Commercially valuable gastropod Cerithidea obtusa is abundant in the Malaysian mangrove ecosystems, yet little research has been done on this species. However, only few studies can be reached emphasizing the knowledge on C. obtusa in Malaysia. The present study was conducted to examine the diet of C. obtusa from two sites, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor and Tanjung Piai National Park, Johor, Malacca Strait. Sample analysis revealed that food items found in both sites representing six major groups, dominated by vegetal detritus, leaf matter, diatoms, dinoflagellate, porifera and foraminifera. Moreover, a total of 16 diatom genera were recorded from the gut content analysis and genera were frequently found in the guts from Kuala Selangor includes Cyclotella (73.33%), Navicula (70%) and Coscinodiscus (40%) and in the guts from Tanjung Piai; Cyclotella (56.6%), Navicula (32.08%) and Coscinodiscus (26.42%). The diet of C. obtusa showed that this species is a non-selective bottom grazer, and the composition might vary due to the different localities and environmental factors such as tidal level. It is much needed to study their dietary composition to conserve the ecosystem and the sources of the food itself to maintain these species in our mangrove ecosystem from extinction.

Web: doi:10.1088/1755-1315/870/1/012047

Date of Input: 18/04/2022 | Updated: 18/04/2022 | m_fakhrulddin