Abstract:
Mangrove is a habitat for many species of flora and fauna one of them, is the gastropods. Changes in ecosystem condition is thought to affect the existence of species of gastropods. This study aims to determine the distribution and abundance of gastropod communities and analyze the effect of different mangrove zonation on the distribution and abundance of Gastropods communities in two different locations. This study was conducted from November to December 2014 in two different mangrove areas, ie. natural mangrove and rehabilitation-mangrove area, of Merbau District, Meranti Islands Regency. The method used in this research was survey method. Sampling was conducted only one period, during low tide, using 10m x 10m plot which includes five 1m x 1m subplot. There were 6 and 5 families of Gastropod species found in the natural mangrove and rehabilitation-mangrove area of Merbau District. Analysis data showed that the distribution of gastropods for both observation stations was spreading evenly. Gastropod species richness was highest on the first zonation (Avicennia spp.) with the abundance of Cerithidea obtusa 74 ind. / m2 and the lowest in the second zonation (Rhizophora spp.) with the abundance of Nerita furniculata 0.6 ind / m2. The test of 2 x 3 contingency showed the presence of a significant effect on the distribution and abundance of gastropods.
