Species Composition, Density, and Distribution of Macrozoobenthos in the Estuary of the Singkil Peat Swamp Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The Singkil peat swamp is currently experiencing severe disturbances due to deforestation, forest fires, and land conversion to oil palm plantations. These activities cause significant changes in water quality and aquatic biota, including macrozoobenthos, a crucial component within the aquatic ecosystem food chain. Therefore, this study aims to identify macrozoobenthos species and analyze their diversity, distribution, density, and dominance in the estuary of the Singkil peat swamp. Sampling was conducted from June to August 2023 at seven locations determined based on accessibility and security. Macrozoobenthos were collected using three transects (1 x 1 m), which were set up purposefully to represent each location. Samples above the substrate.