Diversity of Mollusca as a Bioindicator of Water Quality at Banyu Meneng Beach South Malang Keanekaragaman Mollusca Sebagai Bioindikator Kualitas Perairan di Pantai Banyu Meneng Malang Selatan

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are biologically productive yet highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, requiring reliable biological indicators for water quality assessment. This study analyzed Mollusca diversity and community structure as bioindicators of water quality at Banyu Meneng Beach, South Malang, Indonesia. A quantitative ecological survey with a cross-sectional design was conducted in November 2025 using quadrat transects across three intertidal zones. Mollusca diversity was assessed using the Shannon–Wiener index (H’) and interpreted in relation to measured physicochemical parameters. A total of 16 Mollusca species belonging to Gastropoda and Bivalvia were identified, with Gastropoda as the dominant class. Diversity index values ranged from 1.33 to 1.93, indicating lightly to moderately polluted conditions. Environmental parameters generally remained within the tolerance limits of Mollusca, though signs of moderate ecological pressure were evident. These findings confirm that Mollusca community structure is a sensitive and practical bioindicator for early detection of coastal water quality degradation.