Species composition and vegetation structure of mangrove forest in Baskara Bakti Village, Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystem has a strategic function as a buffer for coastal areas, marine conservation, mitigates climate change and global warming. Bangka Belitung is an archipelagic province with many coastal areas, including mangrove ecosystems. This study aims to determine the quality of the mangrove ecosystem by analyzing the structure, composition, and health index of mangroves in the mangrove forest ecosystem in Baskara Bakti Village, Central Bangka Regency. Data were collected through observations at several sampling points used to analyze species composition, vegetation community structure, and environmental physicochemical conditions using stratified random sampling with an observation plot size of 10 m x 10 m and canopy cover determination using the hemispherical photography method. The study results show that the composition of mangrove vegetation in the study area consisted of 5 true mangrove species and 6 associated mangrove species. Rhizophora apiculata is the species with the highest Important Value Index of 91.87%. The mangrove community showed a good health condition with an average value of 50.41%. Environmental parameters that directly influence the mangrove forest ecosystem include temperature, water pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and salinity. Planting and enrichment of mangrove species need to conserve sustainable mangrove ecosystems.