Distribution of Mangrove Gastropods Based on Dominant Vegetation Class and Its Relationship with Physicochemical Characteristics in Mangroves on the North Coast of East Java, Indonesia

Mangrove ecosystems play an important role in supporting diverse marine life, offering protection, reproduction, and food for various species. However, mangrove forests are especially gastropods. A study on the North Coast of East Java, Indonesia, revealed communities of different gastropod species that coexist in each zone of mangrove vegetation. In each mangrove zone, the species composition of gastropods changes depending on the type of substrate, soil, mangrove stems, or mangrove leaves. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index values ​​range from low to high diversity, and the community structure index values ​​in the mangrove zone vary. The evenness index varies by region, with Avicennia, Bruguiera, and Sonneratia having the highest index value. These findings indicate that the mangrove vegetation zone at each station is - crucial for maintaining the diversity of gastropod populations, with different composition and abundance patterns influenced by the distance of each mangrove zone from the ocean. This data can influence conservation efforts to preserve mangrove habitats and the various organisms that depend on them.