Mangrove Damage Evaluation using Two Species of Acanthus as a Biomonitoring Agent, Case Study: Segara Anakan Cilacap, Indonesia

Abstract

Mangrove area continues to be decreased and lost in Indonesia due to human activities as well as natural disturbances. Segara Anakan is the largest mangrove ecosystem left in Java Island, where also in critical condition that mainly due to sedimentation and people use. This mangrove degradation can be evaluated by using mangrove understorey as a bioindicator. Acanthus genera are one of mangrove vegetation that can overgrow after mangrove degraded and canopy been opened. There are two species, which are Acanthus ilicifolius and Acanthus ebracteatus in Segara Anakan mangrove ecosystems. The survey method with purposive sampling was used in this study in 2010 and 2018. Ecological data were analyzed using PRIMER-E, mapping, and spatial analysis using Surfer and ArcView 3.2. The study shows two species of Acanthus were distributed aggregate, especially in the damaged mangrove that found a low density of mangrove in the sapling and tree category. The density of Acanthus has increased during one decade as well as its distribution than one decade before. Therefore, Acanthus can be used for biomonitoring agent of mangrove damage because of its specific characteristics and distribution.