Abstract
The aim of the research was to study the gastropod assemblage associated with a planted mangrove consisting of Rhizophora apiculata in Dam Bay (Tre Island, Nha Trang Bay, central Vietnam). Long-term changes in species composition, density, and biomass of gastropod assemblages in a planted mangrove were compared to those associated with natural mangroves. The gastropod assemblages in one planted and two natural mangrove associations were studied. Long-term monitoring (2005 to 2013) of assemblages associated with planted mangroves was also carried out. In total, 53 gastropod species in 21 families were recorded. This is comparable or even higher than in other areas of South-East Asia. In planted mangroves, R. apiculata trees were planted in mid (in 2004) and lower (2007) intertidal zones. Composition of gastropod fauna during the early period of observations (2005 to 2006) differed significantly in species richness, biomass, and abundance from the later period (2008 to 2013). Initially, the values of these parameters were low in the upper, and mid-intertidal zones and negligible in low intertidal zone. In 2008 to 2013, the values increased in the upper and mid-intertidal zones. R. apiculata planting in mid-intertidal zone and changes in its gastropod assemblage strongly affected those of upper intertidal zone as well. Comparison of gastropod fauna in planted mangroves and natural associations revealed significant differences. In planted mangroves, gastropods were mostly represented by eurybiotic species, also found in other not mangrove intertidal habitats, while in natural association many species were predominantly mangrove inhabitants, e.g., Potamididae, Littorinidae, and Ellobiidae. The fact that mangrove plantations in Dam Bay are highly dominated by opportunistic species, together with a paucity of predominantly mangrove-associated gastropods, suggest that the whole ecosystem is not balanced yet. Thegastropod assemblage found in a 9-year old mangrove plantation differed from natural mangrove associations in that the former is dominated by opportunistic eurybiotic gastropod species. This could mean that the ecosystem of planted mangroves is unbalanced and is still in a transitional state.
Highlights
The aim of the research was to study the gastropod assemblage associated with a planted mangrove consisting of Rhizophora apiculata in Dam Bay (Tre Island, Nha Trang Bay, central Vietnam)
One of the areas was the Dam Bay on the Tre Island, where planting started in 2004. This provided a unique opportunity to examine the formation and dynamics of benthic community associated with the newly planted mangrove plants, and we launched the program of mangrove macrozoobenthos monitoring of the plantation, started in 2005 and continuing until the present. The aims of this present work were to study the species composition of gastropod assemblages associated with planted mangroves in Dam Bay, describe long-term changes (2005 to 2013) in the species composition, determine the density and biomass of gastropod assemblages in planted mangroves, and compare gastropod assemblages associated with planted mangroves with that of adjacent intertidal areas and natural mangroves
Gastropod assemblage composition in the Nha Trang Bay Fifty-three gastropod species belonging to 21 families were found in the bay altogether
Summary
The aim of the research was to study the gastropod assemblage associated with a planted mangrove consisting of Rhizophora apiculata in Dam Bay (Tre Island, Nha Trang Bay, central Vietnam). Long-term changes in species composition, density, and biomass of gastropod assemblages in a planted mangrove were compared to those associated with natural mangroves. A diverse invertebrate assemblage is associated with the mangal, with molluscs being one of the dominant components in terms of species richness, biomass, and abundance (Cantera et al 1983, Nagelkerken et al 2008, Sasekumar 1974). Diversity, biomass, and abundance of invertebrates change under disturbance, exploitation, or. Studies of distribution of macro- and mesofauna in tidal flats of northeast Australia revealed that the highest abundance and species diversity was in the mid-intertidal zone and lowest in the lower intertidal zone (Dittmann 2000). The abundance of polychaetes in the mangroves of northern Australia was highest in the lower intertidal zone and lowest in upper intertidal zone (Metcalfe and Glasby 2008)
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