Comparison of the feeding ecology of Perisesarma eumolpe collected at the intact forest and gap areas of Can Gio mangrove forest after ten years of Durian typhoon

Abstract

Perisesarma eumolpe is the dominant crab species in the Can Gio mangrove forest, which is affected by bidirectional interaction with the natural environment. After 10 years of Durian typhoon, Perisesarma eumolpe has had significant changes and adaptations on its growth in Can Gio mangrove forest. One of the main changes is their diets between the intact forest and the gap areas which are natural reforestation. The dry season results showed that the fullness of the stomach (S4) was the highest in the total analyzed stomaches. The fullness of the stomach of the P. eumolpe in the gap area (Hcut) is always higher than the rest area. The main diet composition of the P. eumolpe are seven food categories: decomposed leaves, bark, wood, animal debris, algae, sand, unidentified debris. Leaves are dominant food category in both forest and gap areas. To compare with the result obtained in 2007, the feeding ecology of P. eumolpe was initially recorded. These are the increase in stomach fullness, leaves are dominant in the gap area. There are the positive results from the natural reforestation of Can Gio mangroves in the gap area caused by Durian typhoon.