Peran identitas lamun dalam membentuk komposisi komunitas makroinvertebrata = The role of seagrass identity in shaping macroinvertebrate community composition

Background. Seagrasses have been shown to increase biodiversity of local fauna. However, very little research explores how specific species of seagrass influences invertebrate community structure. Objective. To determine whether benthic invertebrates’ assemblages vary depending on the dominant seagrass species, we compared species richness, abundance, and ecological structure between beds dominated by Thalassodendron ciliatum and those dominated by other seagrass species. Method. Fieldwork was conducted in Tomia Island, Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia, where invertebrate epifauna were surveyed across 200 quadrats. Results. A total of 63 species spanning 11 classes and 7 phyla were recorded, with filter/suspension feeders being the dominant functional group across all sites. Although T. ciliatum-dominated seagrass beds showed slightly lower average invertebrate abundance and species richness than mixed beds, these differences were not statistically significant. The GLMM analysis revealed that invertebrate species richness was best predicted by seagrass diversity, while invertebrate abundance was most strongly associated with substrate type. No consistent biodiversity trends were found between habitat types. Conclusion. This suggests that while vegetation identity may influence community structure at small scales, broader patterns are shaped more by substrate and local conditions. Our results highlight the importance of considering seagrass species composition alongside physical habitat features when assessing benthic invertebrate assemblages.

Keyword : Seagrass, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Wakatobi, Invertebrates, Complexity.