Abstract
A study on physicochemical parameters and distribution of phytoplankton communities was carried out at Kuantan estuary, Pahang, Malaysia. The study was carried out in September, 2011 and November, 2011 to determine the spatial distribution of phytoplankton from three different stations during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The phytoplankton and water quality were analyzed using standard method outlines by APHA, 1998. The temperature recorded was between 27.29 oC to 29.33 oC, pH was from 6.96 to 8.24, conductivity range from 33.50mS/cm to 47.85mS/cm, dissolved oxygen ranged was from 4.25 mg/L to 5.84 mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand was from 3.37 mg/L to 1.60 mg/L, salinity range from 21.01 ppt to 30.72 ppt, total dissolved solids range from 21.80 g/L to 31.60 g/L and total suspended solids range from 0.024 to 0.044. The nitrite concentration was range from 0.078 mg/L to 0.088 mg/L during monsoon while in the pre-monsoon seasons the range was from 0.018 mg/L to 0.025 mg/L. Similarly, ammonium concentration was from 0.3056 mg/L to 0.0670 mg/L. The phosphorus content was range from 0.0110 mg/L to 0.0897 mg/L. The pre-monsoon season phytoplankton (1466 Cells/L) was found to be higher than the monsoon season phytoplankton (644 Cells/L)
Highlights
A study on physicochemical parameters and distribution of phytoplankton communities was carried out at Kuantan estuary, Pahang, Malaysia
The stations were chosen based on land marked indicators such as ST 1 is located near the Tanjung Lumpur bridge, ST 2 is located in front of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) while last station ST 3 is located near fish ball factory
2.2 Sampling The study was conducted during the high tides and low tides in the estuary to measure the physico-chemical parameters towards the distribution of phytoplankton at three different stations
Summary
Water quality refers to measurements of physical, chemical and biological properties of water that affect a wide range of ecological processes within the estuary. Variations in concentrations of chemical constituents as for example, nutrient concentrations and the magnitude of physical parameters such as temperature are affected both by natural processes and by human activity within the surrounding watershed and air shed. This study is conducted to establish data and information on the Kuantan estuary focusing on physico-chemical parameters and distribution of phytoplankton as indicators of water quality. An earlier study by Yusoff et al [5] and Zaleha et al [6] illustrated that human activity in Kuantan estuary have the potential to change the water quality and impact the local biota as a result of its environmental impact. This study area was chosen because it is threatened by several kinds of pollutions resulted from the rapid development progress
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