RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRIMARY WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND CYANOPHYTA ABUNDANCE IN INTENSIVE WHITELEG SHRIMP (Litopenaeus vannamei) PONDS
Abstract
Phytoplankton dynamics, especially Cyanophyta abundance, play a crucial role in shaping water quality and overall productivity in intensive whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture. However, the interactions between key water quality parameters and Cyanophyta proliferation remain poorly understood under commercial farming conditions. This study aimed to examine the relationships between ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, total organic matter (TOM), dissolved oxygen (DO), and Cyanophyta abundance in two intensive shrimp ponds with contrasting phytoplankton conditions. This study compared two ponds operated by PT Pyramide Paramount Indonesia that differed in stocking density, pond size, and culture conditions. Weekly measurements included Cyanophyta abundance and composition using microscopy and a Neubauer counting chamber, as well as monitoring water quality parameters daily and weekly through in-situ and ex-situ methods. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the relationships between the variables. The High Cyanophyte (HC) pond exhibited significantly higher cell abundance (47,400 cells mL⁻¹) and dominance compared to the Low Cyanophyte (LC) pond (18,250 cells mL⁻¹). Multiple regression confirmed that dissolved oxygen was the only significant predictor of Cyanophyta abundance, explaining 51.9% of the variance, whereas nutrients and total organic matter were not significant predictors. Shrimp in the LC pond showed better growth performance, with higher final biomass (6,110.33 kg), lower FCR (1.26), and greater productivity (17.65 ton ha-1), indicating that lower Cyanophyta levels may promote more stable culture conditions than higher ones. These findings highlight the need to manage phytoplankton dynamics and DO availability to enhance water quality and promote sustainable shrimp farming.
Dinamika fitoplankton, khususnya kelimpahan Cyanophyta, berperan penting dalam membentuk kualitas air dan produktivitas secara keseluruhan pada budidaya intensif udang vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei). Namun, interaksi antara parameter kualitas air utama dan proliferasi Cyanophyta masih kurang dipahami dalam kondisi budidaya komersial. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji hubungan antara amonium, nitrit, nitrat, fosfat, total bahan organik (TOM), oksigen terlarut (DO), dan kelimpahan Cyanophyta di dua tambak udang intensif dengan kondisi fitoplankton yang kontras. Penelitian ini membandingkan dua tambak yang dioperasikan oleh PT Pyramide Paramount Indonesia, namun berbeda dalam kepadatan tebar, ukuran tambak, dan kondisi budidaya. Pengukuran mingguan meliputi kelimpahan dan komposisi Cyanophyta menggunakan mikroskop dan counting chamber Neubauer, sementara parameter kualitas air dipantau secara harian dan mingguan melalui metode in-situ dan ex-situ. Korelasi Pearson digunakan untuk menilai hubungan antarvariabel. Tambak dengan kelimpahan Cyanophyta tinggi (HC) menunjukkan kelimpahan sel yang jauh lebih tinggi (47.400 sel mL⁻¹) dan dominansi dibandingkan dengan kolam kelimpahan Cyanophyta rendah (LC) (18.250 sel mL⁻¹). Analisis regresi berganda mengonfirmasi oksigen terlarut sebagai satu-satunya prediktor signifikan bagi kelimpahan Cyanophyta, yang menjelaskan 51.9% varians, sementara nutrien dan total bahan organik bukan merupakan prediktor yang signifikan. Udang di tambak LC menunjukkan kinerja pertumbuhan yang lebih baik, dengan biomassa akhir lebih tinggi (6,110.33 kg), FCR lebih rendah (1.26), dan produktivitas lebih besar (17.65 ton ha⁻¹), yang mengindikasikan bahwa tingkat Cyanophyta yang lebih rendah dapat mendukung kondisi budidaya yang lebih stabil. Temuan ini menekankan pentingnya pengelolaan dinamika fitoplankton dan ketersediaan oksigen terlarut untuk meningkatkan kualitas air dan produksi udang yang berkelanjutan.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15578/jra.21.1.2026.15-39






