Received: 22-08-2023 / Accepted: 05-01-2024
The study was conducted to evaluate the distribution and diversity of zoobenthos species composition at integrated shrimp-mangrove farms in Ca Mau province. The sampling was taken monthly during 12 months, from January to December 2022. At each sampling, samples of zoobenthos were collected in 9 farms (3 farms/district) in three districts of Ca Mau province, including Dam Doi, Nam Can, Ngoc Hien. A total of 49 species were identified and they belonged to 43 genera, 4 classes and 3 phylums, including Molluscan, Annelida and Arthropods. The molluscan community was the most pre-dominant (28 species), followed by Annelida (15 species) and Arthropods (6 species). The number of mollusca species was higher than those of the others. Total zoobenthos abundance in each point varied from 16 to 30 species, with the mean ranging from 119 to 2,833 ind./m2. The species composition and abundance of Gastropoda were highest within the study area. The Gastropoda represented the highest number ranging from 2-15 species and density from 2-2,794 ind./m2in the study area. The shannon (H’) diversity index ranged from 0.6~1.4, indicating that the diversity richness of zoobenthos characterized by sampling sites and periods was low to moderate level. The species diversity of zoobenthos in Nam Can area was considerably lower compared to that in Dam Doi and Ngoc Hien areas..