Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 23 No 6 (2019): 1107 - 1118

DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN KUANTAN PORT, MALAYSIA DURING NORTHEAST MONSOON SEASON

(Taburan Fitoplankton di Pelabuhan Kuantan, Malaysia Semasa Musim Monsun Timur Laut)

Amir Safwan Hamzah, Normawaty Mohammad-Noor, Aimimuliani Adam*, Zuhairi Ahmad

Department of Marine Science, Kulliyah of Science,

International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author: aimiadam@iium.edu.my

Received: 30 October 2018; Accepted: 26 September 2019

Abstract

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a proliferation of phytoplankton that can produce bio toxins and cause harm to human health, as well as the environment and the organisms associated with it. The first case of HAB in Kuantan Port was recorded in November 2013, followed by another outbreak in August 2014. This study aims to investigate the phytoplankton distribution and dispersal in the Kuantan Port during the Northeast monsoon season in order to identify the extent of the spread of HAB, should such an event occur again. Phytoplankton samples were taken at Kuantan Port from three levels of depth (surface, middle, and bottom) at every hour during a period of 24 hours. Samples were preserved in Lugol’s iodine. Chemical properties such as phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia were also taken during each sampling. Phytoplankton samples were counted and identified up to genus level. Simulation of phytoplankton dispersal in Kuantan Port was conducted using the program MIKE 21. RMSE error was conducted to improve accuracy between ADCP data and simulated data, and was found to be within acceptable range. The MIKE 21 simulation showed that the algal bloom would remain inside the port and would not spread out to the sea. Thirty-seven taxa of phytoplankton were identified. Phytoplankton concentrations ranged from 124 cells/L to 775 cells/L. TSS value ranged from 0.0110 mg/L to 0.0345 mg/L. Phosphorus concentration ranged from 0.075 mg/L PO₄to 3.82 mg/L PO₄. Nitrate concentration ranged from 1.05 mg/L NO₃^-N to 2.45 mg/L NO₃^-N. Nitrite concentration ranged from 0.0040 mg/L NO₂^-N to 0.0095 mg/L NO₂^-N. Ammonia concentration ranged from 0.045 mg/L NH₃^-N to 0.140 mg/L NH₃^-N. A positive correlation was found between phytoplankton abundance and nutrient concentration of phosphorus, nitrate and ammonia, with a slightly negative correlation for nitrite. This study recorded the presence of several HAB species such as Dinophysissp, Noctillucasp, and Prorocentrum sp. The presence of these species further indicates that several safety measures need to be considered to safeguard public health, particularly in the coastal waters of Pahang.

Keywords: phytoplankton, harmful algal bloom, Northeast monsoon, Kuantan Port, simulation

Abstrak

Mekar alga berbahaya (HAB) adalah perkembangan fitoplankton yang boleh menghasilkan biotoksin dan menyebabkan kemudaratan kepada kesihatan manusia, serta alam sekitar dan organisma yang berkaitan dengannya. Kes pertama mekar alga berbahaya di Pelabuhan Kuantan telah direkodkan pada November 2013, diikuti dengan wabak lain pada bulan Ogos 2014. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menyiasat taburan dan penyebaran fitoplankton di Pelabuhan Kuantan semasa musim monsun Timur Laut untuk mengenal pasti sejauh mana HAB dapat tersebar sekiranya berlaku kejadian seperti itu lagi. Sampel fitoplankton diambil di Pelabuhan Kuantan dari tiga tahap ke dalaman (permukaan, tengah, dan bawah) dari setiap jam dalam tempoh 24 jam. Sampel dipelihara dalam iodin Lugol. Sifat kimia seperti fosforus, nitrat, nitrit, dan ammonia juga diambil untuk pensampelan. Sampel fitoplankton dikira dan dikenalpasti sehingga tahap genus. Simulasi penyebaran fitoplankton di Pelabuhan Kuantan dijalankan dengan menggunakan program MIKE 21. Ralat punca kuasa dua telah dijalankan untuk memastikan data antara ADCP dan simulasi adalah tepat, dan didapati jumlahnya dalam nilai berpatutan. Simulasi menunjukkan bahawa mekar alga akan berada di dalam Pelabuhan Kuantan dan tidak akan merebak kepada perairan persekitaran. Tiga puluh tujuh taksonomi fitoplankton telah dikenalpasti. Kepekatan fitoplankton berkisar dari 124 sel/L hingga 775 sel/L. Nilai TSS adalah dari 0.0110 mg/L kepada 0.0345 mg/L. Kepekatan fosforus berkisar dari 0.075 mg/L PO₄kepada 3.82 mg/L PO₄. Kepekatan nitrat adalah dari 1.05 mg/L NO₃^-N hingga 2.45 mg/L NO₃^-N. Kepekatan nitrit adalah dari 0.0040 mg/L NO₂^-N hingga 0.0095 mg/L NO₂^-N. Kepekatan ammonia adalah dari 0.045 mg/L NH₃^-N hingga 0.140 mg/L NH₃^-N. Korelasi positif telah didapati antara kelopak fitoplankton dan kepekatan fosforus, nitrat dan ammonia, serta korelasi negatif untuk nitrit. Kajian ini mencatatkan kehadiran beberapa spesies mekar alga berbahaya seperti Dinophysissp, Noctillucasp, dan Prorocentrum sp. Kehadiran spesies ini terus menunjukkan bahawa beberapa langkah keselamatan perlu dipertimbangkan untuk melindungi kesihatan awam, khususnya di perairan pantai Pahang.

Kata kunci: fitoplankton, mekar alga berbahaya, monsun timur laut, Pelabuhan Kuantan, simulasi

References

1. Millman, M., Cherrier, C. and Ramstack, J. (2005). The seasonal succession of the phytoplankton community in Ada Hayden Lake, North Basin, Ames, Iowa. Limnology Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa.

2. Sze, P. (1998). Biology of the Algae. 3^rd Edition. McGraw Hill Inc, USA.

3. Van Dolah, F. M. (2000). Diversity of Marine and Freshwater Algal Toxins. In: Botana L., editor. Seafood Toxicology: Pharmacology, Physiology and Detection. Marcel Dekker, New York: pp. 19-43

4. Scholin, C.A., Gulland, F., Doucette, G.J., Benson, S., Busman, M., Chavez, F.P. and Van Dolah, F.M. (2000). Mortality of sea lions among the central California coast linked to a toxic diatom bloom. Nature, 430: 80-84.

5. Flewelling, L. J., Naar, J. P., Abbott, J. P., Baden, D. G., Barros, N. B., Bossart, G. D. and Landsberg, J.H. (2005). Brevetoxicosis: red tides and marine mammal mortalities. Nature, 435: 755-756.

6. Buranapratheprat, A., Yanagi, T., Niemann, K.O., Matsumura, S. and Sojisuporn, P. (2008). Surface chlorophyll-a dynamics in the upper Gulf of Thailand revealed by a coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem model. Journal of Oceanography, 64: 639.

7. Yoshida, T., Toda, T., Yusoff, F. M. and Othman, B. H. R. (2006). Seasonal variation of zooplankton community in the coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca. Coastal Mar Sci, 30: 320-327.

8. Mohammad-Noor, N., Adam, A., Lim, P.T., Leaw, C.P., Lau, W.L.S., Liow, G.R., Muhammad-Bunnori, N., Hamdan, N., Md-Nor, A., Kemat, N. and Muniandi, D. (2018). First report of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) caused by Alexandrium tamiyavanichii in Kuantan Port, Pahang, East Coast of Malaysia. Phycological Research, 66: 37-44.

9. Tomas, C. R. (1997). Identifying marine phytoplankton. Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida.

10. Omura, T., Iwataki, M., Borja, V.M., Takayama, H. and Fukuyo, Y. (2012). Marine phytoplankton of the Western Pacific. Kohseisha Kouseikaku, Japan.

11. González, E. J. and Tundisi, J. G. (2008). Size and dry weight of main zooplankton species in Bariri reservoir (SP, Brazil). Brazilian Journal of Biology, 68(1): 69-75.

12. Laws, E. A. (2013). Evaluation of in situ phytoplankton growth rates: a synthesis of data from varied approaches. Annual Review of Marine Science, 5:247-268.

13. Peperzak, L., Colijn, F., Koeman, R., Gieskes, W. W. C and Joordens, J. C. A. (2003). Phytoplankton siking rates in the Rhine region of freshwater influence. Journal of Plankton Research, 25(4): 365-383.

14. Mohammad-Noor, N., Harun, S. N. R., Mat Lazim, Z., Mukai, Y., Mohammad, N. T. and Saad, S. (2013). Diversity of phytoplankton in coastal water of Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 32(1): 29-37.

15. Jalal, K. C. A., Akbar John, B. Hassan I. Sheikh, Shahbudin S., and Nor Hafiza, Y. A. A. (2017). Study on physiochemical parameters and distribution of phytoplankton in Kuantan Estuary, Pahang. Environment and Ecosystem Science, 1(1):8-12.

16. Zakem, E. J., Al-Haj, A., Church, M. J., Dijken, G. L., Dutkiewicz, S., Foster, S. Q. and Follows, M. J. (2018). Ecological control of nitrite in the upper ocean. Nature communications, 9(1): 1206.