Meiobenthos with special reference to free-living marine nematodes as bioindicators for different mangrove types in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

Abstract

Can Gio mangrove is the first Biosphere Reserve of Vietnam. Hypothesis of the study is that rehabilitated and natural mangrove forests differ in their vegetation and physical properties, in such that benthic community structure and system function is impacted.Objective of this work is to study meiobenthic community structures with special reference to nematodes in rehabilitated and natural mangrove forests, and to use them as bioindicators for different mangrove types in Can Gio.Results showed that meiobenthos and nematode community structure varied in different types of mangrove in both the dry and rainy seasons. This variation can be used to separate natural and rehabilitated forests, as well as forest types and mudflat sites in Can Gio. The most important characteristics to be considered are: (i) densities of total meiobenthos, nematodes, foraminifera; (ii) nematode trophic structure; (iii) nematode diversity indexes (iv) nematode assemblage based on multivariate analysis.