Species diversity and vertical distribution of arboreal organisms on the Paradiso Mangrove environment of Kupang Bay, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

This research was directed to analyze the level of species diversity and distribution patterns of arboreal organisms on the mangrove forest environment of Paradiso coastal of Kupang Bay. The observation unit is a circle of mangrove stems that is divided into three levels of height, i.e., 0.0 – 1.0 m, 1.1 – 2.0 m and 2.1 – 3.0 m. The assessment of mangrove trees as the observation unit is zigzagged by following the Z pattern starting from the lowest tide to the highest tide. Mangrove trees encountered in Z pattern were defined as observation units. The data collected in this study consisted of species and the number of individuals from each species attached to mangrove stem. Data of arboreal organisms were analyzed for relative abundance, diversity Index and species evenness, and distribution pattern. The results showed that in the mangrove forest area found 8 species of arboreal organisms consists of 7 species of molluscs and 1 species of crustacean. Mangrove mollusc group consisted of Littorina scabra, Littorina undulata, Terebralia sulcata, Nerita plasnospira, Nassarius distortus, Morula margariticula and Saccostrea cucullata. Species included in the Crustaceae group is Semibalanus sp. The index of species diversity is 1.119 (in low category), and species evenness of 0.704 (in high category). A total of 7 species from 8 arboreal organisms distributed in clustered patterns and 1 species in a uniform pattern. All environmental parameters support the life of arboreal organisms.