Abstract
Study was conducted with the aim to understand the temporal and spatial variations of water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, DO, TSS, NO3-, NO2-, NH3-N and PO4-P, and phytoplankton cell density) in Ambong Bay, Sabah, Malaysia in order to provide reference for future mariculture development in the bay. Samplings were carried out once a month in two stations (coastal and open sea) within the bay for 12 months period from September 2015 to August 2016. Results showed that there were significant differences in pH and NO2- when compared spatially, whereas salinity, DO, TSS, phytoplankton cell density, NO3-, NH3-N, and PO4-P were temporally significant. The fermentation processes by anaerobic bacteria, organic acids from decaying vegetation and acidic clays in the mangrove soils might explain the significant spatial differences in pH and NO2-. The bay was dominated by dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum spp. (mean abundance of 16.23% and 24.44%, respectively) a potentially toxic algae species. Correlation matrix showed that NH3-N was positively correlated with PO4-P (r = 0.475, p 3-. In conclusion, any mariculture operation to take place in Ambong Bay in the near future should take the temporal variation of the water quality into account. Moreover, effects of toxic phytoplankton to culture fishes should also be taken care and monitored frequently.
Highlights
Quality of seawater plays important role in human health, marine organisms and ecosystem
Study was conducted with the aim to understand the temporal and spatial variations of water quality parameters in Ambong Bay, Sabah, Malaysia in order to provide reference for future mariculture development in the bay
Salinity was positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) (r = 0.505, p < 0.05) and total suspended solids (TSS) (r = 0.408, p < 0.05)
Summary
Quality of seawater plays important role in human health, marine organisms and ecosystem. Physical properties of seawater include temperature and total suspended solids (TSS), are factors which determine the equilibrium structure in the marine ecosystem, whereas chemical characteristics such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, and water nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus) are crucial in biological productivity because of its influence on physiological processes inaquatic organisms [2]. Shellfish and prawn species rely on mangrove for their life cycles [5]. This makes Ambong Bay a potential area for both tourism and mariculture. Current study was conducted to understand the temporal and spatial variations of surface water parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, DO, TSS, phytoplankton cell density and water nutrients) for better future planning and management of mariculture operation in the bay
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