Abstract
Mangrove ecosystems are dynamic coastal environments where phytoplankton communities respond sensitively to environmental variability. This study examined phytoplankton community structure and its relationship with water physicochemical characteristics in mangrove areas with tourism (MWT) and without tourism (MW) in Kuala Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia. Field sampling was conducted during a single survey period across 40 plots (20 MWT and 20 MW). Phytoplankton abundance and composition were analyzed microscopically, and environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and sediment thickness) were measured in situ. Phytoplankton density and diversity were evaluated descriptively at the site level. MWT sites showed higher phytoplankton density (39.88 × 10⁶ ind ha⁻¹) and slightly higher Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′ = 1.2) than MW sites (26.54 × 10⁶ ind ha⁻¹; H′ = 1.0). In both site types, communities were dominated by a limited number of genera, with dinoflagellates—particularly Amphidinium sp.—being most abundant. Multivariate analyses indicated that spatial variation in community structure was associated with gradients of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment thickness. Differences between site types were observed; however, these patterns should be interpreted as spatial associations rather than causal effects, given the snapshot sampling design. These findings provide baseline information on phytoplankton–environment relationships in the Kuala Langsa mangrove ecosystem and underscore the need for nutrient measurements and multi-season monitoring to better resolve ecological variability.
SDGs:
SDG 14:(Life Below Water
SDG 15:Life on Land
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