Impacts of mangrove conservation on growth and abundance of gastropod terebralia palustris in Michamvi Zanzibar, Tanzania

Mangrove conservation in Michamvi village is through Community Based Conservation (CBC) established in 2000. The impact of mangrove conservation on the gastropod Terebralia palustris in Michamvi, Zanzibar has not been documented. The aim of this study was to determine the impacts of mangrove conservation on growth and abundance of T. palustris in conserved and unconserved mangrove forest of Michamvi. The study was undertaken for two months, January and February 2014. Sampling was done on three transect lines in each site. The abundance of T.palustris was found to be not significantly higher between conserved and unconserved mangrove forest. The distribution of adults and juveniles was significantly higher in conserved than in unconserved mangrove forest; also the length weight relationship showed significant positive relationship between conserved and unconserved mangrove forest. The factors that affected abundance of T.palustris were destruction of mangrove forest, alteration of habitat and overharvesting. From this study I conclude that mangrove conservation increases the abundance and growth of T.palustris while mangrove destruction and overharvesting (of the gastropods) decreases their abundance and growth. I recommend that a ban on mangrove clearance and waste disposal be imposed, and I propose future study to cover a longer time on more distant sites to be able to get more information of a related study.