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IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY ON SEAGRASS MEADOW AT TANJUNGKUPANG
SHAIKHAH BINTI SABRI
A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award the degree of the
Master of Engineering (Civil-Environmental Management)
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
November, 2009
iii
To my beloved family and friends
Thank you for everything
“Today we are nobody but tomorrow we will be somebody”
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, a very grateful to Allah gives me the ability to finish up my final
master project. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd
Ismid Mohd Said as final project’s supervisor for his valuable time, guidance, advice
and critics in fulfill the study. Also a million thanks to my co-supervisor Dr. Shamila
Azman for her encouragement, guidance and friendship throughout the course of this
study. Not forgetful my friends and colleagues for their patience and cooperation
during the entire study making process.
I am also would like to thank to staffs and technicians of Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia’s Environmental Laboratory who provided assistance and shared the
information that I needed.
Last but not least, my appreciative to all my family members for their support
and encouraging me to finish up my study.
v
ABSTRACT
Seagrasses which colonize near shore ecosystem may be used as indicator of
environmental health since it is vulnerable to the changes of water and environmental
quality. Six species of seagrasses were found at Tanjung Kupang, Johor which are
identified as Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor, Halophila spinulosa, Enhalus
acoroides, Halodule pinifolia and Thalassia hemprichii. Meanwhile three species
were found at Teluk Buih, Mersing identified as Enhalus acoroides, Halodule
pinifolia and Cymodocea rotundata. Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Hg) were
analyzed using ICPMS and Halophila minor have the highest accumulation of heavy
metal among the species. Thalassia hemprichii turned out to be strongest
accumulator for Cd (0.016 mg/g dry weight) and Halophila ovalis for Hg (0.044
mg/g dry weight). The results obtained for water quality analysis exceeded the
Interim Marine Water Quality Standard except for Pb (0.0014 to 0.0066 mg/L) and
Total Cr (0.1486 to 0.105 mg/L). Dredging activities for land reclamation could be a
possible release of heavy metals to the seawater since the concentration of heavy
metal decrease in the following order: sediment > water > seagrass leaves. Therefore,
Halophila minor has the potential to be used as bioindicator since it accumulates
higher concentration of heavy metal compared to other species. Two rivers, Sungai
Pok Besar and Sungai Pok Kecil, situated near the seagrass bed is classified as Class
III based on Water Quality Index.
vi
ABSTRAK
Rumput laut yang tumbuh di kawasan perairan di pesisir pantai boleh
digunakan sebagai petunjuk kepada tahap pencemaran kerana hidupan ini sangat
sensitif terhadap perubahan kualiti air dan persekitaran. Enam spesies rumput laut
yang dijumpai di Tanjung Kupang, Johor dikenalpasti sebagai Halophila ovalis,
Halophila minor, Halophila spinulosa, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia dan
Thalassia hemprichii. Sementara itu, tiga spesies yang dijumpai di Teluk Buih,
Mersing direkodkan sebagai Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia dan Cymodocea
rotundata. As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb dan Hg dianalisis menggunakan ICPMS dan Halophila
minor menunjukkan bacaan kandungan logam berat paling tinggi berbanding spesies
lain, Thalassia hemprichii pula mengumpulkan kandungan logam berat bagi Cd
(0.016 mg/g berat kering) dan Halophila ovalis untuk Hg (0.044 mg/g berat kering).
Keputusan yang didapati untuk analisis kualiti air melebihi Piawaian Interim Kualiti
Air Laut kecuali plumbum (0.0014 – 0.0066 mg/L) and Jumlah Kromium (0.1486 –
0.105 mg/L). Aktiviti pengorekkan untuk tebusguna tanah dikenalpasti sebagai
penyumbang kehadiran logam berat di dalam air laut kerana kandungan logam berat
berkurang mengikut aturan berikut: tanah > air > rumput laut. Oleh itu, Halophila
minor mempunyai potensi untuk digunakan sebagai penunjuk biologi kerana
mengumpul kandungan logam berat paling tinggi berbanding spesies rumput laut
lain. Dua buah sungai, Sungai Pok Besar dan Sungai Pok Kecil yang terletak
berhampiran dengan hamparan rumput laut dikenalpasti berada dalam Kelas III
berdasarkan Indeks Kualiti Air.
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE
TITLE i
DECLARATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
ABSTRACT v
ABSTRAK vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF FIGURES xii
LIST OF SYMBOL xiv
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Preface 1
1.2 Seagrass Distribution 2
1.3 Problem Statement 3
1.4 Objective of Study 4
1.5 Study Area 5
1.6 Scope of Study 7
2 LITERATURE REVIEW 8
2.1 Overview 8
2.2 Characteristics of Seagrass 9
2.2.1 Seaweeds 12
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2.3 Growth Requirements 12
2.4 The Significance of Seagrass 13
2.4.1 Marine Life Associated with Seagrass 14
2.5 Threats to Seagrass 17
2.5.1 Natural Threats 17
2.5.2 Eutrophication 17
2.5.3 Dredging 18
2.5.4 Boating 19
2.6 Physical Water Quality Parameter 19
2.6.1 Total Suspended Solid 19
2.6.2 Turbidity 20
2.6.2 Temperature 21
2.7 Chemical Water Quality Parameter 21
2.7.1 Dissolved Oxygen 22
2.7.2 Biochemical Oxygen Demand 22
2.7.3 Chemical Oxygen Demand 23
2.7.4 pH 23
2.7.5 Nutrients 24
2.7.5.1 Phosphorus 24
2.7.5.2 Ammoniacal Nitrogen 25
2.7.6 Heavy Metal 25
2.7.6.1 Arsenic (As) 26
2.7.6.2 Cadmium (Cd) 27
2.7.6.3 Total chromium 27
2.7.6.4 Copper (Cu) 28
2.7.6.5 Lead (Pb) 28
2.7.6.6 Mercury (Hg) 29
2.7.7 Oil and Grease 30
2.8 Marine Water Quality Standards 31
2.8.1 Malaysia Interim Marine Water Quality
Standards32
2.8.2 Marine Water Quality Criteria for the
ASEAN Region32
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2.8.3 Singapore Marine Water Quality Criteria 33
2.9 United Kingdom Interim Marine Sediment Quality
Guidelines (ISQG)33
3 METHODOLOGY 35
3.1 Study Area 35
3.2 Sample Preparation 37
3.2.1 Water Sample 38
3.2.2 Seagrass Specimens and Sediment 40
3.3 Analysis of Samples 41
3.4 Chemical Analysis 42
4 RESULT AND ANALYSIS 43
4.1 Introduction 43
4.2 Specimen Identification 43
4.3 Marine Life at Tanjung Kupang 52
4.4 Water Quality Analysis 53
4.4.1 Oil and Grease 56
4.4.2 Total Suspended Solid 56
4.4.3 Ammoniacal Nitrogen and Phosphorus 57
4.5 Heavy Metals in Water 59
4.6 Heavy Metals in Sediment 63
4.7 Heavy Metals in Seagrass 64
4.8 Development Adjacent to the Seagrass Meadow 67
4.9 Overall Discussion 72
5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 75
5.1 Introduction 75
5.2 Recommendation 76
REFERENCES 77
x
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE
2.1 The common seagrass species in Malaysia and theiridentification features (Save Our Seahorse Handbook,2006)
11
2.2 The differences between seagrass and marine algae(Seagrass-Watch, 2008)
12
2.3 List of marine life supported by a seagrass bed 15
2.4 Malaysia Interim Marine Water Quality Standard(Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia, 2004)
31
2.5 Marine Water Quality Criterion for ASEAN region(Association of Southeast Asian Nation, 2009) 32
2.6 Summary of criteria for site selection for floating netcagefarming (Singapore Fisheries and AquacultureDepartment, 2009)
33
2.7 Interim Marine Sediment Quality Guidelines (UK MarineSpecial Areas of Conservation) 34
3.1 (a) Schedule of sampling at Tanjung Kupang(b) Schedule of sampling at Teluk Buih, Mersing
38
3.2 Analytical procedures (Standard Method AmericanPublic Health Association, 2005) 42
4.1 Specimen identification based on acknowledged speciesby previous study at seagrass meadow Tanjung Kupangand Teluk Buih, Mersing
45
4.2 List of marine life found during survey at seagrassmeadow 52
4.3 Water quality result of Sungai Pok Kecil and Sungai PokBesar
53
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4.4 Result of water quality parameter based on IMWQS andAMWQC at Teluk Buih 54
4.5 Result of water quality parameter based on IMWQS andAMWQC at Tanjung Kupang 55
4.6 Heavy metal concentration at Sungai Pok Kecil andSungai Pok Besar 59
4.7 Heavy metal concentration and Teluk Buih 61
4.8 Heavy metal concentration at Tanjung Kupang 62
4.9 Concentration of metals (mg g-1 dry weight) in thesediment which evaluate to United Kingdom interimmarine sediment quality guidelines (ISQG)
63
4.10 Concentration of metals (mg g-1 dry weight) in thedifferent species of seagrass 66
4.11 Land use in Tanjung Pelepas Zone (MBJBT, 2008) 68
xii
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE
1.1Seagrass distribution at Malaysia (The Encyclopedia ofMalaysia, The Seas, 2001) 3
1.2The position of study area that is near to Pulai Riverestuary, Second Link Bridge and Singapore 5
1.3Location of seagrass field and sampling location
6
3.1
Station 1 for water quality at Sungai Pok estuary. Theland is fully covered with riverbank vegetation especiallymangrove
35
3.2Second station for water quality measurement at seagrassbed 36
3.3Merambong Island as the third sampling station; inhabitsa lot of unique species. 36
3.4
(a) Upstream of Sungai Pok Besar used as boat parkingbay by local fisherman and (b) is downstream of theriver.
37
3.5
(a) Upstream of Sungai Pok Kecil and (b) is downstreamof the river. The river is surrounding by palm oilplantation.
37
3.6:Multi-Parameter Analyzer-Consort 535 that has used tomeasure the pH level on surface water 39
3.7YSI probe to determine concentration of dissolvedoxygen 39
3.8Secchi disk used to measure the depth of turbidity in thewater column at Merambong Island 40
3.9Seagrass leaves ((a) Halophila ovalis and (b) Halophilaspinulosa) that have been preserved in formalin andplaced in glass bottles
41
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3.10Digestion process using open beaker technique on hotplate 41
4.1
(a) Current condition of coastal line near seagrassmeadow while (b) is the future development which underTanjung Pelepas industrial region
69
4.2Existing and future development of Port Tanjung Pelepaswith potential expansion up to 95 berths 71
4.3
Several creatures that can found from seagrass areawhere (a) is Holothuria leucospilota, (b) is Stichodactylagigantean meanwhile (c) Sabella spallanzanii, (d) isProtoreastar nodosus, (e) Purple Climber Crab and (f)Hippocampus kuda.
74
xiv
LIST OF SYMBOLS
AMWQC ASEAN Marine Water Quality Criteria
AN Ammoniacal Nitrogen
As Arsenic
BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Cd Cadmium
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
Cr Chromium
Cu Copper
DO Dissolved Oxygen
DOE Department of Environment Malaysia
Hg Mercury
IMWQS Interim Marine Water Quality Standard
INWQS Interim Water Quality Standard
Pb Lead
SOS Save Our Seahorse
UTM Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
WQI Water Quality Index
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Preface
Increasing human populations associated with port expansion, urbanization,
industrial development and agricultural activities along the Johor Strait especially at
Pulai River have focused intention on the risk of those activities to the estuaries and
coastal. The largest seagrass bed in Peninsular Malaysia located in the coastal area
of Johor, situated between Merambong Island and Tanjung Kupang. The green
carpet in the sea could very well be a submerged is vegetation “bridge” connecting
southwest Johor to Tuas in Singapore, given its sheer size of 38ha (New Strait
Times, 2008). 60% of Malaysia’s natural wetlands are located in Johor including the
seagrass sites. It supports a rich biodiversity such as seaweeds, sea cucumbers and
fishes that are facing the competition between development and preservation of
natural ecosystem.
Generally, the seagrass meadow are very important ecosystems especially for
the fishing industry and therefore for food supplies, beside to ensure stabilisation of
the coast as an important characteristic in view of rising sea levels and protection
against coastal erosion. Moreover, the area also identified as habitat for rare marine
animals like seahorses, pipefish and dugongs. There are between 70-76 species of
fish in 41 families that have been observed in the seagrass beds and the adjacent
mangrove areas in Tanjung Adang-Merambong (Aziz et al., 2006). Even with its
importance role in food production, climate regulation, genetic resources and
recreations, there have been minimal attempt to conserve the seagrass. According to
2
Choo (2006) the disappearance of a huge tract of seagrass bed was due to
reclamation works by Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the Second Link project, a
coal-fired power plant and a petrochemical hub. However the results have not been
revealed.
Seagrass is identified as an aquatic flowering plant which lives completely
submerged under saline environment. These marine angiosperms include 12 genera,
which 7 are characteristic of the tropics; Halodule, Cymodocea, Syringodium,
Thalassondendron, Enhalus, Thalasia and Halophila. Meanwhile 5 others are
confined to temperate waters which are Zostera, Phyllospadix, Heterozostera,
Posidonia, and Amphibolis (Mann, 2000).
1.2 Seagrass Distribution
Worldwide there are 60 described seagrass species and majority of species
are found in the Indo-Pacific region where most of them grow in silty or sandy
sediment (Choo, 2006). Australia was identified to have more seagrass species
compared to other continent where 30 species can found there. Meanwhile, in
Malaysia the occurrence of seagrass are scattered at 78 sites which involves
mangroves, coral reefs, shallow inter-tidals, semi-enclosed lagoons and shoals areas
(Japar et al., 2000). Along the west coast, mixed species of seagrass inhabit from
sandy mud of Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi Island to sand-covered corals at Teluk
Kemang, Negeri Sembilan and extend till Serimbun Island in Malacca. At depths of
2-2.7 m at Tanjung Kupang-Merambong area, the largest and highest numbers of
seagrass species grows on calcareous sandy mud sub-tidal shoals.
At the east coastline, there are several species of seagrass that can be found
which populate on substrates of fine sand along shallow inland coastal lagoons from
Pengkalan Nangka, Kelantan to Paka, Terengganu. Meanwhile at Sibu Island,
Tengah Island, Besar Island, Tinggi Island, Redang Island, Tioman Island and
Perhentian Island, the seagrass communities occur in the water off-shore with
3
fringing coral reefs. In Sarawak, the presences of seagrass recorded at Bintulu River
and estuary area of Punang-Sari- Lawas. The substrates of sand, muddy-sand and
coral rubble of the inter-tidal region support the mixed species of seagrass along the
west and south-eastern coast of Sabah. Figure 1.1 shows the major location of
seagrass ecosystems in Malaysia.
Figure 1.1: Seagrass distribution at Malaysia (The Encyclopedia of Malaysia, TheSeas, 2001)
1.3 Problem Statement
Coastal environments are subjected to contamination especially metals
through inputs from point sources and diffuse sources which transported via river
discharge and atmospheric deposition. The pollution entering in coastal systems will
incorporated into biota and may interferences the chemical and biological processes
in the water column, sediments and biota. Meanwhile, seagrasses are the least
studied and least protected among marine habitat and they are very sensitive and
vulnerable to the changes of water and environmental quality. Hence, seagrasses
which colonize near coastal ecosystem have potential as indicator of environmental
4
health. Pulai River’s mangrove forest is the most extensive wetland site in Malaysia
and exposed to human activities at Pulai River catchment area. The lost of mangrove
which act as buffer zone may propel sediment loading and siltation to seagrass bed
located near the Pulai River estuary.
Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) located at the mouth of Pulai River is included
under Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in order to enhance economic
achievement. It is a strategic location to develop a mega port since the Sungai Pulai
mouth is located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia and the confluence of the
international trade lanes which go right into one of the world's busiest route, the
Straits of Malacca (BERNAMA, 2007). In the other hand, the largest privatized
coal-fires power plant located at Tanjung Bin is on the opposite bank. The latest
development is an integrated petrochemical facility on 40.5ha of reclaimed island at
the estuary and it is expected to handle annually 60 million tones of petroleum
products - industrial and marine fuel oils, diesel, jet fuel and biodiesel (The Star,
2007). With all the activities occurring in the area it seem that the country’s most
extensive seagrass meadow ecosystem is in danger of being destroyed and requires
more intention to preserve the unique bio-ecology system.
1.4 Objective of Study
The objective of the study is to assess the seagrass occurrence at Tanjung
Kupang via the following evaluation:
1. To identify the marine life include plants and animals associated with
seagrass
2. To determine water quality at the surrounding area of seagrass meadow
3. To determine heavy metal concentration in sediment at seagrass meadow
4. To assess possibility of seagrass as bio-indicator of heavy metal
concentration through extraction of its leaves
5
1.5 Study Area
The study area is located near the Pulai River estuary (illustrated in Figure
1.2). It emphasizes the seagrass bed, which lay between Merambong Island and
Tanjung Kupang in given size of 38ha.
Figure 1.2: The position of study area that is near to Pulai River estuary, SecondLink Bridge and Singapore
There are only a few villages located along the coastal area nearby to the
seagrass bed which includes Kampung Tanjung Adang, Kampung Pok Besar and
Kampung Pok Kechil. Most of villagers are fisherman and some of them are
involved in agriculture and palm oil plantation. From Figure 1.3 several sampling
points have been chosen that is significant to the study located at the seagrass
meadow, Pok River and Pulai River estuary, Merambong Island, Tanjung Adang and
near the Second Link Bridge. Pok River is the nearest waterway which brings runoff
from inland waters. Therefore, water quality level at the river will also be taken into
consideration.
Seagrassmeadow
6
(a)
(b)
Figure 1.3: Location of seagrass field and sampling location
LEGEND:
Seagrass meadow
Water quality sampling pointpoint
Tanjung Binpower plant
Expansion of PTP
7
Johor Port at Pasir Gudang have expanded rapidly since it commencing
operation 1977 and growth prediction showed that the port would suffer capacity
problems by 2000 (Renkema and Kinlan, 2000). On 1990 the Johor Port Authority
start a study to find a site for a new port that can cater all future demands for cargo
traffic. Based on a site selection study, Tanjung Pelepas was selected as the most
strategic location for Johor’s new port because it protected by a deep water bay.
Moreover, it amidst the world busiest international shipping lane which guarantees a
good opportunity for it to become a port of call for ships passing through these
waters (Johor Port Authority, 2008). Nowadays, PTP have been covered on 1935
acre of reclamation land growth rapidly and in the year 2000, it was awarded ‘Best
Emerging Container Terminal’ on Llods list for excellent throughout its operations
(Johor Port Authority, 2008). In order to achieve world class port and fulfil the future
demand, PTP plans to expand their port up to 95 berths with terminal handling
capacity of 72 million TEUs. This future expansion area is including seagrass area
and if the plan is continue, the meadow will disappear forever.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study emphasizes on the following methodology analysis, which are:
1. In-situ and Ex-situ test; Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, salinity, phosphorus,
nitrogen, Suspended Solid (SS) and Secchi disk depth
2. Rapid assessment using time search method and fisheries sampling for
marine life identification
3. Analysis of seagrass based on extraction of leaves and sediment
4. Using secondary data to assess the future and current development at the
nearby area (Tanjung Pelepas, Tanjung Bin, Tanjung Adang and Tanjung
Kupang coastal area)
77
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