Diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates in the mangrove ecosystem of Leyte, Philippines

A study on benthic macroinvertebrates was conducted in the coastal areas of Barangay Old Kawayan in Tacloban City and Barangay Tangan in Carigara, Leyte, focusing on the species diversity within the sites’ mangrove ecosystems. The study employed quadrat and transect sampling methods, with two stations established at each site. Within each station, three transects were laid perpendicular to the shoreline to gather data. In Old Kawayan, 15 species and a total of 2,107 macrobenthic invertebrates were found, with the girdled horn snail (Cerithideosilla spp) being the most abundant species at 1,434 individuals. In contrast, Tangan Carigara recorded seven distinct species with a total count of 111 individuals, dominated by the telescope shell (Telescopium spp), which had 35 individuals. The study sites recorded members belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (four different species) and Phylum Mollusca (eleven different species), with the latter showing a significantly high relative abundance of 93.73%. The community of Tangan Carigara exhibited higher species richness and evenness, making it a more diverse and balanced ecosystem, while the community of Old Kawayan showed higher species dominance. The contrasting factors between the two study sites include water salinity, the presence of a sandy substrate, and the specific mangrove species present. Understanding the population numbers of individuals in the study sites is crucial for gaining valuable insights into the conservation and management of mangrove ecosystems. published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES)