Macrofauna assemblages and their relationships with environmental parameters in mangroves of Kribi, Cameroon

Changes in composition, abundance and distribution of macrofaunal assemblages are subject to environmental influences. However, the effects of ecological disturbance on mangrove habitats in Cameroon have not been sufficiently studied with regard to macrofaunal assemblages. This work aims to identify the macrofauna assemblages in the Kribi area and determine the relationship between species distribution and some environmental factors. Between March and November 2020, a collection of crabs and molluscs was carried out in parts of Kribi. Simultaneously, several heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Al and Fe) and groundwater temperature, salinity, pH, conductivity, TDS and dissolved oxygen in the sediment were analysed. The macrofauna assemblage consisted of 27 species, including 15 crab species and 12 mollusc species. Hemisinids and Sesarmids were the most abundant with four species and six species respectively. The Shannon−Weaver index (Hʹ < 3) indicated a high level of pollution in the mangroves studied. With regard to environmental parameters, there is a highly significant difference in macrofauna assemblage structure between the six stations (PERMANOVA, F = 20.126, p = 0.001). Macrofaunal diversity and abundance reflect the dynamics of the mangrove ecosystem and act as indicators of habitat change.