ECOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF NIPA PALM (Nypa fruticans) IN PEATLAND MANGROVES OF EASTERN SUMATRA

This study examines the ecological patterns of the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) in the peatland ecosystems of Eastern Sumatra. A field survey was conducted at freshwater estuarine zone-1, transitional brackish water zone-2, and the coastal zone-3. Morphometric measurements are frond height, leaf count, and fronds per clump of N. fruticans. The study reveals an ecological gradient pattern in zone-1, where the highest clump density is 510 clumps per hectare, the tallest fronds reach 7.32 m, and the highest leaf production is 122 leaves per frond. Zone-2 showed a moderate value of 126 clumps per hectare, 6.11 m frond height, and 110 leaves. Zone-3 exhibited the lowest density of 100 clumps per hectare, shorter fronds 3.57 m, and fewer leaves 90 per frond. These variations in ecological patterns highlight species preferences for freshwater-rich estuarine environments, influenced by hydrological gradients, salinity, and sediment dynamics. Nipa palms provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon storage and sediment stabilization, which support local livelihoods. However, the study's limitations, including a single site and time, call for broader assessments. Management implications stress the need for zone-specific conservation and sustainable resource use. Overall, these findings emphasize the ecological and socio-economic importance of nipa palms for climate adaptation and ecological management in Southeast Asian peatland mangroves.