Sains Malaysiana 49(8)(2020): 1809-1817

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4908-05

Tracing the Carbon Flow in Tropical Watershed using Stable Isotope Technique

(Mengesan Aliran Karbon di dalam Legeh Sungai Tropika Menggunakan Teknik Isotop Stabil)

MOHAMAD SHAIFUL MD YUSUFF¹, MUHAMMAD IZZUDDIN SYAKIR^1,2* & WIDAD FADHULLAH¹

¹Environmental Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

²Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 17 March 2019/Accepted: 25 March 2020

ABSTRACT

Research on catchment area have traditionally involved concentration and flux measurement to better understand weathering, transport and cycling of materials from land to sea. Potentially, modification of terrestrial environment can alter the carbon flow in a catchment. This research is to characterize dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in Sungai Kurau and Tasik Bukit Merah. A progressive depletion of (δ¹³C–DIC: -14.20 ± 0.47‰) towards downstream (δ¹³C–DIC: -24.44 ± 0.59‰) is observed. The trend indicates photosynthesis activity at the upper stream system where microbial respiration process is observed to occur at the Tasik Bukit Merah located at downstream area. The dynamic of carbon pathway is highly affected by allochthonous input and autochthonous process in the catchment system. Land use activities within the catchment can disturb the balance between biological and geological processes which control the carbon pool in Kurau catchment.

Keywords: Carbon-13; carbon cycle; photosynthesis; respiration; Tasik Bukit Merah

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan di kawasan tadahan secara tradisinya melibatkan kepekatan dan pengukuran fluks untuk lebih memahami luluhawa, pengangkutan dan kitaran bahan dari darat ke laut. Berpotensi, pengubahsuaian persekitaran daratan dapat mengubah aliran karbon dalam kawasan tadahan. Kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti karbon bukan organik yang dilarutkan (DIC) di Sungai Kurau dan Tasik Bukit Merah. Pengurangan progresif (δ¹³C-DIC: -14.20 ± 0.47‰) ke arah hiliran (δ¹³C-DIC: -24.44 ± 0.59‰) diperhatikan. Petunjuk ini menunjukkan aktiviti fotosintesis pada sistem hulu sungai dengan proses respirasi mikrob diperhatikan berlaku di Tasik Bukit Merah yang terletak di kawasan hilir sungai. Dinamik laluan karbon amat dipengaruhi oleh input dan proses autoktonus dalam sistem kawasan tadahan. Aktiviti penggunaan tanah dalam kawasan tadahan boleh mengganggu keseimbangan antara proses biologi dan geologi yang mengawal kelompok karbon di kawasan tadahan Kurau.

Kata kunci: Fotosintesis; karbon-13; kitaran karbon; respirasi; Tasik Bukit Merah

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*Corresponding author; email: misyakir@usm.my