Variations in the Physicochemical Water Parameters and Phytoplankton Community in Coastal Water of Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was conducted to observe the abundance and distribution of phytoplankton and temporal and spatial variation physico-chemical water parameters in coastal water of Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia. Water samples and in-situ water quality parameters were taken from five selected locations from May 2019 to February 2020. The sampling location was selected based on human-induced activities such as Marina Resort's Jetty (ST1), Sabah Ports' Jetty (ST2), aquaculture cage/pent (ST3), river's mouth (ST4) and Landung Ayang's water village (ST5). Water parameters: pH, salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L) temperature (˚C) and depth (m) were recorded once every month from the selected station. Identification of phytoplanktonic species and cell density (cell/mL) were determined from collected water samples. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between physicochemical parameters to months were observed during the study period. However, in spatial variations, significant differences (p < 0.05) of pH, dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and temperature (˚C) observed. A total of 21 phytoplankton species were identified from the study area, where 4 species belonged to Dinophyceae (HABs blooming species) and 17 species belonged to Bacillariophyceae. The influences of physicochemical water parameters were not significant in phytoplankton diversity and abundance. In addition to these parameters, the nutrients in the water might have important roles in the blooming of phytoplankton, which are essential and vital to address in this type of research.

Distribution Pattern of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Phytoplankton Diversity in River Estuary, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia

“…The diversity index and species evenness were observed in the range of 5.2 to 7.09 and 1.81 to 2.87 respectively. The observed values were comparatively higher in present study than that of mean Shannon-Weaver's diversity index (H') of 2.56 and Pielou evenness index (J') of 0.84 (Romin et al, 2021) and also the diversity index of 2.35 with evenness index of 0.83 (Fatema et al, 2014). It indicated that the phytoplankton communities in Kota Kinabalu River estuary were favored with environment conditions for their growth and distribution.…”

“…Thus makes ecosystem of river estuary very complex, all factors are interrelated and subsequently contributes in the composition of phytoplankton. A total of 25 species of phytoplankton were identified from present study, on the other hand, 24 genera of phytoplankton were reported from Kota Kinabalu wetland in undulated areas (Azad & Jinau, 2020) and 21 phytoplankton species are identified from Kudat coastal water (Romin et al, 2021). The environment factors that affect the algal species community and limits the availability of certain types of species are manifolds, like temperature, salinity, Secchi depth (visibility), pH, and dissolved oxygen (Huang et al, 2004).…”

“…The highest cell densities in station 4 might be due discharges of nutrients from aquaculture farm located nearby the location. Aquaculture farm generally uses feed to fed fishes, which are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, together the metabolic waste product from like faeces and excreta, basically are nitrogenous product also discharges in nearby location (Romin et al, 2021). On the hand the lowest cell densities was observed in the Station 6, which are limited with the nitrogenous sources in marine environment.…”

The Assessment of the Mesozooplankton Community from the Romanian Black Sea Waters and the Relationship to Environmental Factors

“…Salinity, and nutrients are used as indicators in the water ecosystem condition (Aknaf et al, 2017). Knowledge of quality water and its response to aquatic biodiversity are essential for the management of fisheries, providing a more economic and environmental balanced ecosystem (Romin et al, 2021).…”

Response of cultured Holothuria atra to thermal and salinity stressors: growth, survival rates, and physiochemical studies

“…Regular monitoring is necessary to ensure that water quality meets the needs of these organisms, as thermal and osmotic stress occurs when water temperature or salinity exceed their ideal ranges, altering normal physiological functioning and initiating energy-intensive stress responses. (Aknaf et al, 2017;Romin et al, 2021).…”