Spatial And Temporal Variations Of Nutrients In Setiu-Merang Coastal River And Its Estuarine Lagoon, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Setiu-Bari-Chalok-Merang (Setiu-Merang) coastal river and its estuarine lagoon (Setiu Wetlands Lagoon-SWL) are located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is an important coastal zone subjected to increased anthropogenic influences. The rivers and lagoon in Setiu play an important role in local social economic development. However, these waterways had encountered huge pollution challenges from various anthropogenic inputs. Its pollution sources, fate and transport in both surface water and groundwater have not yet been investigated in detail.

Hence, the primary objective of this thesis is to study the spatio-temporal distribution trends of selected nutrients species (NH4+- -N, NO3- -N, NO23- -N, PO4-P) in both Setiu-Merang Rivers and lagoon and its relationship in association with land use changes, geomorphological alteration and seasonality. In addition, a study on the surface water-groundwater interaction was conducted in one of tributaries, Ular River to evaluate the magnitude of nutrient input through the groundwater discharge and its effect to the surface water quality in SWL.