Crab composition and abundance in different age stands of Matang mangrove forest reserve, Perak, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract
The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) has been sustainably managed since 1902, and is currently harvested mainly for charcoal production and for poles used in the construction industry. It is also rich in aquatic animals like fish, prawns, mudskippers, molluscs and crabs. It was hypothesized that crab abundance is low in the area of young vegetation stands compared to older vegetation stands in MMFR. Two species, Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata dominated the young age stands due to the management practice of replantation. In the older aged stands, which was left for natural growth for more than 30 years, five (5) species were recorded which are Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Bruguiera parviflora, B. gymnorhiza and Excoecaria agallocha. Eight (8) species of mangrove crabs, Perisesarma eumolpe, Perisesarma onychophorum, Episesarma versicolor, Episesarma singaporiensis, Episesarma mederi, Uca rosea, Sarmatium crassum and Clistocoeloma merguiense were identified. The highest abundance of crabs was found in the young and middle age stands. The environmental conditions provided by the young and middle-aged stands may have influenced the crab composition and abundance. The mud-dweller crab, Uca rosea was also found near the riverbank of mangrove forest. The results suggest that the forest management practices are able to sustain the composition of mangrove crabs. © 2020 Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Age stands, Crab, Matang mangrove
Divisions
ocean
Funders
Universiti Putra Malaysia for the research grant Putra-IPB Vote No. 9441200
Publication Title
The Malaysian Forester
Volume
83
Issue
1
Publisher
Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia