Identification of Phytoplankton That Causes Harmful Algae Blooms (Habs) in the Hurun Bay Water

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the abundance of phytoplankton and determine the type of phytoplankton that has the potential to cause Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) in the waters of the Hurun Bay, and analyze the water quality in the Hurun Bay with physical, chemical and biological parameters. The results of this study are expected to be a source of information regarding the diversity of phytoplankton and water quality in Hurun Bay so that HABs can be prevented. Phytoplankton sampling was carried out in February 2018 at three observation stations (floating net cages, floating fish cage and docks) with sampling using the plankton net. The results of this study detected 9 genus of potentially dangerous phytoplankton (HABs) namely Chaetoceros (46,097 cells/L), Bacteriastrum (1,011 cells/L), Nitzschia (1,295 cells/L), Pseudo-nitzschia (598 cells/L), Pyrodinium (1,011 cells/L) 624 cells/L), Alexandrium (431 cells/L), Prorocentrum (836 cells/L) Skeletonema (615 cells/L), and Protoperidinium (640 cells/L). Based on the results of the correlation analysis it was concluded that the parameters that have a strong relationship and affect the abundance of phytoplankton (HABs and Non-HABs) are pH (p <0.01) with the strength of a strong and positive relationship.