Faunal diversity in Malaysian mangroves
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1998
Abstract
Malaysian mangroves harbour a high diversity of benthic invertebrates, including poly- chaetes, gastropods, brachyurans, and sipunculids. In three sites at different points in the forest harvest cycle at Matang, the density and biomass of epifaunal taxa was found to be greatest in mature Rhizophora apiculata Lamk. forest, intermediate in a 15-year old stand, and lowest in recently cleared forest. The pattern in infaunal taxa was found to be different, with the greatest density and biomass in the recently cleared site. A number of diversity indices highlight the low diversity of epifaunal taxa in the recently cleared site, perhaps a consequence of the drier substrate surface in the absence of a tree canopy.
Keywords
Epifauna, Infauna, Forest management, Deforestation, Mangrove, Malaysia
Divisions
Science
Publication Title
Global Ecology & Biogeography Letters
Volume
7
Issue
1