Distribution of total dissolved phosphorus and orthophosphates in Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu, South China Sea

Abstract

This study is mainly aimed to study the distribution of phosphorus during Southwest monsoon, Inter-monsoon, and Northeast monsoon. The sampling stations were visited three times from September to December 2006. Fourteen sampling stations were established and the water samplers of these stations were taken at mid-depth due to the shallowness of lagoon area. The first sampling was carried out on 13 September 2006. The mean values of orthophosphate and total phosphorus during first sampling were 2.42 ± 0.6lμM and 11.29 ± 3.15μM respectively. The second sampling was conducted on the 12 October 2006. The mean values of orthophosphate and total phosphorus during second sampling were 1.17 ± 0.52μM and 7.07 ± 4.73μM respectively. The third sampling was carried out on 14 December 2006. In general, the mean values of orthophosphate and total phosphorus during third sampling were 0.98 ± 0.44 μMand 4.07 ± l.41μM respectively. The statistic analysis had suggested that the orthophosphate (p= 0.052) and total phosphorus (p= 0.230) had no significant difference (p>0.05) among stations. Orthophosphate (p= 0.000), and total phosphorus (p= 0.001) indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) among the first, second and third samplings. Generally, the nitrogen concentration in Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu was higher than the phosphorus concentration throughout this study.