Ecology of bivalves in the lagoon area of Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

A study on ecology of bivalves in the lagoon area of Setiu Wetland, Terengganu was conducted in two months interval for a year (July, September, November 2011 and January, March, May 2012). The study was conducted in order to determine the taxonomic classification of bivalves; to determine their spatial and temporal abundance; and to determine the relationship between the abundance of bivalve and environmental parameters in the lagoon area of Setiu Wetland. There were several distinguised lagoon habitats, which were ranged from brackish and freshwater of subtidal area to the intertidal habitat of mangrove forest (mixed mangrove trees and Nypa stands) and adjacent area of exposed muddysandy intertidal flat. Eleven sampling stations (St.) were selected along the lagoon (from Beting Lintang at the northern to Kg. Penarik at the southern). St. 1, St. 2, St. 3, St. 4, St. 5 and St. 7 were located at the brackish subtidal area while St. 9, St. 10, and St. 11 at the freshwater subtidal area.