Seagrass and Coastal Fish Communities in Kendari Waters, South-East Sulawesi

One of ecological role of seagrass is as nursery area which hold by their own vegetation structure. Seagrass community can influence the abudance of fish in a shallow water. This study aimed to identify the seagrass bed condition as nursery area for supporting fish abudance. The study was conducted in Kendari Waters, South-East Sulawesi. Research station was set in six location .i.e. three location at seagrass vegetated and three location without seagrass. Parameter of the study was community structure of seagrass and abudance of fish. Data were analised statistically using one way ANOVA and Person correlation Grapad Prism 5.0 (Trial session). Mean of seagrass coverage was about 25 to 51% and density 327.78 to 597.22 ind m^-2. There were no difference on community structure of seagrass at each location. There were 73 species of fish and 1815 individuals, there were fish that usually find in seagrass ecosystem for example Apogon margaritophorus, Lutjanus gibbus, and Achreichthys tomantosus. The most abundant species was Siganus canaliculatus (Siganidae) with mean abundance 0.378 ind m^-2. Mean of fish abundance was higher in vegetated area than unvegetated. Seagrass density positively correlated with fish abundace (p 0.05). Seagrass community in Kendari Water showed a fairly good and good condition to support coastal fishes richness and abundance.