Penelitian dilakukan dengan metoda survei dan kuisioner di kawasan estuaria Muaro Lamo Kambang, Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan Sumatera Barat pada Januari-Marct 2003. Sampel Neritima dikoleksi dengan metoda sistimatik sampling dan pola distribusinya diuji dengan Paired-Quadrat Variance Method. Metoda kuisioner dilakukan terhadap masyarakat yang mengambil dan mekonsurasi hewan Neritima (Siput). Hewan Neritima yang didapatkan diidentiflkasi di Laboratorium Ekologi Hewan, Jurusan Biologi Universitas Andalas. Dari hasil penclitian didapatkan empat jenis, dua jenis diantaranya yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat yaitu Neritima turita dan Neritima squamipicta. Kepadatan populasi Neritima yang tinggi didapatkan pada daerah estuaria yang bersalinitas rendah. Penyebaran Neritima spp dari mulut muara sungai ke arah hulu yang masih ada vegetasi mangrove. Pola distribusi siput Neritima yang didapatkan mengelompok. Ukuran Neritima yang didapatkan yaitu panjang 3,10-22,7 mm dan lebar 3,00-14,4 mm dengan berat basah daging siput Neritima 0,05 - 5,1 g. Hewan Neritima yang dimanfaatkan masyarakat umumnya untuk dikonsumsi sendiri dan sebagian lagi dijual.

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Population Study of the Snail of Neritima Spp (Gastropods) and it's Potential as a Source of Society Economics at Estuary Area Muaro Lamo Kambang, South Coastal, West Sumatera. The research has been done in 2003 with a survey method and an interview of the society at estuary area Muaro Lamo Kambang, the regency of south coastal, west Sumatera. The snails of Neritima were collected with a systematic method and their distribution patterns were proceeded with Paired-Quadrat Variance Method. The interview method was done toward the society that collected and consumes the snails of Neritima. They were found and identified at an animal ecological laboratory, Department of Biology, Andalas University. The research results that there are four species of snails, two of the species were consumed by the societies that are Neritima turiia and Neritima squamipicta. The highest density of the populations of Neritima was found at the estuary area in the low salinity. The Neritima spp. distributes from the mouth of the estuary to the upper of the estuary that have still vegetation mangrove. The distribution pattern of the snail of Neritima spp. was found in a group form based on Paired-Quadrat Variance Method. In generally, the length and wide of snails of Neritima spp. are between 3.10-22.7 mm and between 3.00-14.4 mm, respectively, with a meat wet heavy of the snails of Neritima spp is between 0.05-5.1 g. For the society, the snails of Neritima spp. is self consumed and the rest is for sale.