A study on density and diversity of benthic fauna at aquaculture area in Setiu, Terengganu

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the density, diversity and alteration of species composition of macrofauna and meiofauna in nearby stations and also with distance to the aquaculture cages in Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu. The macrobenthos of Phylum Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Nemertea and the meiobenthos of Phylum Arthropoda, Nematoda, Annelida and Nauplii were determined. Multivariate analysis revealed that there were significant differences in macrobenthos composition during both samplings between samples taken near and far to the cages but there were no clear patches of meiofauna. Meiofauna only showed a significant reflects to the changes of physicochemical parameters on November with 1,972,121 (ind. /m 2 ) found during first sampling and decreased to 1,570,909 (ind. /m 2 ) during second sampling. Instead, macrofauna did not show significant reflects to the physicochemical changes. Total density (ind. /m 2 ) of macrobenthos during first sampling was 5,020 (ind. /m 2 ) and 6,412 2 (ind. /m ) macrobentos found during second sampling.