By Sara Haumahu1, Prulley A. Uneputty & Janson H. Pietersz
The intertidal zone represents a diverse and dynamic environment characterized by its heterogeneous habitat composition and structure. It harbors a plethora of flora and fauna, exhibiting the highest levels of diversity. Organisms inhabiting the intertidal zone endure significant fluctuations in physical and chemical conditions during tidal cycles. Gastropods, adaptable to terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats, are among the prominent inhabitants of this zone. Despite their ubiquity, there exists a paucity of documented information regarding the diversity of marine gastropods in the intertidal zone of Oma Village, Central Maluku, Indonesia.
The objectives of this research are to delineate marine gastropod species and assess their abundance and species diversity across three distinct intertidal zones—Tuhurui, Sila, and Hitalawa—in Oma Village, Central Maluku, during March 2022. Sampling was conducted utilizing transect line methods. At each study site, five perpendicular transect lines, each spanning 150 meters in length, were laid along the shore. Quadrats measuring 1 m2 were positioned along the transect lines at intervals of 10 meters.
A comprehensive survey yielded findings encompassing six orders of marine gastropods (Lepetellida, Trochida, Cycloneritida, Littorinimorpha, Caenogastropoda, and Neogastropoda), spanning 24 families and comprising 92 species. The abundance and diversity of gastropod species exhibited variability across the study sites, with the intertidal zone of Hitalawa demonstrating the highest diversity index (H` = 3.482) compared to its counterparts. Evenness index (J`) ranged from 0.753 to 0.846 across the study sites. Notably, Neritidae and Muricidae emerged as predominant species across all study sites, while the dominance index (D) ranged from 0.051 to 0.086. Importantly, the diversity and evenness indices of marine gastropods in this research surpassed those previously reported, with no single species dominating the gastropod communities.
This study significantly contributes to the understanding of molluscan species diversities within the waters of Maluku, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of gastropod communities within the intertidal zone.
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