The potential edible bivalve and its diversity in the coastal waters of south Kabung Bay, West Sumatra, Indonesia: with special case of gafrarium tumidum (roding 1798)

Abstract

The potential edible bivalve and its diversity in the coastal waters of South Kabung Bay, West Sumatra: with special case Gafrarium tumidum (Roding 1798), was studiedfrom November 2006 to February 2008. The sampling were conducted at northern part (sandflats, gravel-sandflats and mudflats) and southern part (mudflats, in the front of mangrove forest) of Kabung Bay. Clams were collected monthly by using transects belt based on zonation areas (upper, middle and lower). The results of observation showed that there were 22 bivalve species and 8 species of edible bivalves. Edible bivalves are handly harvested, for domestic consumption, mainly women and children, with the empty shell sold traders. The bivalve diveristy index was 2.6 and 2.85, respectively. These bivalve distribution are at estuary, mangrove forest, intertidal zones and shallow water. Especially G. tumidum clams at this water began to decrease and local communities had began to be conserved before it was consumpted or sold. The results showed that the length sizes were ranged from 1.3 to 58.6 mm (n=2263). The smaller size classes (juvenile) of Kopah clams were found only at gravel-sandflats and the larger size classes (young and adult) at sands and mudflats. Because of continues exploitations, the adult G. tumidum clams became difficult to befound. While these clams has big economic pontential value for local people. Ecologic factors of the Kopah clams indicates that it has the behavior some aspect in feeding strategy, substrate burrowing and the protection of predator disturbance in its habitat. These three factors plays an important role in its conservation in the future