Distribution of zooplankton community in Toli shad (Tenualosa toli) habitats, Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract. Aiman WM, Yusoff FM, Arshad A, Kamal AHM, Ismail J, Idris MH, Karim NU, Asif AA. 2020. Distribution of zooplankton community in Toli shad (Tenualosa toli) habitats, Sarawak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 21: 4022-4033. The river ecosystems of Sarawak has been identified as important-spawning ground for economically important Toli shad (Tenualosa toli) fisheries. In these river ecosystems, zooplankton serves as a secondary producer to the different types of fish larvae including Toli shad. The productivity and biomass of zooplankton are important factors to control the production of higher trophic level organisms like fish larvae and fishes in different stages including T. toli larvae. In this viewpoint, the composition and abundance of zooplankton were investigated at 5 (five) sampling stations (considered to be spawning and nursing areas of Toli shad) at Batang Lupar and Batang Sadong estuaries from July 2016 to June 2017. A total of 29 zooplankton taxa were recorded that belong to 14 major groups comprised of Copepoda (Arthropoda), Crustacean nauplii (Arthropoda), Fish larvae (Chordata), Mollusca (Mollusca), Luciferidae (Arthropoda), Cnidaria (Cnidaria), Ostracoda (Arthropoda), Cirripedia (Arthropoda), Polychaete larvae (Annelida), Chaetognatha (Chaetognatha), Appendicularia (Chordata), Amphipoda (Arthropoda), Echinodermata larvae (Echinodermata) and Cladoceran (Arthropoda). Copepod was dominant group of zooplankton (82.40-94.41%) at all stations, contributing 477.37-25921.89 ind/m3 and 88.38% of total abundance. The second highest was crustacean larvae (2.45-9.38%) in all stations, contributing 0-2391.7 ind/m3 and 5.88% of total abundance. Zooplankton abundance was higher at downstream station 1 (8460.72 ind/m³) followed by station 2 (5479.80 indi/m³), station 3 (4571.95 ind/m³), station 4 (4394.20 ind/m³) and upstream station 5 (4156.73 ind/m³). Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that the abundance of copepods was highly influenced by total turbidity and nitrate in the riverine and estuarine ecosystems. Abundance of zooplankton was relatively higher (9549.31 ind/m³) during the post-monsoon and lower (3534.56 ind/m³) during the southwest monsoon.

Examining the Diversity and Abundance of Zooplankton across Different Gateways in the South-western Estuary of Bangladesh

“…The richness of nutrients, accessibility of rich phytoplankton, and ocean circulation may have contributed to the diverse species and groups of zooplankton that were discovered. The results, however, are consistent with the research from Aiman et al (2020), Azmi et al (2016), Deepika et al (2019), Melo et al (2010), Matias-Peralta and Yusoff (2015). Abdul et al (2016) conducted a study in an estuary and found a relative abundance that was higher than any zooplankton species.…”

“…When compared to other periods, the tidal period had very high species equitability (Evenness), which suggests that the diversity of the plankton was declining (Adesalu and Nwankwo, 2008). Studies by Abu-Hena et al (2016), Aiman et al (2020), Deepika et al (2019), Ismail and Zaidin (2015) were found to have similar findings to the present study. Additionally, Simpson's Dominance Index (D), a measure of diversity, takes both the total number of species present and the relative abundance of each species into account.…”

“…Compared to the current study, Melo et al (2010) discovered significantly lower zooplankton abundance (4,759 to 7,113 individuals/m 3 ) in the southwestern Atlantic, and Azmi et al (2016) found zooplankton abundance (3,030±855.6 individuals/m 3 ) at Merambong Shoal Seagrass Area, which is also lower than densities recorded in the present study. Zooplankton density measurements from certain river estuaries in the Sarawak Region of Malaysia ranged from 447 to 27,812 individuals/m 3 (Aiman et al, 2020). Overall, past findings supported the current results (Bhavan et al, 2015;Dhanasekaran et al, 2017;Manickam, 2015;Manickam et al, 2012;Manickam et al, 2014;Manickam et al, 2015).…”

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“…Compared to the current study, Melo et al (2010) discovered significantly lower zooplankton abundance (4,759 to 7,113 individuals/m 3 ) in the southwestern Atlantic, and Azmi et al (2016) found zooplankton abundance (3,030±855.6 individuals/m 3 ) at Merambong Shoal Seagrass Area, which is also lower than densities recorded in the present study. Zooplankton density measurements from certain river estuaries in the Sarawak Region of Malaysia ranged from 447 to 27,812 individuals/m 3 (Aiman et al, 2020). Overall, past findings supported the current results (Bhavan et al, 2015;Dhanasekaran et al, 2017;Manickam, 2015;Manickam et al, 2012;Manickam et al, 2014;Manickam et al, 2015).…”

The significance of community-based management in the structure and sustainability of the fisheries in Cross River Estuary, Nigeria

“…Estuaries have been recognized for a long time as crucial locations for fish because of the multiple functions they serve: as nurseries, migration corridors, feeding grounds, and shelter areas (Mc. Lusky and Elliot 2004;Rezai et al 2011;Tumiran et al 2011;Hossain et al 2012;Zaleha et al 2013;Rahim et al 2014;Saifullah et al 2014;Paturej et al 2017;Eugenia et al 2019;Aiman et al 2020). Furthermore, to ensure their safety and long-term maintenance, it's essential to have a firm grasp on the ecosystem process (i.e., the operation of these transitional environments) (Franco et al 2008).…”