Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in ... and Abundance of Freshwater Fish Fauna in... · Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in fragmented forest of Wilmar

Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in fragmented forest of

Wilmar Palm Oil Plantation in Miri

Melissa Dennis Chong

30973

Bachelor of Science with Honors

Aquatic Resource Science and Management

2014

Declaration

I hereby that no portion of the work referred to in this dissertation has been submitted in

support of an application for another degree or qualification to this university or any other

institution of higher learning.

__________________________________



Department of Aquatic Science

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology

University Malaysia Sarawak

Table of Contents

Page

Acknowledgement I

List of abbreviation II

List of tables III

List of figure IV

List of appendix V

Abstract VI

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Ecology of freshwater fish fauna 3

2.2 Diversity of freshwater fish fauna 4

2.3 Water quality of streams and rivers 5

2.4.1 Turbidity 5

2.4.2 Dissolved Oxygen 6

2.4.3 pH 7

2.4.4 Total Suspended Solids 8

3.0 Methodology

3.1 Sampling sites 9

3.2 Physiochemical water parameters

3.2.1 Turbidity 12

3.2.2 Dissolved Oxygen 12

3.2.3 pH 12

3.2.4 Total Suspended Solids Analysis 12

3.3 Fish sampling and identification 13

3.4 Data analysis

3.4.1 Shannon- Wiener Index 14

3.4.2 Pielou’s Index of evenness or equitability 15

3.4.3 Margalef’s Index 15

4.0 Results

4.1 The composition and distribution of fish fauna 16

4.2 Diversity Index of fish fauna 22

4.3 Physicochemical water quality for sampling sites 23

4.3.1 pH parameter 25

4.3.2 Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) parameter 26

4.3.3 Temperature (ºC) parameter 27

4.3.4 Turbidity (NTU) parameter 28

4.3.5 Depth (m) parameter 29

4.3.6 Biological Oxygen Demand (mg/l) parameter 30

4.3.7 Conductivity (µS/cm) parameter 31

Page

6.0 Discussion 32

7.0 Conclusion 37

8.0 References 38

9.0 Appendices 41

I

Acknowledgement

First of all, I would like to give thanks to the Almighty God to provide protection and guide

throughout my final year project.

I wish to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Khairul Adha A.

Rahim for providing the title deed to this project, being advisors and guidance as well as

support me in completing this project, and his research assistant, Ms. Faznur Fateh Bte

Firdaus@Nicholas, in aiding support and guide during the fieldtrips. I am extremely grateful

to my supervisor for his expert, sincere and valuable guidance to me.

I am grateful and thank the staff and officers from the WILMAR oil palm Plantation

Company, Mr. Golon anak Mat and Mr. Joanes anak John in aiding for the collection of the

samples as well as guide to the selected stations. I also thank them for their effort and support

throughout the sampling collection period.

I wish to express my appreciation and gratitude to the staff and lab assistants of UNIMAS in

providing me the required equipments needed for the fieldtrips and data analysis processes.

I also place on record, my sense of gratitude to one and all, directly or indirectly, friends and

families, for being supportive, aiding and provide information which made this venture

possible. References and other resources acquired from the books and journals were greatly

acknowledged.

II

List of abbreviations

TSS Total Suspended Solids

BOD Biological Oxygen Demand

UNTB Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity

DO Dissolved Oxygen

H’ Shannon – Wiener Index

D’ Pielou’s Index of evenness or equitability

J’ Margalef’s Index

HCV High Conservation Value

RSPO Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

ISCC International Sustainability and Carbon Certification

III

List of Table

Page

Table 1.0 Selected stations and the conditions of the sites 9

Table 2.0 Number of individuals, families and species collected from every 16

station

Table 3.0 The number of individuals of fish species and families collected from 20

9 stations in rivers at Wilmar oil palm plantation areas

Table 4.0 The number of individuals of crayfish species and families collected 21

from 9 stations in rivers at Wilmar oil palm plantation areas

Table 5.0 Diversity index of freshwater fish fauna in rivers and streams at 22

Wilmar oil palm plantation areas

Table 6.0 Mean and standard deviation of physico-chemical parameters for 23

both rivers and streams in every station

Table 7.0 One-way ANOVA of physicochemical water quality parameters 24

(SS= Sum of square, MS= Mean of square, df= degree of freedom,

F-value and P-value)

IV

List of Figure

Page

Figure 1.0 Map showing sampling sites of Wilmar oil palm plantation area 11

Figure 2.0 Graphs above show the physicochemical parameters in every station 17

Figure 3.0 The number of individuals under families of samples collected in 17

each station

Figure 4.0 The number of individuals for native and introduced species in each 18

station

Figure 5.0 Result of pH parameter in each station 25

Figure 6.0 Result of Dissolved Oxygen parameter in each station 26

Figure 7.0 Result of temperature parameter in each station 27

Figure 8.0 Result of turbidity parameter in each station 28

Figure 9.0 Result of depth parameter in each station 29

Figure 10.0 Result of parameter in each station 30

Figure 11.0 Result of conductivity parameter in each station 31

V

List of Appendix

Page

Appendix 1.0 List of species, families and local name in Station 1 41







Appendix 8.0 The mean and standard deviation of total length (TL), forked 45

length (FL) standard length (SL) and weight for fish species in

station 1


length (FL), standard length (SL) and weight for fish species in

station 2



station 3



station 5



station 6



station 8

Appenidx 14.0 The mean and standard deviation of total length (TL), forked 50


station 9

Appendix 15.0 The average of mean and standard deviation of total length (TL) 50

and weight for crayfish species in station 8.

Appendix 16.0 Picture of species and name of family 51

VI

Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in fragmented forest of Wilmar palm

oil plantation in Miri



Faculty of Resource Science and Technology

University Malaysia Sarawak

Abstract

The study was conducted in the river system located at Wilmar palm oil plantation. The objective of this study is

to determine the diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna. Nine sampling sites were selected and the

fish samples were collected using three-layer gill nets, cast nets and scoop nets. There were total of 503

individuals of samples were collected; the dominant fish species was Cyclocheilichthys apogon under Family

Cyprinidae whereas the dominant crayfish species was Cherax quadricarinatus under Family Parastacidae were

identified at the sampling sites. There are 35 fish fauna species identified, two from those species was endemic

species such as Nematabramis everetti and Puntius collingwoodii, and three were exotic species such as Cherax

quadricarinatus (red-claw crayfish), Macrobranchium rosenbergii (Giant freshwater prawn) and Oreochromis

niloticus (tilapia), total there were 32 native species. The highest number of fish samples obtained was at Station

8 which covers 57.65% from the overall samples whereas the least number of samples was at station 6 which

covers only 12.92%. There were six types of physicochemical parameters were taken and analyzed using one-

way ANOVA. The result shows there was significant difference between physicochemical water quality

parameters.

Key words: Freshwater fish fauna, rivers, fish diversity and abundance, oil palm plantation, ANOVA

Abstrak

Kajian tersebut dijalankan di dalam system sungai yang terletak dalam ladang kelapa sawit Wilmar. Objektif

kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji tentang kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan fauna dan ikan air tawar. Sembilan

lokasi yang dipilih dan sampel telah dikumpul dengan menggunakan pukat tiga lapis, dan jarring. Terdapat 503

individu sampel jumlahnya telah dikumpul; spesies ikan yang dominan adalah Cyclocheilichthys apogon dalam

keluarga Cyprinidae manakala spesies udang yang dominan adalah Cherax quadricarinatus dalam keluarga

Parastacidae telah dikenal pasti di tempat kajian tersebut. Terdapat 35 spesies ikan dan fauna telah dikenal pasti,

dua spesies daripadanya adalah spesies endemic seperti Nematabramis everetti dan Puntius collingwoodii, serta

tiga spesies eksotik seperti Cherax quadricarinatus (udang batu), Macrobranchium rosenbergii (udang galah)

dan Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia), jumlah selebihnya adalah 32 spesies asli. Bilangan sampel dikumpul yang

tertinggi adalah daripada stesen 8 dengan merangkumi 57.65% dari keseluruhan sampel manakala bilangan

sampel dikumpul yang paling rendah adalah dari stesen 6 dengan merangkumi hanya 12.92%. Terdapat enam

jenis parameter fizikokimia telah diambil dan dianalisa dengan menggunakan one-way ANOVA. Keputusan

menunjukkan bahawa fizikokimia parameter kualiti air mempunyai perbezaan yang signifikan antara satu sama

lain.

Kata kunci: Fauna dan ikan air tawar, sungai, kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan ikan, ladang kelapa sawit, ANOVA

1

1.0 Introduction

Agriculture activities such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation has become rapidly

expanding in producing food source and biofuel. Both Indonesia and Malaysia are countries that

produce a high yield of oil palm products (Turner et al., 2011). Malaysia produces 38% of oil

palm cultivation whereas Indonesia produces 49% the production of oil palm in the world (Brant,

2011; Schrier-Uijl et al., 2013). Tropic countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have high

globally of biodiversity hotspot. The oil palm plantation requires a large area for the

development which involved the conversion of forest (Manokaran, 1992; Brant, 2011; Turner et

al., 2011; Schrier-Uijl et al., 2013). The demand for the oil palm production is high as this

development creates jobs opportunities, provide food sources and improve the economy value as

well as serve other purposes. Despite that, the conversion of the forest to oil palm agriculture or

other activities will cause impact to the natural habitat and biological diversity. This includes

shifting cultuvation, deforestation, pollution, climate change, introduction to exotic species and

timber extraction (Manokaran, 1992; Shah et al., 2006; Brant, 2011; Ewa et al., 2011; Schrier-

Uijl et al., 2013). The impacts of oil palm plantation will be detrimental to both wildlife of

terrestrial and aquatics.

The development and expansion of oil palm cultivation generally influences the

biodiversity of species and major threat driver to the biodiversity (Brant, 2011). The ecological

diversity and species diversity might decreases due to drastic changes of habitat or might be due

to the degradation of habitat and this will affect the water quality and ecosystem of river and

stream (Manokaran, 1992; Shah et al., 2006; Vijaylaxmi et al., 2010; Turner et al., 2011;

Schrier-Uijl et al., 2013). The water quality of river and stream can be affected by human

activities and this eventually give an impact to the habitat of aquatic organisms as well as their

biologically and metabolic activities (Reash & Pigg, 1990; Michaud, 1991; Chapman, 1996; Ewa

2

et al., 2011). There is relationship between the water physicochemical properties of water and

agricluture activities which directly affected the abundance and diversity of freshwater fish

species. However, there is still an uncertain or gap of knowledge on diversity and abundance of

freshwater fishes in rivers and streams at fragmented forest of Wilmar oil palm plantation. The

diversity of the freshwater fishes will be determined by using the biodiversity indices. The

diversity indices are able to use for pollution assessment in water as well as evaluate the

diversity and richness of species in a population (Heip & Engels, 1974). In addition, the species

present in the selected river and stream will be determined and evaluated according to the data

from the physicochemical properties of water from both the rivers and streams.

Therefore, the general objective for this study is to determine the diversity and abundance

of freshwater fish fauna in the Wilmar oil palm plantation by achieving these three objectives:

I. To identify the species composition and distribution of freshwater fish in the

rivers and streams at oil palm plantation region.

II. To examine the physiochemical water parameters in the river and stream of oil

palm plantation.

III. To initiate the plan for the conservation and management of fish fauna in Wilmar

oil palm plantation.

3

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Ecology of freshwater fish fauna

Freshwater fishes are the diverse vertebrate communities in the world due to their unique

taxonomy, morphologic, endemism and geographic scale in their distribution (Mims et al.,

2010). Tropical Asia has a rich freshwater fish fauna which includes the world‘s largest and

smallest lotic fishes. For instance, 394 freshwater species were identified in Borneo (Dudgeon,

1999). Tropical Asia receives a large amount of rainfall with plentiful freshwater river or lake.

Interaction with other species, availability of food, breeding ground, water current, depth,

physiochemical properties of water and biogeography are the factors that influence the

distribution and composition of the fish species in a habitat (Suarez et al., 2004; Khairul Adha et

al., 2009; Olden et al., 2010).

Sarawak has many river systems that support diverse population of freshwater fish fauna.

Freshwater fishes have unique adaptations either in a good or harsh environment and have

different niche in ecological ecosystem and in food chain. Several studies have been done in

different location in Sarawak on Bario, Kelabit Highlands; Balai Ringin and Lutong River, Miri,

Sarawak (Nyanti et al., 1999; Khairul Adha et al., 2009; Nyanti et al., 2010).The interaction

between the freshwater fish fauna and abiotic factors can change the ecology of a habitat. A

shallow water with slightly turbid and vegetation with canopy cover that allow fairly penetration

of sunlight in streams can increase the primary productivity in the habitat (McCabe, 2010;

Turner et al., 2011). Factors such as the size of river and water current can influence the ecology

of the habitat and presence of species. Large river with deep and slow water current tends to

have larger, abundance and diverse species compare to the small river (Shah et al., 2006;

McCabe, 2010). Large river consist of sufficient amount of food source and have large space to

4

breed and reproduce. The deeper the river will result in a larger in term of size of the freshwater

fish fauna. Streams transport water that contains debris, water, nutrients, and aquatic organisms

to other streams or rivers by water current (Shah et al., 2006; McCabe, 2010). This eventually

will result in different species in every stream and rivers. The abiotic factors occur in both stream

and river show a unique food chain and ecology communities in balancing the nature.

2.2 Diversity of freshwater fish fauna

According to Emmanuel and Modupe (2012), biodiversity is defined as a numerous different

species constitute a biological community that is essential in an organization of structure and

community. The important elements to define the term of biodiversity are the evaluation of

species richness and species abundance in a habitat. Olden et al. (2010) proposed a theory which

is known as The Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity (UNTB) that explains natural

phenomena caused speciation, birth of new species or extinction will result in species diversity.

These occur naturally to all species and eventually distribution of species will be widening if

environmental conditions are favorable. The organization of different community of species

exists in a habitat make up the diversity and every species serve different niche in that region.

The diversity and composition of the freshwater fish fauna are associated with several factors in

a habitat that somehow different from other habitats (Reash & Pigg, 1990; Adha et al., 2009).

Availability of food sources, topography, physicochemical properties of water and water current

are the factors that influence the biodiversity of species inhabited in the streams or rivers. The

freshwater fishes that able to adapt the environment are likely having higher possibility for

surviving. Family Cyprinidae is commonly dominated the rivers found in the whole of Southeast

Asia and about one-third of family Cyprinidae found in Western Borneo (Nyanti et al., 1999;

Amirrudin & Syed, 2006; Adha et al., 2009).

5

2.3 Water quality of the streams and rivers

Physicochemical factors evaluate the water qualities of both streams and rivers. These abiotic

factors influence the abundance and composition of the freshwater fish fauna in the rivers and

streams (Reash & Pigg, 1990). Every habitat has different water qualities that affecting the

species richness and abundance in communities. The factors include temperature, pH, turbidity,

nutrient, water velocity and depth of the water are important to determine the diversity of

freshwater fish fauna parameters and provide status, productivity as well as sustainability of

water body (Reash & Pigg, 1990; Kottelat et al., 1993; Suarez et al., 2004; Mustapha, 2008;

Adha et al., 2009).

2.3.1 Turbidity

All aquatic biological changes are affected by environmental factors. Turbidity is the measure

amount of light scattered from a water sample either water in the river or stream. The

characteristics of the water such as the water transparency and depth can determine the fish

community structures (Suarez et al., 2004). Some of the freshwater fish fauna able to live in

turbid water via camouflage for protection and the characteristics of the fish have small eyes and

possesses of barbel (Kottelat et al., 1993). The total suspended solids concentrations are

correlated with the turbidity of the water indicates amount of organic and suspended solids in the

water that results from the debris, fallen trees and leaves or chemical substances from the

plantation discharge into the river and stream (Michaud, 1991; Chapman, 1996; Shah et al.,

2006). The water at downstream is more turbid due to high amount of organic loads that

transported from both upstream and land, hence the level of oxygen is depleted (Ewa et al.,

2011). Less species of fishes are found due to insufficient of oxygen in water. Furthermore, soil

6

erosion and abundance of algae and nutrient present in a habitat can increase the turbidity value

(Schrier-Uijl et al., 2013). Nevertheless, more species will be found if the water current is slow

due to the species inhabiting the habitat are intolerant to turbid condition (Reash & Pigg, 1990;

Kottelat et al., 1993; Shah et al., 2006).

2.3.2 Dissolved Oxygen

Ewa et al. (2011) found that dissolved oxygen in water is the measure of oxygen content within

the water body to sustain aquatic life and needed for the redox reaction. According to Shah et al.

(2006), slow water current yield higher of species diversity. Small movements of water will

increase the diffusion rate of oxygen occurred between the water surface and atmosphere, this

eventually promote oxygen into the water to sustain the living. There is realtionship between

dissolved oxygen and water temperature associated with the increasing of freshwater fish fauna

diversity and abundance. The range of temperature that suitable to sustain the live of aquatic

organisms is from 24ºC to 30ºC (Ewa et al., 2011). The biological activity in a habitat will be

affected by the increases of temperature due to the faster rate of chemical reaction occured and

drop of oxygen level (Michaud, 1991; Araoye, 2009). If there is movement of water current, the

the water temperature will be maintained and the dissolved oxygen level in water will be high.

When rain occured, the dissolved oxygen in water is increasing due to diffusion processes

(Mustapha, 2008). Conversely, a stagnant water due to the presence of vegetation likely to warm

the water since the water current is decreases. According to the studies of Ewa et al. (2011),

upstream has high dissolved oxygen due to low temperature and pH whereas downstream has

low dissolved oxygen due to consumption for the redox reactions and decomposition of organic

waste materilas from the land. However, when the water turbid, the sunlight is hardly to be

absorbed (Michaud, 1991). The freahwater fishes are able to survive from the dehydration or due

7

to overheat water. The water termperature will simultaneously changing due to either

anthropogenic or natural phenomena.

2.3.3 pH

According to the studies of Michaud (1991) and Ewa et al. (2011), the pH for natural water is

approximately 6.5 to 8.5 based on the standard of WHO (World Health Organization) of

drinking water. Most of the freshwater have neutral pH which is 7. According to Michaud

(1991), evaluation of pH in the water can determined the biological activity involving the

availability of heavy metals and nutrients. Discharged of chemical agents such as fertilizers,

herbicides or insecticides (Schrier-Uijl et al., 2013) into the streams or rivers can influence the

pH of the water bodies which obtained from the groundwater with high organic and dissolved

substances (Choi et al., 1998). When the concentration of carbon dioxide is high due to the

respiration and decomposition processes, and hence decreases pH of water (Michaud, 1991;

Araoye, 2009). However, water pH decreases when the concentration of hydrogen ion and

dissolved oxygen is high due to the photosynthesis process of the phytoplankton and aquatic

plants as well as the other factors such as the availability of light, temperature, turbidity and

abundance of aquatic species in a habitat (Araoye, 2009; Michaud, 1991). According to Araoye

(2009), dissolved oxygen and pH is positively associated. When the dissolved oxygen level in

the water is high, the carbon in the water mostly been consumed by aquatic plants and the excess

of carbon dioxide will be used to transport the heavy metal in both river and stream. As a result,

the pH will increase to become slightly alkaline. On the other hand, the pH of water will decline

due to the rainy season (Araoye, 2009). The river and stream are affected by the acid rain which

eventually changes the pH of the water bodies. However, the pH will be maintained since the

freshwater act as “shock absorber” to give a preferable water pH for surviving of the aquatic

8

organisms (Michaud, 1991; Mustapha, 2008). Most of the aquatic organisms are pH dependent,

hence any changes of pH in the streams and rivers will affect their metabolic activities (Ewa et

al., 2011).

2.3.4 Total Suspended Solids

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) test measures an actual weight of material per volume of water.

Higher of TSS value shows a higher rate of sedimentation which will deteriorate the habitat of

aquatic life (Reash & Pigg, 1990; Michaud, 1991; Chapman, 1996; Ewa et al., 2011). Higher

TSS value means that the sunlight penetrate into the water causing the aquatic plants, particularly

phytoplankton are unable to undergo photosynthesis and this will disturb the whole ecology of

habitat since plants are the major important in a food chains. From the study of Ewa et al.

(2011), downstream has high level of organic load, indecated the TSS is high at that region. In

addition, high value of TSS test also indicates pollution in the streams or rivers. Increase amount

of particulate matter will increase the growth of algae in water column. If the algae are edible to

freshwater fish fauna, the diversity of species will be more. Oil palm plantation requires the use

of insecticide, herbicides and fertilizer to produce high yield of oil palm production (Schrier-Uijl

et al., 2013). These chemical agents will be discharge into the river and stream and increase the

TSS value which influences the freshwater ecosystem and habitat of freshwater fish fauna.

Organic waste, debris, fallen branches of trees and leaves will increase the TSS value in the

water and this consequently lead to habitat changing and influence the riverine ecosystem

(Michaud, 1991; Manokaran, 1992; Kottelat et al., 1993; Shah et al., 2006).

9

3.0 Methodology

3.1 Sampling Site

Wilmar PPB Oil Palm BERHAD was involved in oil palm cultivation since 1986 with the

acquisition of an interest in SAREMAS estate located between Miri and Bintulu. The operation

of Wilmar PPB in Sarawak owns about 38,000 hectares of oil palm plantation. The operating

unit of Wilmar divided into four categories: Saremas Oil palm Mill (N 3º31’29.561”, E

113º44’50.147”), Saremas 1 Estate (N 3º31’18.611”, E 113º45’23.484”), Suai Plantation (N

3º35’41.223”, E 113º 44’21.884”) and Saremas 2 Estate (N 3º30’22.422”, E 113º 47’55.555”)

(Figure 1). Wilmar oil palm plantation zone was selected for this study. Samplings were done

twice to obtain the samples as well as the physicochemical properties of water. The oil palm

plantation can be accessed by small roads. There are conservation areas within this agriculture

zone for maintain the biodiversity of flora and fauna in that area. The study was carried out at the

selected streams and rivers in the Wilmar oil palm plantation zone. The positions of selected

sites were determined using Global Positioning System (GPS) of Garmin 60cxs model (Table 1).

Table 1.0: Selected stations and the conditions of the sites

Stations GPS Coordination Descriptions

Station 1 –

Saremas 1

N 03º34’05.6”

E 113 º46’03.6”

Stream with 1 ft depth, stagnant water, slightly

turbid, rocky zone, muddy. Gear samplings used

were scoop nets and cast net.

Station 2 –

Batu River 1

Saremas 2

N 03 º30’51.5”

E 113 º48’15.4”

Stream with 1ft depth, fast flowing water, rocky

zone and area surrounded by vegetation, slippery.

Gear samplings used were scoop nets and cast

net.

Station 3 -

Aquarium River,

Saremas 2,

Division2

N 03 º29’15.5”

E 113 º49’45.1”

Stream with 1 ft depth, clear water, vegetation,

located near the pond. Gear samplings surrounded

by used were scoop nets and cast net.

10

Station 4 -

Suai River

N 03 º 28.442”

E 113 º46.607”

River with approximately 10 ft depth, rocky area,

turbid water, slow movement of water,

surrounded by vegetation. Gear samplings used

three-layer gill nets.

Station 5 –

Sebilak River,

Saremas 2

N 03 º32’02.5”

E 113 º46’10.8”

River with approximately 10 ft depth, turbid

water, slow-moving water, high tide, surrounded

by long grass, under the bridge. Gear samplings

used were three-layer gill net.

Station 6 –

Batu River,

Saremas 2,

Division 4

N 03 º30’02.5”

E 113 º49’14.9”

The size of the river is small with length about

3.5m to 4m,depth about 1 ft to 2 ft and

surrounded by vegetation. The water was slightly

turbid and with many decomposed materials such

as leaves and tree branches.

Station 7 –

Linau River,

Saremas 2,

Division 2

N 03 º30’09.8”

E 113 º49’15.9”

River with depth about 1.2 m to 1.4m, length

about 4m to 5m was located under the bridge,

surrounded by vegetation such as mosses. The

water was slightly turbid and slow moving.

Station 8 –

Sibau River

(Point 1)

N 03 º56’’34.0”

E 113 º27’09.3”

The River with depth 1.5m and length about 4.5

m located at muddy area and surrounded by

vegetation. The water was slow-moving and

slightly turbid.

(Point 2)

N 03 º32’02.5”

E 113 º46’10.8”

The river with depth 5.5m and length about 4m to

5m located at muddy area and surrounded by

vegetation. The water was slow-moving and

slightly turbid.

(Point 3)

N 03 º32.02.1”

E 113 º46.10.6”

The river with depth about 1.5m to 2m and length

about 4m to 5m located at muddy area and

surrounded by vegetation. The water was slow-

moving and slightly turbid.

Station 9 –

Linau River,

Saremas 2,

Division 1

(Point 1 and 2)

N 03 º30’54.8”

E 113 º47’13.8”

River located near the plantation area with depth

about 1.8m and length about 5m to 5.5m. The

river has slow-moving water, slightly muddy and

turbid. The river surrounded with vegetation such

as ferns.

(Point 3)

N 03º28’11.5”

E 113 º47.10.7”

The river depth about 2m and length about 5m.

Near plantation area and has slow-moving water,

slightly muddy and turbid, surrounded with fern

vegetation.

11

Figure 1.0: Map showing the sampling sites of Wilmar oil palm plantation area

ST 9

ST 8

ST 7 ST 6

ST 7

ST 5

ST 2

ST 3 ST 4

ST 1

N

12

3.2 Physiochemical parameters

3.2.1 Turbidity meter

Turbidity meter (Eutech instruments) was used to determine the transparency of water, a

measurement of the amount of light absorbed and scattered by particles in the samples

(Michaud, 1991). If the water has higher turbidity, the water quality will be low. Turbidity

meter was used to determine the water quality of the streams and rivers to investigate the

relationship between the water turbidity and ecology of freshwater fish fauna.

3.2.2 Dissolved oxygen meter

Dissolved oxygen (DO) meter (Sper Scientific model 850041) was used to determine the

amount of dissolved oxygen in the water or the amount of oxygen that the water can attained.

3.2.3 pH meter

The pH meter (probe Martini model Mi105) was used to measure the concentration of hydrogen

ion in the water sample, and the temperature probe was used to measure the temperature of the

water.

3.2.4 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) analysis

The ( ) bottle was measured with DO meter to record the final data. The water sample was

poured into the filtration set with filter paper within it. The filter paper was heated inside an

oven with a temperature of 103 º – 105 C for 24 hours. The weight of the filter paper with the

TSS present was measured and determined. The TSS analysis related to the turbidity of the lake

to show a relationship between each other.

13

3.3 Fish sampling and identification

Fish sampling tools such as scoop nets, cast net and there layer gill net (4cm x 14cm x 4cm)

were used to collect the fish samples. Samples were calculated and measured externally and

recorded the weight using electronic balance (Model FX-1200) and length by using ruler. Length

of the freshwater fish was measured for their total length (centimeter), standard length

(centimeter) and forked length (centimeter). The samples were separated according to the species

and identified by using book and journals. Then, the samples were preserved with 70% of

ethanol solution. Samples were then placed separately according to the different stations and

labeled with details such as the sampling site, date of sample collection, common local name

used in the region and collector‘s name. All the samples were kept in a cooling box. The samples

were continued identifying in the laboratory by observing the fish’s detail such as the number of

scale to the lateral line, the presence of spots or black line, the number and position of dorsal fin,

the shape of the mouth, head and caudal fins, the presence of snout, the shape of the body, and

presence of barbel with the aid of information from the collection of fish species that were stored

in the museum laboratories, identified and determined by using authentic recognized books such

as Kottelat et al.(1993), Inger and Chin (2002) and Atack (2006).

14

3.4 Data analysis

The abundance and diversity of fish species was subjected to different biodiversity indices such

as Shannon – Wiener Index (H); Pielou’s Evenness; Margalef’s Index (Emmanuel & Modupe,

2010; Vijaylaxmi et al., 2010; Nyanti, 2012).

3.4.4 Shannon – Wiener Index

The Shannon – Wiener Index was used to evaluate the species diversity and species richness

from the population of fish samples (Heip & Engels, 1974; Emmanuel & Modupe, 2010;

Vijaylaxmi et al., 2010; Nyanti, 2012)

H’ = ~∑

Where,

H’ = Shannon – Wiener Index

n = Number of individual of each species

N = Total number of species in the samples

Documents

Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in ... and Abundance of Freshwater Fish Fauna in... · Diversity and abundance of freshwater fish fauna in fragmented forest of Wilmar