Determination of nutrient distribution around the coastal waters of Bidong Island, Terengganu

Abstract

Bidong Island is located at the coastal waters of Terengganu. This study is to determine the nutrients and chlorophyll-a concentration in the waters around the Bidong Island. Two sampling trip were conducted on 25 th March 2010 and 8 th July 2010 to collect water samples from eight predetermined transect with four stations each. The water samples are filtered with a GFC filter paper and preserved with acid and stored for further analysis. Methods by Parson et al. and APHA are used to determine the chlorophyll-a, nitrate, nitrite, amoniacal-nitrogen and orthophosphate concentration of the water samples. The average chlorophyll-a concentration during first and second sampling are 287.24 ± 132.19 μg/L and 313.14 ± 104.62 μg/L respectively. The mean and standard deviation for the concentration of nitrates during the first and second sampling are 151.85 ± 4.88 μg/L and 95.89 ± 12.05 μg/L respectively. The average concentration of nitrite during first and second sampling is at 36.82 ± 2.10 μg/L during first sampling and 40.86 ± 2.93 μg/L. As for ammoniacal-nitrogen, the mean during the first sampling is 16.79 ± 7.09 μg/L and 33.43 ± 4.68 μg/L during the second sampling. Last but not least is orthophosphate where its average concentrations for the first and second sampling are 25.41 ± 8.05 μg/L and 16.91 ± 3.88 μg/L respectively. No visible land based effect can be observed throughout the stations in each transect. All the nutrients level in the study area did not exceed the prescribed safety level.