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DIVERSITY AND COMPOSITION OF FAUNA AT TELAGA AIR ESTUARY

Faznur Fateh Bte Firdaus@Nicholas 23493

QL 615 "17 2112 Bachelor of Science with Honours (Aquatic Resource Science and Management) 2012 If- , j i< .' ... ' I Pusat Khidmat Maklumat ~kademik UNlVEP.sm MALAYSIA SARA'~AK

DIVERSITY AND COMPOSITION OF FISH FAUNA AT TELAGA AIR ESTUARY

F AZNUR F ATEH BTE FIRDAUS@NICHOLAS

Thus project is submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe requirement for the degree of Bachelor ofScience with Honours (Aquatic Resource Science and Management)

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SARAW AK 2012 , . I : • • t 'l

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that no portion of the work referred to in this dissertation has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification to this university or any other institution of higher learning.

Faznur Fateh Bte Firdaus@Nicholas Aquatic Resource Science and Management Department of Aquatic Science Faculty of Resource Science and Technology University Malaysia Sarawak

-=--. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend by profound gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Khairul Adha A.Rahim for all the advice, guidance and moral support throughout the study. Not forgetting my co­ supervisor, Dr. Samsur Mohamad, Masyitah Ibrahim, Shareena Nazlia and Nur Hazwanie Izyan bt Mohd Nizam for all the effort during the field samplings and data collection.

My special thanks also to the Telaga Air fisherman and boat man with their willingness in helping me for the field work. Not forgotten also a special remembrance to lab assistance En. Zaidi and En.Azlan for their willingness to assist me in this study.

Finally, my special thanks for my family for their moral support and motivation for me to finish this project. Last but not the least to those that helped me in this project. May Allah bless all of you. , . ~ , • I

Table of Contents Page

Acknowledgement...... I

Table ofContents...... II-III

IV - VI List ofTables and Figures ......

Abstract...... •...... 1

1.0 Introduction & Objective...... 2-3 1.1 Objectives...... 3

2.0 Literature review ...... 4 2.1 Estuarine and mangroves ecosystem...... 4-5 2.2 Fish fauna ...... 5-6 2.3 Water quality ...... 6-7

3.0. Materials and Method ...... 8 3.1 Study sites ...... 8 3.2 Fish sample ...... 10 3.3 Fish identification and preservation ...... 10 3.4 Data measurement and collection ...... to 3.5 BODs_...... 11 3.6 Sample analysis ...... 12

4.0 Results.....•.• ~ ....••...... •...... •.•....•...•...... •...... •..•...... ••...... ••.•...... 13 4.1 Fish fauna ...... 13 4.2 Species diversity indices ...... 17 4.3 Physico-chemical water quality parameters ...... 18 4.3.1 pH...... 19 4.3.2 Dissolve oxygen...... 20 4.3.3 Temperature...... 20 4.3.4 Salinity...... 21 4.3.5 Turbidity...... 21 4.3.6 Depth...... 22 4.3.7 BODs ...... 22 4.3.6 Water current...... 23

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5.0 Discussion...... 25-30

6.0 Conclusion and recommendation ...... 31

7.0 References...... 32-34

8.0 Appendices...... 35 - 44

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LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1: GPS coordinate reading for Station 1 until 8 Station 5.

Table 2: Apparatus used for physico-chemical water 11 quality parameters at Telaga Air estuary.

Table 3: Number of fish family, fish species and number 13 of individuals sample collection for each station

Table 4: List number of fish families and species 15-16 collected from 5 station of Telaga Air estuary.

Table 5: Diversity indices of fish fauna at Telaga Air 17 estuary.

Table 6: Mean and standard error for the phsico-chemical 18 water parameters at sampling stations.

Table 7: One way ANOVA of physico-chemical water 19 parameter.

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LIST OF FIGURES

PAGE Figure 1: The sampling station at Sg.Sibu, Telaga Air estuary 9

Figure 2: Percentage of ten highest individual fish family at Telaga Air 14 estuary Figure 3: Mean of pH value for each sampling station at Telaga Air 19 estuary.

Figure 4: Mean of 00 value for five sampling stations at Telaga Air 20 estuary.

Figure 5: Mean of temperature value for five sampling stations at Telaga 20 Air estuary.

Figure 6: Mean of salinity value for five sampling stations at Telaga Air 21 estuary.

Figure 7: Mean of turbidity value for five sampling stations at Telaga 21 Air estuary.

Figure 8: Mean of depth value for five sampling stations at Telaga Air 22 estuary.

Figure 9: Mean ofB005 value for five sampling stations at Telaga Air 23 estuary.

Figure 10: Mean of water current value for five sampling stations at 23 Telaga Air estuary.

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LIST OF APPENDICES

PAGE Appendix 1: List of fish families, species, common name and number of 35 individual caught from station 1

Appendix 2: List of fish families, species, common name and number of 36 individual caught from station 2

Appendix 3: List of fish families, species, common name and number of 37 individual caught from station 3

Appendix 4: List of fish families, species, common name and number of 38 individual caught from station 4

Appendix 5: List of fish families, species, common name and number of 39 individual caught from station 5

Appendix 6: List of fish families, species, number of individual eN), total 40 length (TL) and weight with their standard deviations (SO) caught in station I

Appendix 7: List of fish families, species, number of individual eN), total 41 length (TL) and weight with their standard deviations (SO) caught in station 2

Appendix 8: List of fish families, species, number of individual eN), total 42 length (TL) and weight with their standard deviations (SO) caught in station 3

Appendix 9: List of fish families, species, number of Individual (N), total 43 length (TL) and weight with their standard deviations (SO) caught in station 4 44 Appendix 10: List of fish families, species, number of individual (N), total length (TL) and weight with their standard deviations (SO) caught in station 5

VI Diversity and Composition of Fish Fauna at Telaga Air Estuary

Faznur Fateh Bte Firdaus@Nicholas

Aquatic Resource Science and Management Faculty of Resources Science and Technology Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the diversity and composition of fish fauna at Telaga Air th estuary from 4th _5 February 2012. Five sampling stations were selected and fish were collected using three layer gill net after the 10 to 15 minutes of net deployment. A total of 237 individual fish from 26 families and 52 species were collected. The highest individual fish were collected at ST3 and the lowest at ST5. The most ubiquitous fish collected were from family with 10 species and covered 32.70% of individual fish. Eight types of physico-chemical water parameters were taken and analyze using one way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences among all stations.

Keyword: Telaga Air estuary, family Sciaenidae, fish composition and diversity

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini telah dijalankan bagi menentukan nilai kepelbagaian dan komposisi ikan di kawasan paya bakau Telaga Air pada 4-5 Febuari 2012. Lima stesen bagi aktiviti penangkapan ikan telah dipilih dan pukat insang tiga lapis digunakan dan dibiarkall selama 10 sehingga 15 minit dipermukaan air bagi tujuan penangkapan ikan. Sejumlah 237 individu ikan daripada 26 famili dan 52 spesis telah dianalisa. ST3 merupakan stesen tertinggi kutipan sample ikan manakala ST5 merupakan stesen yang terendah klltipan sample ikan. Famili Sciaenidae telah mendominasi kutipan ikan sebanyak 10 spesis dengan jumlah sebanyak 32.70% individu ikan. Lapan jenis parameter kualiti air telah diambil dan dianalisa menggunakan analisis variant satu hala, hasil analisa tersebut menunjukan terdapat perbezaan ketara bagi parameter kualiti air di setiap stesen.

Kata kunci: Paya bakau Telaga Air,famili Sciaenidae, komposisi dan kepelbagaiall ikan

1 11 -' 1 I •

1.0 Introduction

The ASEAN region is one of the mega-biodiversity centers of the world that

containing significant values of mangroves, coral reef and seagrass meadows in the

world and south-east Asian mangroves represent about a third of the world's

mangroves of 18 million ha (Chong and Sasekumar, 2002). This mangrove ecosystem

comprises elements from marine and terrestrial habitats due to the interpenetrate both

ecosystem and also the tide influence (Lacerda et al.,2001).

This dynamic ecosystem is characterized by a variety of primary procedures,

grazing and detrial food chains, a high degree of interaction between the water column

and bottom, a complex food web and a large number of generalist to feeders (Day et

al., 1987). It also characterized with poor soil condition composed of silt, sand, clay

and decomposing organic matter is home to many species with unique adaptive

features (Mashhor et al., 2006).Mangrove forest is allocated between land and sea and

subjected to daily tidal flooding. Mangroves are estuarine areas of high productivity

providing a ready supply of organic matter, which utilized directly and indirectly by

marine , shrimps, crabs and others (Chong, 2007).

Currently, mangroves forest diversity become declined due to unsustainable

forestry practices, illegal harvests agriculture, construction, urbanization and

reclamations for coastal development. In addition, estuarine organisms also have

exposed to variety of natural stressor which is varying spatially and temporally. Due to

their complexity and uniqueness, estuaries present challenges to understanding the

effects of stressors and the underlying causes of these effects on biological components

of estuarine ecosystem (Adams, 2005). Thus, the combinations of various

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anthropogenic impacts have invariably eroded the carrying capacity of mangroves

habitat to support the diversity aquatic fauna (Chong, 2007).

Fish can be as one of the biological indicator for natural ecosystems. Estuarine

fishes are known for their tolerance to fluctuation of salinity, temperature and oxygen

in that ecosystem. Estuaries are also as a medium for the fauna that pass regularly

between freshwater and the sea as part of their life cycle.

1.1 Objectives

a) To identify the fish diversity and composition in the Telaga Air estuary

area.

b) To examine the physico-chemical water quality in the sampling stations

ofTelaga Air estuary.

3 2.0 Literature review

2.1 Estuarine and Mangroves Ecosystem

Estuaries can be simple defined as portion of the earth's coastal zone where

there is interaction of ocean water, freshwater, land and atmosphere (Day et al., 1987).

Estuaries and coastal waters often contain various mixtures of fresh and salty water

that gives challenging circumstances for the aquatic organisms to survive. The often­

changing mixtures of fresh and seawater create difficult osmotic gradients that greatly

affect coastal organisms (Valiela, 1991).

Odum and Schelske (1962) referred that the productivity of estuaries depends

on five factors. Ebb and flow water movements resulting from tidal action, the

abundant supplies of nutrients, rapid regeneration and conservation of nutrients due to

activity of microorganisms and filter feeders, three types of primary production units

(marsh grass, benthic algae and phytoplankton) which insure maximum utilization of

light at all seasons and lastly year-around production with successive crops.

However, three categories of energy sources can also be determined at this

ecosystem. There are the mechanical energy of moving water, sunlight penetration and

also organic and inorganic fuels imported into estuaries (Day et al., 1987). All of these

components are needed for the primary productivity activities and gives sustainability

to aquatic ecosystem.

In the tropics, mangroves forest not only serves as a source of edible aquatic

animals but also provide shelter, wood for fuel and variety for natural products.

Mangroves also act as nursery ground for juvenile aquatic animals especially for

anadromous and catadromous fish species. One of the reason why estuaries as best

4 "" PUlat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

nursery ground is due to the low predation rates on small fishes and the effectiveness of predators hunting visually that is reduced by the turbidity (Wootton, 1992).The condition in mangroves can be serving, usually with the temperatures in mangrove generally ranged from 20 - 40°C with salinities ranged from 0 to 46 ppt and highly variable oxygen concentrations (Wootton, 1992).

Generally, mangroves are fragile ecosystem and are under pressure due to the human activities such as direct throw of waste industries, logging activities, agricultures, channelization of rivers and also shrimp aquacuItures farm. The major effects for the destruction of mangroves ecosystem may loss the habitats of juvenile fishes, and also others animals such as extinction of Proboscis monkey that are only endemic in Borneo region. Some ecosystems may be somewhat more resilient and resistant than others, however it is a need to conserve the polluted and fragile ecosystems (Alongi, 1998).

2.2 Fish fauna

The ecological importance of estuarine and coastal ecosystems throughout the world is well known. Their biological productivity and physical diversity, as well as mineral resources and strategic location have gained a great biological and economic importance (Yong, 1999).

Chong et at. (2010) recorded total of 1951 species of freshwater and marine fishes belonging to 704 genera and 186 families are in Malaysia. Generally, brackish water, and marine fishes are threatened mainly by overfishing and habitat destruction for human proposed. Freshwater habitats encompass the highest percentage of threatened fish species (87%) followed by estuarine habitats (66%), of the 32

5 species of highly threatened (HT) species, 16 are freshwater and 16 are largely marine­

euryhaline species (Chong et al.,2010).

Fish fauna distribution in Sarawak mangroves area quite unique and

diverse. Many studies has been done regarding to the fish diversity and composition at

Sarawak mangroves area such as such as coastal zone of Kuching Bay (Yong, 1999), at

Paloh mangrove area (Maximus, 2005), Kuching Wetland National Park (Noordiana,

2008), Rambungan mangroves area (Nurnadiah, 2008) and Sg. Semariang and its

tributaries (Nur' Asyikin, 2010).

The fish species ecosystems for each study location are difference due to the

special habitat preference of the areas. For instance 24% and 23.39% of family

dominated the Paloh and Rambungan mangroves area respectively. However, 32% of

family Ambassidae was dominant in Kuching Wetland and 20.2% of family Mugilidae

dominated at Sg. Semariang. There are other several factors that influence the

distribution of fish fauna. This included the seasonal changes in freshwater inflow and

other environmental conditions that may induced changes in density and species

composition of mangrove fishes along estuarine gradients ( Ley et af., 1998).

2.4 Water quality

Water quality plays important role for fish distribution. Difference fish species

preferred to difference ecology for their habitat and life cycle. The negative impacts

from human activities also affect the water quality in the rivers and coastal area and

relatively disrupt fish habitat. In that concern fish also used as biological tools for

monitoring the environment condition. The results of studies which fish were used as

indicator species which directly related to the protection aquatic biota (Y ong, 1999).

6 Physico-chemical water parameters also known as abiotic identities factors for the fish distribution. Fishes can only survive within a certain range of an abiotic identity such as temperature, pH, dissolve oxygen, and presence of toxic substances.

Outside the range capability, the fish dies and the factors may act as lethal factors

(Wootton, 1992).

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3.0 Materials and Methods

3.1 Study Sites

These studies were conducted at Sg.Sibu Telaga Air estuary and located nearby

to the mangroves area and mostly the villagers' works as fisherman. Sungai Sibu is the

main river tributaries and approximately 7.12 km in length from the Rambungan

river's tributary until the river mouth (Google Earth, 2012). Global Positioning System

(GPS), GPSmap 60csx Garmin model is used to mark and recorded the coordination of

sampling sites and Table 1 show respectively the GPS reading for each sampling

stations. Five sampling stations were selected and marked as ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4 and

ST5 as shown in Figure 1.

Table 1: GPS coordinate reading for Station 1 until Station 5

Station GPS Coordinate

ST 1 N 01°40.643' E 110°11.341' N 01°41.226' E 110°12.408' ST2 N 01°40.752' E 110°12.575' ST3 N 01°39.129' E 110°14.191' ST4 N 01 °39.926 E 110°14.627' ST 5

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Pulau Tukong South China Sea N --- 0 , , ~T2 + Sg.Rambungan

~--->o( I ( ~:----r-J

Figure 1: The sampling stations at Sg.Sibu , Telaga Air estuary. *STl-ST5 indicate sampling station

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3.2 Fish Sample

Different types of gill net with different mesh size were used for fish sampling.

The lengths of gill nets used were approximately 120 m and the mesh sizes are ranging from 6 to 8 cm. The net deployment for each station was in average of 10 to 15 minutes. Sampling activities were done during low tide level starting from Station 1 to

Station 5 by rising of water level by time.

3.3 Fish Identification and Preservation

Fish identification followed Yusri et al. (2010), Mansor et al. (1998),

Department of Malaysia (2004) and Fish Base (2001) until species level. The data from fish identification is used for further analysis to determine the fish composition and diversity for each station. Unidentified fish samples was further determined in FSTS laboratory.

Fish samples were preserved in 10 % formalin for two days to stabilize fish tissue anatomical form and structure. Then, the samples are replaced with 70% ethanol

to ensure the specimens more pliable and maintain for long period of time.

3.4 Data measurement and collection

Samples were measured based on total length (TL), fork length (FL) and

standard length (SL) to the nearest centimeters and weight was recorded for each fish

samples to the nearest gram unit by using standard procedure, Mansor et al. (1998) and

Department of Fisheries Malaysia (2004). Ruler and a portable electronic balance were

used respectively for the fish length and weight.

In-situ and ex-situ parameter were taken for water quality analysis. The in-situ

parameters were pH, dissolve oxygen (DO), temperature (0C), salinity (PSU), turbidity

10 (NTU), depth (m) and water current (m/s). Only biological oxygen demand (BODs) parameter was taken for ex-situ parameter. Data of physico-chemical water parameters were analyzed using one-way ANOV A by SYST AT7 software (Wilkinson, 1996) and

Table 2 shows the apparatus used for physico- chemical water quality parameters.

Table 2: Apparatus used for physico-chemical water quality parameters at Telaga Air estuary.

Physico-chemical Water Apparatus/model Parameters

Salinity (PSU) MA887 Seawater Refractormeter, Milwaukee pH and Temperature (0C) Mi 105 Phi temperature meter, Martini Instrument

Turbidity (NTU) Mi 4 I 5, Martini Instrument

Dissolve oxygen (mglL) 00-5510, CT Lutron

Water current (m/s) 2000 Portable Flowmeter,Flo-mate

3.5 BODs

Triplicate of 150 ml of water sample was placed in a BODs bottle. Initial DO reading were recorded and the bottle were wrap using aluminum foil after ensure that there were no bubbles trap inside the bottle. DO was taken after five days the sampling bottle been wraped and the BODs was measured using the formula:

BODs (mg/L) = OJ - D5

Where: D\ = DO of day 1 ; Os = DO of day 5

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3.6 Samples Analysis

The fish samples were analyzed with diversity indices, fish diversity Shannon-

weaver indices (H') (1963), fish evenness Pielou similarity index (J) (1969), Margalef

richness index (D) (1968) and species composition in percentage. Below are

respectively formulas for each diversity indices:

a) Shannon-Weaver Indices (H') (1963)

H = n Log n - L fi Log fi

n

Where n = Sample size, fi = Number of individual for each species

b) Pielou Similarity Index (J)(1969)

J = H

LnS

Where H = Diversity of species, S = Total number of species

c) Margalef Richness Index (D) (1968)

D = (S - l)/Log N

Where S = Total number of species, N = Total number of individual

d) Species Composition in Percentage

Number of individual of a given species X 100% Total number of all fish collected

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4.0 Results

4.1 Fish Fauna

A total of 237 individual fish belonging to 26 fish family and 52 fish species were collected. The highest number of individual fish collected was from ST3 with 71 individual

fish and following by ST1, ST4, ST3 and ST5. The highest number of fish family was at STI

with 14 tish family and the lowest was at ST5 with four fish family. A total of 19 fish species

were found in STI and 13, 12 and nine were found at ST2, ST4 and ST5 respectively. Table 3 shows the detail information on number of fish family, fish species and individual fish by each station. Table 3: Number of fish family, fish species and number of individuals sample collection for each station

Station (ST) No. Family No. Species No. Individuals 1 14 19 60 2 8 13 37 3 12 19 71 4 8 12 43 5 4 9 26 TOTAL 237

There were ten highest individual fish collected in term of fish family such as

Sciaenidae (32.70%) following by family Engraulidae (13.74%), (13.27%),

Leiognathidae (12.32%), Ariidae (9.48%), (9.0%), (7.1%)

Ambassidae (1.8%), Carangidae (1.4%) and Pristigasteridae (1.4%).

The lowest individuals of fish number in term of fish family are Cynoglossidae,

Dasyatidae, Drepanidae, Eleotriidae, Hemiramphidae, , Latidae, Mugilidae,

Paralichthyidae, Platychephalidae, Plotosidae, Potynemidae, Scatophagidae, ,

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Stromateidae and Terapontidae. All of these fish family contribute as much as 9.95% from the whole fish family.

Percentage ofTen Highest Individuals Fish Family in Telaga Air

Teraodontidae •••1iEiEi:iZ:::J 13.270 Synodontidae ]t1!&l£lZJ 7.109 Sciaenidae 1fi!.B~:!:~=!::!!===::::==~=:=J 32.701 Pristigasteridae 1 1.422 -! 12.322 _._._11 • Percentage Engraulidae ••••m~~ 13.744

Clupeidae ••••9.005

Carangidae 1.422

Ariidae ••a!:!::::J 9.479

Ambassidae 1.896 -i""----r-.---'---.---I---r---.---­ 0.000 5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 25.000 30.000 35.000

Figure 2: Percentage often highest individual fish family at Telaga Air estuary

Ten species from family Sciaenidae were collected. These include Nibea soldado,

Johnius belangerii, Johnius coitor, Johnius sp., Pennahia anea, Johnius dussumeirii,

Otholithes ruber, Daysciaena albida, Paranibea anea, Paranibea semiluctosa and Johnius

carrola. However, there were also 18 fish family collections by single species. The

representative fish families were Ambassidae, Carangidae, Dasyatidae, Drepaneidae,

Eleotriidae, Hemiramphidae, Latidae, Leiognathidae, Mugilidae, ,

Platycephalidae, Plotosidae, Polynemidae, Scatophagidae, Sillaginidae, Stromateidae,

Synodontidae and Terapontidae. The complete number of fish family, fish species and

individual number of sample collected for each station as in Table 4.

14 Table 4: List number of fish families and species collected from 5 station ofTelaga Air estuary. (ST = Station survey)

Famili \Species ST 1 ST 2 ST 3 ST 4 ST 5 Total

Ambassidae Ambassidae sp. 2 2 4 Ariidae Arius sagar 10 2 D Arius sp. 2 2 Arius swnatranus 4 4 Osleogeneiosus militaris 1 1 Carangidae Alepes vari 2 2 Clupeidae Atule mate 2 Anodolltostoma chacunda 10 2 13 Hi/sa kelee 1 1 Ilisha macrogaster 1 2 IIlisha pristigastroides 1 Raconda russelina 2 2 Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus arel 2 2 CYlloglossus lingua 1 Dasyatidae Dasyatis zugei Drepaoeidae Drepane punctata 2 2 Eleotriidae Bu/is amboinensis Engraulidae Coilia dussumieri 3 Coi/ia macrognathos 4 4 Setipinna breviceps 2 2 Setipinna melanochir 1 1 Setipinna taty 4 4 Stolephorus indicus 2 2 Thryssa mystax 6 3 4 13 Hemiramphidae Zenarchopterus dispar Hemiscylliidae Chiloscyllium punctatum 2 2 Latidae Lates calicarifer Leiognathidae Gazza minuta 6 10 10 26 MugiUdae Oedalechilus labiosus

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