Phytoplankton abundance, distribution and species composition at Teluk Kalung, Kemaman, Terengganu

Abstract

This findihg of this study is to provide the current status of phytoplankton community in tenn of abundance, species composition and distribution. In order to study the alien species identification, this study can be used as baseline data to determine the native species that already present at Teluk Kalong's waters. This study was conducted at Teluk Kalong, Kemaman, Terengganu. The in situ. parameter did not affect the phytoplankton density and distribution. A total of 3 Phyla, 4 Classes, 33 Family and 44 Genus of phytoplankton were recorded. For species composition, it was distributed evenly based on its appearance in the mesh size. 24.14% - 37.93% portion of phytoplankton presence in 60μm. 27.59% - 43.10% of phytoplankton filtered in 40μm and 29.41% - 36.36% in 20μm. Phytoplankton density ranging from 1743.432 Nat. Unit/L to 8906.493 Nat. Unit/L. Station 3, 12, and 14 has highest densities, which the nearest station to the land. Bacillariophyceae, 84.53%, dominated by Guinardia sp. and Rizhosolenia, was the highest percentage in all station, followed by Cyanophyceae, by 10.50%, Dinophyceae by 4.06% which dominated by Dinophysis sp. and Ceratium sp., and Dictyochophyceae by 0.003%. Value of 3.42 in station 3 had the highest diversity while for 2.78 and 2.96 in stations 5 and station 8, had the lowest diversity of phytoplankton. The value of the phytoplankton diversity was grouped under second Diversity Form, which is rich in diversity. In this study, none of the phytoplankton was new in the Teluk Kalong waters.