Abstract

Buffer zones are critical for protecting biodiversity and ensuring the variety and stability of plant and animal populations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the buffer zone of Tram Chim National Park and examine their ecological interconnections with the core zone. This investigation intends to understand the role of the buffer zone in supporting biodiversity in the core zone. The study examined 37 species of benthic macroinvertebrates in the buffer zone surrounding Tram Chim National Park. The Mollusca category had the greatest degree of diversity, accounting for 68.42% of the recorded species. The Crustacea category represented 15.79% of the species, while insect larvae made up 10.53%. The Oligochaeta group has the lowest representation, accounting for only 5.26%. The study also discovered 10 species in Tram Chim's buffer zone that had previously been unrecorded in the core zone. These species include Hyriopsis bialatus, Margaritifera auricularia, Pomacea diffusa, Stenomelonia sp., Brotia sp., Clea sp., Melanoides tuberculata, Tylomelania sp., Tylomelania sinobarfeld, and Tylomelania wallacei. The IUCN Red List for 2022 lists 18 of the 37 observed species, particularly Margaritifera auricularia and Hyriopsis bialatus, commonly found in canal habitats within the buffer zone. These species are significantly decreasing in population around the world. This demonstrates that the buffer zone of Tram Chim National Park has a high level of biodiversity, necessitating protection and impact mitigation to sustain biodiversity support functions in the park's core zone.

Keyword: benthic macroinvertebrate, biodiversity support function, buffer zone, Tram Chim national park