Morphometric Variations of Nerita Lineata Gmelin 1791 in Different Mangrove Age Groups in the Ecosystem

Abstract

Snail Nerita lineata is a snail that lives in the mangrove ecosystem. This snail is also found in the mangrove ecosystem in the Village of Tongke-Tongke, Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi. This study aims to provide information about the morphometrics of snails N. lineata. This research was conducted for six months, from April to September 2019. There were three research stations, namely A, B, and C, which were grouped according to mangrove age. group A is mangrove ⩾10 years old, group B is mangrove ⩾20 years old, and group C is mangrove which is rove30 years old. Each station uses a large plot measuring 10m x 10m and inside there are four small plots measuring 0.5m x 0.5m. sampling is done every month. Morphometric measurements using a digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm and weighing using a digital scale with an accuracy of 0.1 gr. Morphometric parameters observed were shell length (SL), shell width (SW), spire height (SpH), columella length (CL), shell opening width (AW), shell opening length (AL), and snail weight (W). Data were analyzed for correlation and Paired Sample Test using SPSS software. Morphometric snails in mangrove groups A, B, and C are not much different. In the mangrove group A, there are several morphometric parameters that are not correlated with each other. In the mangrove groups B and C, the parameters of shell length (SL) and shell width (SW) do not correlate. The results of the Paired Sample Test showed the significant length of snail (SL) between mangrove A and mangrove B and length of snails in mangrove B and mangrove C. None of the results of paired sample test showed significant snail weight.