Riparian Vegetation of Suhuyon River, North Sulawesi

Abstract

Riparian vegetation has important ecological roles in maintaining river quality. The declining of riparian vegetation will cause to decreasing of water quality and aquatic and terrestrial biodiversities. This study aimed to analyze riparian vegetation of Suhuyon River, North Sulawesi. Vegetation analysis method used in this study from upstream to downstream in February to July 2015. The method applied in vegetation analyzing was quadrat line transect. The plot size was 2 m x 2 m for undergrowth up to 1.5 m height. Riparian vegetation will be analyzed descriptevely with several indeces i.e. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’), Evenness Index, and Sorensen Similarity Index.Riparia zone has been used as agricultural land and settlements. Riparian plants are coconuts, bananas, manggoes, langsat, durio and arenga palm. Vegetation habitus are shurbs, epiphytes, lianas, and small trees. Riparian vegetation are classified into Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae Araceae Aspleniaceae Asteraceae, Athyroaceae Caesalpiniaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Costaceae, Fabaceae, Magnoliaceae, Malvaceae, Marattiaceae, Melastomaceae, Mimosaceae Moraceae Myrtaceae Lamiaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Selaginellaceae Thelypterdidacea, dan Verbenaceae. Riparian vegetasi were found 36 species and 24 families. Diversity index of undergrowth riparian vegetation of Suhuyon River are moderate fom upstream to downstream, i.e. 2.70; 2.73 and 2.25. Evenness values of third station showed the dominance of certain species. Evenness values are respectively from upstream to downstream i.e. 0.89; 0.91 and 0.83. Similarity index of riparian vegetation showed that undergrowth riparian vegetation is different i.e. 44% and 56% .