Date of Award

1-1-2000

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Thesis

Divisions

Institute for Advanced Studies

Department

-

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

Fish and macroinvertebrate distribution and abundance in the Klang Strait (Malaysia) were investigated in relation to waler and bottom sediment characteristics. Thirteen water and bottom sediment parameters were measured and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). PCA of these parameters distinguished three major habitat groupings in the Klang Strait: ( I) nearshore estuaries and mudflats, characterized by very turbid, lower salinity waters and muddy substrates, (2) offshore sandy habitat centred around the northern half of Angsa Bank, and characterized by less turbid, oxygen-riched and higher salinity water, and (3) offshore very fine sand habitat located largely on the southern half of Angsa Bank, and characterized by turbid, higher salinity water. A total of 162 species belonging to 73 families were recorded based on 22,376 specimens examined. These species comprised 119 fish and 43 macroinvertebrate species belonging to 55 and 18 families, respectively. The most common fish families in order of importance were Sciaenidae, Leiognathidae, Ariidae, Platycephalidae, Cynoglossidae, Gerridae, Mullidae, Dasyatidae, Pomadasyidae, Siganidae, Carangidae, Engraulididae, Clupeidae, Stromatidae and Polynemidae. Seventeen prawn species were recorded and the most common family was Penaeidae. Fifteen species of brachyuran crabs and two species of xiphosuran horse-shoe crabs were recorded. The most common crab families were the Ponunidae and Majidae. Only three stomatopodan species belonging to the family Squillidae were recorded. Three Cephalopoda were recorded belonging to the families Octopodidae, Sepiidae and Loliginidae. Five Echinodermata species were recorded and the most common species were the sea urchin, Salmacis dussumieri an unidentified sea cucumber species and the starfish, luidia penangensis. Most of the fish and macroinvertcbrate species comprised of young juveniles. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicates that the most important abiotic factors controlling the distribution and abundance of demersal fish were salinity, turbidity, sediment clay and organic matter, whereas for pelagic fish these factors were water depth, salinity, turbidity and sediment pH. The distribution and abundance of prawn species were however influenced by water depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, sediment clay, fine sand and organic matter contents. Crab abundance were more strongly influenced by salinity, dissolved oxygen, sediment clay, silt and organic matter contents, and sediment pH. The abundance of the other macroinvertebrates such as cephalopods, stomatopods and echinoderms were more influenced by water depth, salinity, sediment clay and organic matter contents. Salinity was the only common factor that appeared to influence the distribution and abundance of all species in Klang Strait.

Initial

snms

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A) -- Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, 2001

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