Habitat characteristics and potency of mud crabs Scylla serrata, S. transquaberica, and S. olivacea in Cibako Mangrove Forest, Garut District, West Java

Abstract

Abstract. Avianto, Sulistiono, Setyobudiandi I. 2013. Habitat characteristics and potency of mud crabs Scylla serrata, S. transquaberica, and S. olivacea in Cibako Mangrove Forest, Garut District, West Java. Bonorowo Wetlands 3: 55-72. The research was conducted from August to November 2011 in Cibako Mangrove Forest of Leuweung Sancang Nature Reserve, Garut District, West Java. The site contains six stations, each station in three zones. Stations 1 and 2 were placed in zona A where zone A is in the mangrove forest’s front area. Stations 3 and 4 were placed in zone B, located in the middle of mangrove forests. Stations 5 and 6 were placed in zone B, behind the mangrove forest. This study aims to obtain data and information on the habitat characteristics and potency of mud crabs based on species, abundance, and size distribution. The method used was a survey. Observations of habitat characteristics were performed in situ using a sampling transect line plot method. Cluster evaluation of habitat characteristics used cluster analysis. Analysis of habitat characteristics with the potency of mud crab used correspondence analysis. The results showed that the parameters of habitat 1 and 2 had been similar, classified as groups of zone A. The similarity of parameters in stations 3 and 4 was classified as a group of Zone B. The similarity of parameters in stations 5 and 6 was classified as a group of zone C. S. serrata dominated in zona A where the substrate was mud with a range of salinity between 24-30 ppt, total 73 ind. S. transquaberica dominated in zone B where the substrate was mud with a range of salinity between 22-25 ppt, totaled 94 ind. S. olivacea dominated in zone C where the substrate was clay with a range of salinity between 18-23 ppt, totaled 45 ind. The abundance of mud crabs was in the dark moon, where totaled zona A was 57 ind, zone B was 68 ind, and zone C was 32 ind. Mud crabs had possessed negative phototactic because the habit of mud crab often refuges and hiding on a substrate that was not exposed to light directly. The high density of mangroves was found in zona A and B. which Third of the mud crabs associated with mangrove had density so higher. The average litter weight could be the source of food for macrozoobenthos, in zona A and B was 200.72 g and 204.83 g, and the average abundance, each was 13 ind/m² dan 17 ind/m²_. Therefore_, mud crabs would be interested to settle in the zone that had an abundance of macrozoobenthos as the source of food.