Some Biological Aspects of Mud Crabs (Scylla serrata) in Mangrove Ecosystem, Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar

Abstract

In the study area, mud crabs S. serrata has high economic value and one of the biota aquatics cached by fishermen. However, their presence is decreasing due to anthropogenic activity and the changing of habitat characteristics. The aims of the study are to analyse morphometrics and growth pattern of mud crabs (S. serrata), and to analyse the biological aspects of mud crabs. The research was conducted in December 2022 until March 2023 located in mangrove rehabilitated at Cadek Village (location 1), and Deah Raya village (location 2), Aceh Province. Purposive sampling method was applied to determine the research location. Totally, 120 mud crabs’ samples were obtained and sample was carried out at Marine Biology Laboratory, USK. The growth pattern of the male mud crab showed a positive allometric, while the female showed an isometric growth pattern for both locations. Furthermore, the sex ratio of male and female in the 1st location was unbalanced (1:2) and balanced in the 2nd location (1:1.14). The gonad maturity level (GML) of mud crabs in both locations was dominated by level one gonad maturity. The biological aspect study can be one of the future conservation approaches in maintaining sustainability of mud crabs in mangrove ecosystem.