Current biodiversity status, distribution, and prospects of seaweed in Indonesia: A systematic review.

ABSTRACT

Seaweeds are a valuable component of marine biodiversity that play multiple essential roles in Indonesia's coastal ecology and economy. This systematic review (1993-2023) aimed to provide an updated overview of seaweed distribution, biodiversity, cultivation, and industry in Indonesia. The literature search derived from major databases, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and ResearchGate (RG), and Google Scholar (GS) retrieved 794 studies, after removing 80 duplicates, identified 646 studies passed title and abstract screening that satisfied all criteria Indonesia, seaweed, seaweed biodiversity and composition, which consisted of 80 exclusion studies. Full text screening decided 194 studies were selected based on the specific inclusion criteria (at least two criteria passed seaweed distribution site, species, cultivation, and habitat). After additional filtering, 137 studies were included for extraction and analysis. We found that Indonesia is rich in seaweed biodiversity, with at least 325 identified species consisting of 103 Chlorophyceae (green algae), 167 Rhodophyceae (red algae), and 55 Phaeophyceae (brown algae), respectively. Seaweed distribution and abundance in Indonesia are influenced by environmental factors, including nutrients, grazing, competition, physical tolerance, light intensity, and degree of water circulation. Seaweed species are predominantly found in mangrove forests and coral reefs on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the distribution and biodiversity of seaweeds in Indonesia, highlighting the ecological, economic, and cultivation of marine resources. In addition, we identify knowledge gaps and areas for further research, which can inform sustainable seaweed management and utilization in Indonesia. This review also emphasizes the significance of this marine resource to Indonesia's environment and economy.