Carbon stock of the seagrass Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii in Tanjung Tiram coastal waters, Poka, Ambon Island

Seagrass is a marine plant that can reduce carbon dioxide by storing carbon and can bind carbon in thousands of years. The ability of seagrass beds as a carbon sink can be determined by calculating carbon stocks. The purpose of this study was to analyze the carbon stock of seagrass Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii. This research took place at Tanjung Tiram Coastal Waters, Poka Village, Ambon Island on June 2019. The study was conducted at two different stations, namely station one on mixed sand and gravel substrates and station two on mixed sand and mud substrates. Carbon content was analyzed by using the Walkley and Black method. The results of the study showed that carbon stock of E. acoroides ranged from 78.89 gC.m(-2) to 107.42 gC.m(-2) and was higher than T. hemprichii, which ranges from 50.04 gC.m(-2) to 64.75 gC.m(-2). The carbon stock was higher in the bellow ground component, especially in rhizome which was 46.94 gC. m(-2) - 61 gC.m(-2) (E. acoroides) and 25.74 gC.m-2 - 33.59 gC.m(-2) (T. hemprichii). Seagrass beds in the mixed sand and mud substrates have a higher carbon stock and can store more carbon.