Diversity of snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Mangrove Area of Karangsong, Indramayu Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia

The Karangsong mangrove forest region has significantly advanced in the administration and exploitation of natural resources, transforming into an ecotourism hotspot and silvofishery area for fish aquaculture. The aim of this study is to analyse the composition of gastropod communities, essential for the stability of mangrove ecosystems and biodiversity management. The study was carried out during May-June 2024 in the Karangsong mangrove ecosystem of Indramayu Regency, Indonesia. Purposive sampling was used based on three different mangrove habitats in Karangsong. Mangrove density was measured using three random transect plots (10 x 10 m2) and five quadrants (1 x 1 m2) for gastropod collection. The present study identified two distinct species of mangroves, namely Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata. The discovered snails consist of six families: Potamididae, Ellobiidae, Littorinidae, Terebridae, Nassariidae, and Onchidiidae. Gastropod diversity is moderate (H' = 1.62), with no species dominating any research site (C = 0.24). The prevalence of gastropods significantly correlates with the mangrove biodiversity (r = 0.671). The results indicate that the gastropod community within the Karangsong mangrove habitat is stable.