<![CDATA[ABSTRAKAktivitas antropogenik di ekosistem mangrove berpotensi memengaruhi kelimpahan, keanekaragaman, dan distribusi spasial kepiting biola (Uca spp.). Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis distribusi spasial kepiting biola (Uca spp.) berdasarkan karakteristik lingkungan di pesisir Kota Lhokseumawe. Penentuan stasiun pengamatan dilakukan menggunakan metode purposive sampling, sedangkan pengumpulan data kepiting dilakukan dengan metode visual encounter survey. Hasil penelitian mencatat 13 spesies Uca. Uca annulipes mendominasi zona barat (78%) dan timur (49%), sedangkan U. benggali mendominasi zona tengah (36%). Komunitas Uca memiliki indeks keanekaragaman Shannon–Wiener (H′ = 1,04) dan indeks dominansi Simpson (C = 0,44) yang tergolong rendah, sedangkan indeks keseragaman Pielou (E = 0,66) tergolong sedang. Analisis komponen utama (PCA) menunjukkan adanya perbedaan karakteristik lingkungan antarzona. Zona barat berasosiasi dengan pH yang lebih tinggi, indeks dominansi, serta keberadaan U. annulipes, U. perplexa, U. crassipes, U. umbratila, U. cryptica, U. vocans, U. formosensis, U. iranica, dan U. mjoebergi. Zona tengah berasosiasi dengan suhu yang lebih tinggi, indeks keseragaman, serta keberadaan U. jocelynae dan U. benggali. Sebaliknya, zona timur berasosiasi dengan salinitas, bahan organik total (BOT), indeks keanekaragaman, serta keberadaan U. coarctata dan U. triangularis. Hasil penelitian PCA menunjukkan adanya pola asosiasi antara karakteristik lingkungan dan struktur komunitas kepiting biola antarzona.Kata Kunci: bioindikator, distribusi spasial, mangrove, Uca sp., preferensi habitatABSTRACTAnthropogenic activities in mangrove ecosystems may affect the abundance, diversity, and spatial distribution of fiddler crabs (Uca spp.). This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of fiddler crabs in relation to environmental characteristics along the coast of Lhokseumawe City, Aceh, Indonesia. Observation stations were selected using purposive sampling, and crab data were collected through visual encounter surveys. A total of 13 Uca species were recorded. Uca annulipes dominated the western (78%) and eastern (49%) zones, whereas U. benggali dominated the central zone (36%). The Uca community exhibited low Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′ = 1.04) and Simpson dominance (C = 0.44), while Pielou’s evenness was moderate (E = 0.66). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinct environmental characteristics among zones. The western zone was associated with higher pH and the occurrence of U. annulipes, U. perplexa, U. crassipes, U. umbratila, U. cryptica, U. vocans, U. formosensis, U. iranica, and U. mjoebergi. The central zone was associated with higher temperature and U. jocelynae and U. benggali. The eastern zone was associated with salinity, total organic matter (TOM), diversity, and U. coarctata and U. triangularis. These findings indicate that spatial variation in environmental characteristics is associated with Uca distribution patterns in Lhokseumawe’s mangrove ecosystemsKeywords: Bioindicator, habitat preference, mangrove, spatial distribution, Uca sp.]]>
