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Abstract
This study aimed to examine the ecological characteristics of the tropical abalone (Haliotis asinina) inhabiting the coastal waters of Salando Island, Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, with a focus on its abundance, distribution pattern, and sex ratio. Sampling was conducted at five stations determined by substrate type, where abalone populations were present. At each station, three 25-m line transects were established, and five 5 × 5 m quadrats were positioned seaward for density estimation. Field observations and data analyses were performed at the Laboratory of Animal Biosystematics and Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tadulako University. Environmental parameters, including pH, temperature, and salinity, were measured, while distribution mapping was conducted using GPS coordinates. The environmental conditions recorded ranged from pH 6.47–7.2, temperature 33.5–36 °C, and salinity 32.1–35.6 ppt, with coral reefs identified as the dominant substrate. The mean population density of H. asinina was 0.23 individuals/m². Morisita’s index value is 2.25 indicated a clumped distribution pattern. The sex ratio analysis revealed a male-to-female ratio of 1.26:1, with males comprising 56% and females 44% of the sampled individuals. These findings suggest that H. asinina populations in Salando Island are primarily associated with coral reef habitats characterized by relatively high temperature and salinity levels. The species forms aggregated population structures and exhibits a male-biased sex ratio. The ecological data presented in this study provide essential baseline information to support sustainable management and conservation strategies for abalone populations in the coastal waters of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Keywords: Haliotis asinina; abundance; distribution pattern; sex ratio; Salando Island; Central Sulawesi
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