Diversity of bivalve and gastropod species in mangrove restoration areas

Abstract

Bivalvia and gastropods are two types of mollusks found in mangrove habitats. This group of mollusks performs a vital function in their environment, including serving as a biofilter and decomposing organic waste. The abundance of bivalves and gastropods in their natural environment is presumed to have been impacted by deforestation and restoration processes in mangrove ecosystems. Therefore, this study was conducted to collect information about the composition and variety of bivalves and gastropods in the mangrove restoration area of Bagan Serdang village in North Sumatra. This research was conducted using the plot method with a plot size of 2m x 2m. Observation plots are created along specified paths with alternate placements. According to the findings, up to 19 types of mollusks were discovered at the study site. This investigation discovered 14 snail species and 10 gastropod families. The other five species are Bivalvia from four different families. M. strigata has the greatest density of 0.26 and the highest relative density of 3.90%. At the study site, the bivalve and gastropod diversity index was moderate (2.127), the evenness index was high (0.722), and the dominance index was low (0.211). It is highly recommended to continue to promote vegetation species at the study location in order to improve bivalves and gastropod species and numbers.