Penelitian tentang studi populasi kerang gelatik Anadara (Cunearca) pilula (Reeve, 1843) telah dilakukan di Pantai Panimbang, Kabupaten Pandeglang, Banten pada bulan Juli 2012. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui kepadatan, distribusi populasi, serta kaitannya dengan faktor lingkungan. Sampel diambil dengan menggunakan metode transek kuadrat di 3 Stasiun penelitian yang berbeda ekosistem (mangrove, kebun kelapa, dan pemukiman penduduk) dengan 3 kali pengulangan serta pengukuran parameter lingkungan. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, jumlah kerang gelatik yang ditemukan di 3 Stasiun adalah 59 individu. Kepadatan populasi dan frekuensi kehadiran kerang gelatik tertinggi terdapat di lokasi depan kebun kelapa yaitu 2 individu/m2 dan 80%, faktor lingkungan yang terukur di ketiga Stasiun yaitu suhu, salinitas, pH, oksigen terlarut, kedalaman, tipe substrat, dan kadar organik substrat yang berada pada kisaran normal. Secara umum, pola distribusi kerang gelatik di ketiga Stasiun adalah mengelompok. Research on population study of little ball ark Anadara (Cunearca) pilula (Reeve, 1843) has been conducted at Panimbang Beach, Pandeglang Regency, Banten on July 2012. The study aimed to determine the density, population distribution, and related to environmental factors. Samples were taken using a transect squares method in 3 different ecosystems Stations (mangrove forests, coconut plantations, and villages) with 3 replicates and the measurement of environmental parameters. Based on the results of the study, the total of little ball ark collected in 3 stations was 59 individuals. The highest of population density and frequency little ball ark in front of coconut plantations were 2 individual/m2 and 80%, with environmental factors that measured at 3 Stations were temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, depth, substrate type, and substrate organic level which in normality. In general, distribution patterns of little ball ark in three Stations were clumped. |