Impact of water turbidity to Seagrass (Enhalus acoroides) morphology

Seagrass meadows provide a range of important ecosystem functions that can be influenced by both natural and anthropogenic pressures. One water quality that important for seagrass growth and survival is turbidity. A study to observe impacts of high turbidity to seagrass morphometry was conducted in two islands i.e., Sabutung and Bangko-Bangkoang of Pangkep Regency. These two islands are influenced by sediment load from several rivers in Pangkep Regency. Water column turbidity impacts seagrass by reducing the quantity and quality of light available for photosynthesis. However, dense population of seagrass Enhalus acoroides was found buried under turbidity regimes in both Islands. Some seagrass morphological characteristics such as leaf sheath length, leaf length and width, rhizome diameter and internode length were varied among locations. This suggested that seagrass developed morphological plasticity in responding to reduced light. Seagrass may establish morphological acclimatization to respond to the minimum light availability.