Diversity of freshwater crab (decapoda) in meru betiri national park

Abstract

The abundance of flora and fauna in tropical forests throughout Indonesia is very high. Indonesian fauna shows its diversity in terms of ecology found in various ecosystem types. One of them is freshwater ecosystem. Freshwater crabs have a wide habitat distribution so they can be found in various forms of freshwater. This study aimed to determine the level of diversity and determine the abiotic conditions of freshwater crab habitat. The location determination of sampling was done purposively along with road sampling. The tools used to catch freshwater crabs were bubu and tray net. The results obtained in the Meru Betiri National Park, especially in Andongrejo and Bandealit resorts, revealed that five species of freshwater crabs consist of three families. The diversity index of freshwater crabs in both resorts is relatively low. That is because most freshwater crab species belongs to endemic animals because of their limited spreading ability, relatively low fecundity, and stenotopic habits. Meru Betiri National Park has abiotic conditions that are ideal for supporting freshwater crab life.