Macrobenthos distribution and posible alien species at Teluk Kalong coastal water, Terengganu

Abstract

A study on the macrobenthos distributionand diversity was conducted at Teluk Kalung coastal water. A total number of 15 stations had been plotted in offshore area of Teluk Kalung. The macrobenthos samples were collected by using Smith McIntyre grab. Macrobenthos then were been preserved in 10 % formalin and been brought to laboratory for further analysis. Highest total of macrobenthos density was at Station 7 (1155.87 ± 854.2 ind/ m2). Station 13 with (90.68 ± 100.17 ind/m2 ) had the lowest value for total density of macrobenthos. The dominant phylum included phylum Annelida, Arthropoda, and Mollusca. Class Polychaeta under Phylum Annelida showed high density at all station except station 15 and 5. Phylum Nematode had the lowest density. At about 287 different organisms collected and 66 were been identified until species level. The diversity index (H') showed range between 0.98 ± 1.19 to 1.68 ± 1.78 and evenness index (J') between 0.23 ± 0.28 to 0.39 ± 0.42 respectively. The Bray-Curtis similarity indicates that there was 4 group of macrobenthos at similarity at 70%. The group shared the similar pattern of distribution. Geographical distribution was used as one of the criteria to determine the nativeness of a species. From 66 species level identified, only 11 species was possible to be known as non-native.