Korelasi Kelimpahan Biota Bentik Pemakan Karang terhadap Kesehatan Terumbu Karang di Perairan Pulau Sabu Raijua, Nusa Tenggara Timur

ABSTRAKBiota bentik pemakan karang (Acanthaster planci, Drupella sp. dan Coralliophila sp.) merupakan predator karang yang dapat memangsa karang. Riset ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kondisi terumbu karang, kelimpahan biota bentik pemakan karang dan bagaimana korelasi kelimpahan biota bentik pemakan karang terhadap kesehatan terumbu karang. Riset ini dilakukan pada bulan Mei – April 2021 menggunakan metode UPT (Underwater Photo Transect) untuk pengamatan terumbu karang dan metode Belt Transect untuk pengamatan kelimpahan biota bentik pemakan karang. Parameter kualitas perairan yang diukur meliputi salinitas, pH, kecerahan, kecepatan arus, nitrat dan fosfat.  Tutupan terumbu karang hidup di Perairan Pulau Sabu Raijua berkisar antara 16% - 58,72% dengan rata-rata 35,90% yang termasuk kedalam kategori “buruk – baik”. Kelimpahan biota bentik pemakan karang masih dalam batas normal yaitu Drupella sp. 0 – 0,23 ind/m2 dan Coralliophila sp. 0 – 0,07 ind/m2. Hasil analisis regresi linear menunjukan tidak terdapat korelasi antara kelimpahan biota bentik pemakan karang dan kesehatan terumbu karang di Pulau Sabu Raijua, Nusa Tenggara Timur.Kata kunci: Acanthaster planci, Coralliophila sp., Drupella sp., Kesehatan Terumbu Karang, Pulau Sabu RaijuaABSTRACTCoral-eating benthic biota (Acanthaster planci, Drupella sp. and Coralliophila sp.) are coral predators that can prey on corals. This research aims to determine the condition of coral reefs, the abundance of benthic coral-eating biota and how the correlation between the abundance of coral-eating benthic biota on the health of coral reefs. This research was conducted in May – April 2021 using the UPT (Underwater Photo Transect) method to observe coral reefs and the Belt Transect method to observe the abundance of coral-eating benthic biota. Water quality parameters measured include salinity, pH, brightness, current velocity, nitrate and phosphate. The live coral reef cover in the waters of Sabu Raijua Island ranges from 16% - 58.72% with an average of 35.90% which is included in the "bad - good" category. The abundance of coral-eating benthic biota was still within normal limits, namely Drupella sp. 0 – 0.23 ind/m2 and Coralliophila sp. 0 – 0.07 ind/m2. The results of the linear regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between the abundance of benthic coral-eating biota and the health of coral reefs on Sabu Raijua Island, East Nusa Tenggara.Keywords: Acanthaster planci, Coralliophila sp., Drupella sp., Coral Reef Health, Sabu Raijua Islan