Sains Malaysiana 46(1)(2017): 1–7

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4601-01

Biodiversity of Macroalgae in Blue Lagoon, the Straits of Malacca, Malaysia and Some Aspects of Changes in Species Composition

(Kepelbagaian Biologi Makroalga di Blue Lagoon, Selat Melaka, Malaysia dan Beberapa Aspek Perubahan dalam Komposisi Spesies)

I.      ASMIDA¹*, A.B. NOOR AKMAL¹, I. AHMAD² & M. SARAH DIYANA¹

¹Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 14 Jun 2013/Diterima: 1 Ogos 2016

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to study the biodiversity status of marine macroalgae (seaweeds) in Blue Lagoon, Port Dickson and assess the changes in species composition in the area. The sampling site is located in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which has been regarded as one of the Malaysia’s popular beach resort destinations. This tourist spot has seen major physical changes over the last few decades. Despite habitat disturbance, our study recorded 44 species of macroalgae with Sargassum asperifolium noted as a new record for this area. Brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta) and green seaweeds (Chlorophyta) dominated the sampling areas with each division recorded 19 and 16 species, respectively. Change to species composition was evident for the common genus Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Fucales). Chlorophyta was mostly found in the upper intertidal to subtidal zones while Phaeophyta proliferated in the mid-tidal areas. The red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) were distributed and grew better in lower light intensity in the subtidal zone. This study will contribute to the seaweed database of Malaysia for future reference and this may help in the conservation of seaweeds.

Keywords: Biodiversity; checklist; Sargassum; species composition; tropical seaweeds

ABSTRAK

Kajian kepelbagaian biologi rumpai laut telah dijalankan di Blue Lagoon, Port Dickson bagi menilai perubahan komposisi spesies rumpai laut di kawasan kajian. Lokasi pensampelan terletak di bahagian pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia yang dikenal pasti sebagai salah satu pantai peranginan yang terkenal di Malaysia. Sejak beberapa dekad yang lepas, Port Dickson telah mengalami perubahan fizikal yang pesat. Walaupun terdapat gangguan habitat, kajian ini telah merekodkan sebanyak 44 spesies rumpai laut dengan satu spesies (Sargassum asperifolium) sebagai rekod baharu bagi Port Dickson. Rumpai laut perang (Phaeophyta) dan rumpai laut hijau (Chlorophyta) mendominasi kawasan kajian dengan masing-masing 19 dan 16 spesies. Perubahan dalam komposisi rumpai laut dapat dilihat secara jelas bagi genus Sargassum (Sargassaceae, Fucales). Cholophyta mendominasi zon intertidal dan subtidal manakala Phaeophyta tumbuh dengan banyak di zon mid-tidal. Rumpai laut merah (Rhodophyta) pula tumbuh dengan baik di bahagian bawah zon tidal yang mempunyai pencahayaan yang rendah. Kajian ini menyumbang kepada pangkalan data rumpai laut di Malaysia untuk dijadikan sebagai rujukan pada masa hadapan dan ini boleh membantu dalam pemuliharaan rumpai laut.

Kata kunci: Kepelbagaian biologi; komposisi spesies; rumpai laut tropika; Sargassum; senarai semakan

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: asmida@salam.uitm.edu.my