (Eichornia crassipers and Salvinia molesta), while for periphyton are Chrysophyta. The community structure is classified as unstable with moderate diversity. No dominance of certain species was found, and the waters were classified as having been polluted with organic matter. Parameters of temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, phosphate and current also contributed to the increase in hydrophytes and periphyton.