Mapping seagrass beds diversity distribution in substrates on Sirondo beach – Baluran national park using GIS

Monitoring biodiversity can use a geographic information system (GIS), which accommodates large varieties of spatial and attribute data. Data on species and habitat distribution from different dates allow monitoring of the location and the extent of change. Seagrass beds are flowering plants that live on the seabed. Seagrass provides a habitat and food for diverse fauna, a spawning ground, a nursery ground, and rising ground. Indonesia has seven genera sea grass beds from 12 genera in the world. This study was aimed to distribution profile map of seagrass beds on substrates at Sirondo Beach-Baluran National Park using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This research was carried out in Sirondo Beach from September to December 2017 using five belt transect from coastline to the sea; each transect consists of 15 plots (five transects = 75 plots) and using the frame of 1x1 m². This research found six genera, i.e., Cymodoce, Syringodium, Enhalus, Halodule, Halophila, and Thallasodendron. The substrates of a seagrass bed were gravel, sand, and mud. The result of this study showed genus Halodule, Halophila, Thallasodendron, and Syringodium were in gravel and sand substrates on the first to fifth plots. Genus Enhalus, Halophila, Halodule, Thalassodendron, and Syringodium were in gravel, sand and mud substrates on the sixth to tenth plots. Genus Cymodocea, Syringodium, Halodule, Thalassodendron, Enhalus, and Halophila were in sand and mud substrates on the 11th to 15th plots. Also, the geographical location of seagrass beds makes it easy to monitor and protect them.