Species preference for seagrass restoration using vertical distribution model in Tidung Island, Indonesia

Tidung Island is one of the small inhabited islands and a tourist destination that allows the degradation of seagrass meadow and requires physical restoration using transplantation techniques. The seagrass species’ preference suitability needs to assess with this island for this case. This study aims to provide information on species that are possible to choose in seagrass transplantation based on their growth zones. The number of seagrass species, depths, and types of substrates was taken using seagrasswatch guideline by line transects along the coast to the reef slope with 10% plot intervals from the total length of the transect. Seagrass growth is divided into three zones: near the coast (back), middle, and near the reef slope (front). Enhalus acoroides , Cymodocea rotundata , and Thalassia hemprichii were found in almost all zones. Halophila ovalis , Halophila minor , and Halodule uninervis were distributed in the middle to front zone, while Syringodium isoetifolium was only in the middle zone. These findings suggest that transplant areas with high anthropogenic disturbances can use Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii because they have the persistent trait. Meanwhile, the areas with low anthropogenic disturbance and low nutrients can use Halophila spp. and Halodule spp., because they can grow shoots and recover quickly.