Species and Distribution of Nerita gastropods (Neritidae; Gastropoda) in Rocky Shore Ecosystem, Phuket Province

Abstract

Species, distribution, and adaptation of Nerita gastropods inhabiting rocky shore ecosystem of Phuket Province were studied. The Nerites were recorded from 5 sampling sites including Pleumsuk beach, Nai yang beach, Por bay, Bangtao beach, and Yon bay. The sampling was done during October 2018 – January 2019. In each site, a line transect was set up perpendicularly to the coast. Three of a 50x50 cm quadrat were used to sampling Nerites in every 2 m-long area along the line transect. Nerites were identified and counted, and its position was recorded. The present study identified 6 species of Nerita gastropods namely N. albicilla, N. alveolus, N. chamealeon, N. costata, N. histrio and N. polita. The study site with highest Shannon diversity index (H’) was Nai yang beach (H’ = 1.01), and the lowest was Pleumsuk beach (H’ = 0.62). The species that showed widest distribution was N. chamealeon recorded in 5 sites, whereas N. histrio had narrowest distribution recorded in 1 site. In each site, N. alveolus inhabited closest to the highest tidal zone (0-16 meters), N. chamealeon and N. polita lived in lower zone (2-26 meters) (except for Por bay), and N. albicilla was recorded most far from the highest tidal zone (14 meters – the lowest tide). Other species found in few numbers and no an obvious distribution pattern was recognized.