Ii the Distribution of Nutrients Originating from an Intensive
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The Distribution of Nutrients Originating from an Intensive Shrimp Farm in Hurun Bay, Lampung, Indonesia Muhammad Chaidir Undu A thesis in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Geography Program School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science Faculty of Science University of New South Wales October 2015 ii THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or family name: Undu First Name: Muhammad Other name/s: Abbreviation for degree as given in the University Calendar: MSc School: Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty: Science Title: The Distribution of Nutrients Originating from an Intensive Shrimp Farm in Hurun Bay, Lampung, Indonesia ABSTRACT The impacts of nutrients discharged from intensive shrimp farms on receiving waters and sediments in Indonesia are poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of nutrients originating from an intensive shrimp farm in the adjacent waters and sediments. Samples were collected in February 2011 and August 2011 to represent wet and dry seasons respectively. Sampling involved collecting pond effluent from sluice channels during the shrimp harvest from three ponds. Samples of water and sediments in the bay were collected downstream of the farm outfall at varying distances to seaward. Harvest strategies consistently influenced variations in concentrations of solid nutrients only such as TOC, TSS and chlorophyll a rather than dissolved nutrients measured in the wet and dry seasons. Higher precipitation in the wet season diluted NO2-N, PO4 and TOC which resulted in lower concentrations of these nutrients. Nutrients originating from non-points sources represented 92 and 98% of annual amounts of N and P, respectively. In this study, spatial variations in concentrations of nutrients in waters and sediments were mostly observed in the dry season when shrimp farms were the main source of nutrients entering the bay. The incoming freshwater in the wet season not only transports nutrients, it also dilutes them in Hurun Bay resulting in lower salinity and concentrations of TAN, NO3-N and PO4 observed in the wet season. The hydrology of Hurun Bay affected distribution of nutrients in the sediment as shown by sparse distribution of nutrients in the sediments. Concentrations of nutrients discharged from harvested shrimp pond and in Hurun Bay waters exceeded the concentration thresholds set by the Indonesian Government for shrimp pond effluent and marine biota, respectively. Therefore, improvement in shrimp farm management, such as feeding strategies that reduce waste, become a critical issue at this study site. In addition, better wastewater treatment for non-point sources and shrimp farm effluent before their wastewaters are released to this bay are suggested. Thus, integrated pollution control policies are needed to safeguard water quality of Hurun Bay. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provision of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights, I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all parts of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorize University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). ................................................... ................................................... ......................................... Signature Witness Date The University recognizes that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a long period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: i COPY RIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all properties rights, such as patent rights, I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all parts of this thesis or dissertation. I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation’ Signed .......................................................................................... Date ............................................................................................. AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format’ Signed .......................................................................................... Date ............................................................................................. iii ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no material previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportion of material which have been accepted to the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in this thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in this thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed .......................................................................................... Date ............................................................................................. iv This thesis is dedicated to my late father, L. Undu, and my mother, Saada. v ABSTRACT The impacts of nutrients discharged from intensive shrimp farms on receiving waters and sediments in Indonesia are poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of nutrients originating from an intensive shrimp farm in the adjacent waters and sediments. Samples were collected in February 2011 and August 2011 to represent wet and dry seasons respectively. Sampling involved collecting pond effluent from sluice channels during the shrimp harvest from three ponds. Samples of water and sediments in the bay were collected downstream of the farm outfall at varying distances to seaward. Harvest strategies consistently influenced variations in concentrations of solid nutrients only such as TOC, TSS and chlorophyll a rather than dissolved nutrients measured in the wet and dry seasons. High precipitation in the wet season diluted NO2-N, PO4 and TOC which resulted in low concentrations of these nutrients. Nutrients originating from non-points sources represented 92 and 98% of annual amounts of N and P, respectively. In this study, spatial variations in concentrations of nutrients in waters and sediments were mostly observed in the dry season when shrimp farms were the main source of nutrients entering the bay. The incoming freshwater in the wet season not only transports nutrients, it also dilutes them in Hurun Bay resulting in lower salinity and concentrations of TAN, NO3-N and PO4 observed in the wet season. The hydrology of Hurun Bay affected distribution of nutrients in the sediment as shown by sparse distribution of nutrients in the sediments. Concentrations of nutrients discharged from harvested shrimp pond and in Hurun Bay waters exceeded the concentration thresholds set by the Indonesian Government for shrimp pond effluent and marine biota, respectively. Therefore, improvement in shrimp farm management, such as feeding strategies that reduce waste, become a critical issue at this study site. In addition, better wastewater treatment for non-point sources and shrimp farm effluent before their wastewaters are released to this bay are suggested. Thus, integrated pollution control policies are needed to safeguard water quality of Hurun Bay. Key words: shrimp farm effluent, water quality, sediment properties vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I believe that my study would not have been possible without support from several institutions and great people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of them for their contributions that enabled me to complete my study. I firstly would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for awarding me the John Allwright Fellowship and funding the English training program in Indonesia and at UNSW Australia. The scholarship allowed me to have the chance to study abroad. I wholeheartedly appreciate