MANGROVE BRACHYURAN CRABS IN WORI, NORTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA

The study of faunal diversity from mangrove sites in Wori was limited, especially on brachyuran crab taxa. Healthy mangrove forests provide a critical habitat for many species of crabs in intertidal and estuarine areas and the key to healthy marine ecology. Mangroves are the most suitable feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for crabs and other crustaceans. In this study, the habitat distribution and diversity of crabs in Wori mangrove environment was recorded between October 2015 and August 2016. Three stations with different habitat specifications were selected: Wori Seaward (WSW), Wori Middle zone (WMZ) and Wori Landward (WLW). A total of 14 species and 307 individuals of brachyuran crabs were recorded belonging to ten genera and six families, wherein the family Sesarmidae was most dominant with seven species. The other major outcome of the study was maximum diversity found at Wori Landward (WLW) site with 12 species, followed by Middle Zone (WMZ) site with 10 species and Wori Seaward (WSW) site with 9 species.