Sebaran Spasial Nekton di Sungai Babura, Provinsi Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Babura River Watershed is part of the Deli River Watershed, which covers the Deli Serdang Regency and Medan City with an area of 4921.88 ha. The upstream area is an agricultural area, in the middle there are industrial areas and open areas. As time goes by, this river becomes increasingly polluted, where the characteristics of the aquatic habitat, including water quality, greatly influence the distribution pattern, diversity and abundance of nekton such as fish, shrimp and crabs. In an effort to determine the spatial distribution of nekton and nekton diversity, it can be assessed using population density, relative density, frequency of presence, Shannon-Weinner diversity index, and equitability index. The aim of this research is to determine the structure of the nekton community and the spatial distribution of nekton in the Babura River. This research uses quantitative descriptive methods, where the author will explain or conclude the data in the form of numbers. The method used in determining research stations was purposive sampling, namely by selecting 15 research points based on the Babura river flow. Physical and chemical water parameters were also measured in the form of temperature (°C), pH, DO, river body width, depth, brightness and turbidity. The results of the research show that the nekton community structure found in the Babura River is 25 species and 16 families, and the spatial distribution of nekton in the downstream and middle areas is dominated by Hypostomus plecostomus, while in the upstream area it is dominated by the Palaemon paludosus species.