Kepadatan, Ciri Morfometrik dan Pola Distribusi Kepah (Meretrix Meretrix) di Perairan Estuari Suaka Margasatwa Karang Gading Kabupaten Deli Serdang

Abstract

Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix meretrix) has a wide distribution, ranging from mangrove forest areas in the Indo-Pacific to mangrove swamp areas in South America. In Indonesia, clam is found on the island of Sumatra, one of which is in the estuary waters of the Karang Gading Wildlife Sanctuary, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. In this area often found fishermen who catch clams. The catch of clams in addition to its own consumption, is also widely sold in traditional markets. The existence of clam capture activities carried out continuously can threaten the sustainability of this commodity in nature. This study aims to find out the density, morphometric characteristics, distribution patterns and the relationship of flapping density with aquatic physicochemical. Sampling was carried out in July - August 2021 in the estuary waters of Karang Gading Wildlife Sanctuary Deli Serdang regency using purposive sampling method. Sampling was done by using a clam rake with a radius length of 35 cm. At each station, 5 sampling points are determined and 3 dredging is carried out at each point which is done 2 times with 30- day intervals at 07.00-11.00 WIB. The results concluded that the highest density of clam is found in station I with a value of 3.896 ind / m2, the pattern of growth of the clam at each station is negative allometric, the pattern of group and uniform clam distribution, and the correlation of physical and chemical factors of the waters with the density of the clam shows that phosphate has a very strong correlation to the density of the clam, while the temperature correlates moderately with the density of the clam.