Geographic Information System for Distribution of Sea Urchin (Echinoidea) in Indonesia Widia Prihastuti(a), Tina Safaria Nilawati(a*), Wahyu Surakusumah(a)
a) Departemen Pendidikan Biologi, FPMIPA, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Jl. Dr Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, Indonesia, 40154.
*nilawati.ts[at]gmail.com
Abstract
Indonesia has a lot of potential resources in the maritime sector. One of them is the fauna of the phylum Echinoderms. Sea urchins (Echinoidea) are members of the phylum Echinoderms with a wide distribution and are found in the intertidal zone to the deep sea. Sea urchins have an important role in coral reef ecosystems and have high economic value. Sea urchin resources need to be utilized and managed properly. Information on the distribution of sea urchins is needed in the utilization and management of sea urchin resources. To provide information about the distribution of sea urchin resources, a map of the distribution of these resources is needed. This study aims to determine the distribution of sea urchins in Indonesian waters using a geographic information system (GIS). The method used is a descriptive method by providing an overview of the distribution of sea urchins in Indonesia based on secondary data displayed in the form of a map. The results showed that there were 36 types of sea urchins consisting of 8 orders, 11 families, 22 genera, and 36 species. The Diadematidae family is the most commonly found in Indonesian waters. Sea urchins from this family were found at 63 points out of 69 points recorded. The areas with the highest diversity of sea urchins are Likupang Beach in North Minahasa Regency and Merta Segara Beach in Denpasar City which has 9 species. The distribution of sea urchins is influenced by the type of substrate, temperature, pH, and salinity. Several sea urchin management strategies that can be implemented include: building sea urchin hatchery, monitoring species, habitat, and status periodically, floating net cages, and enforcing limitations in sea urchin harvesting.
Keywords: Distribution, Sea urchin, Echinodermata, Geographic information system.