KARAKTERISTIK HABITAT ISTIRAHAT BURUNG KUNTUL KERBAU (Bubulcus ibis) DI KAWASAN EKOSISTEM ESENSIAL MANGROVE LAGUNA PENGKLIK KABUPATEN BANTUL

MUHAMMAD FATCHUL 'ALIM, Dr. drh. Subeno, M.Sc.

2026 | Skripsi | KEHUTANAN

Kuntul Kerbau termasuk dalam famili Ardeidae yang merupakan burung air dengan ketergantungannya terhadap lahan basah, termasuk mangrove. Keberadaan kuntul kerbau di area Laguna Pengklik setelah dilakukan penanaman mangrove beberapa tahun terakhir perlu dikaji lebih lanjut dengan mengetahui aspek biotik dan abiotik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sebaran dan jumlah individu kuntul kerbau serta mengetahui karakteristik habitat istirahat kuntul kerbau di Kawasan Ekosistem Esensial Mangrove Laguna Pengklik.  

Pengambilan data sebaran dan jumlah individu kuntul kerbau dilakukan secara transek dengan mengelilingi seluruh kawasan mangrove dan data habitat secara sistematik dengan jarak antar titik 100 m. Data yang diambil berupa populasi individu kuntul, vegetasi, tutupan tajuk, stratifikasi vertikal, makrozoobentos, Suhu udara, kelembaban, suhu air, salinitas, pH, ketebalan lumpur, aktivitas manusia atau temuan lain, aktivitas kuntul kerbau di luar mangrove. Data-data tersebut dianalisis secara deskriptif dengan membandingkan kondisi habitat di lokasi lain yang serupa. 

Berdasarkan observasi di lapangan, teramati sejumlah 720 individu kuntul kerbau. Terdapat 6 jenis vegetasi. Kerapatan semai sebesar 13.000 (ind/ha), kerapatan pancang 1440 (ind/ha), dan kerapatan pohon sebesar 146 (ind/ha). Rata-rata penutupan tajuk 67.54%. Pemanfaatan stratifikasi vertikal pada strata III dan IV. Makrozoobentos sebanyak 7 jenis. Pada aspek abiotik, rata-rata ketinggian tempat, yaitu 2,98 mdpl. Suhu udara dari 26,5 0C – 30,5 0C. Kelembaban udara 79,5 % - 92,4%. Suhu air 27,3 0C – 28,5 0C. Salinitas 9 ppt – 17 ppt. pH 7,96 – 8,26. Ketebalan lumpur dari 2 cm hingga 24 cm. Aktivitas manusia di sekitar area mangrove, yakni berjualan dan memancing. Sampah dominan menumpuk di plot 3,4, dan 5.  

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) belongs to the family Ardeidae and is classified as a waterbird with a strong dependence on wetland ecosystems, including mangroves. The occurrence of Cattle Egrets in the Laguna Pengklik area following mangrove planting over recent years require further assessment through the examination of biotic and abiotic factors. This study aimed to determine the distribution and number of individual Cattle Egrets and to characterize their roosting habitat within the Essential Ecosystem Area of the Mangrove Laguna Pengklik. 

Data on the distribution and abundance of Cattle Egrets were collected using transect surveys encircling the entire mangrove area, while habitat data were obtained systematically at 100 m intervals between sampling points. The collected variables included Cattle Egret population counts, vegetation composition, canopy cover, vertical stratification, macrozoobenthos, air temperature, air humidity, water temperature, salinity, pH, mud thickness, human activities or other notable findings, and Cattle Egret activities outside the mangrove area. Data were analyzed descriptively by comparing habitat conditions with those of similar locations. 

Field observations recorded a total of 720 individual Cattle Egrets. Six vegetation species were identified, with seedling density of 13,000 ind/ha, sapling density of 1,440 ind/ha, and tree density of 146 ind/ha. The average canopy cover was 67.54%. Vertical stratification was primarily utilized at strata III and IV. Seven macrozoobenthos species were identified. Abiotic conditions showed an average elevation of 2.98 m above sea level, air temperatures ranging from 26.5°C to 30.5°C, air humidity from 79.5% to 92.4%, water temperatures from 27.3°C to 28.5°C, salinity ranging from 9 to 17 ppt, pH values between 7.96 and 8.26, and mud thickness varying from 2 cm to 24 cm. Human activities observed around the mangrove area included vending and fishing, while waste accumulation was predominantly found in plots 3, 4, and 5.

Kata Kunci : Kuntul Kerbau, Habitat Mangrove, Laguna Pengklik, Analisis Vegetasi, Kabupaten Bantul