Appl. Biol. (June 2004) 33(1): 7-12
EFFECTS OF THERMAL EFFLUENT DISCHARGE ON ESTUARINE FISH COMMUNITY IN KAPAR, MALAYSIA
SAMAT, A.*, 'MOHD-ROZALI, B.O., ASMIZAH, B.I. and WAN-LOTFI, W.M.
School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences
'School of Chemical Science & Food Technology
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 Bangi, Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
• influence of thermal discharge from a power plant on fish fauna within the vicinity of the discharge point was stigated. A total of twenty-four species of fish were recorded and the community was dominated by Arius maculatus 50%) followed by Johnius belangerii (16%) and Setipinna taty (14%). This number was at least two-fold lower than typical fish diversity in mangrove habitats in this part of the region. Elevated water temperature above ambient (as i as 40°C at certain points) is suggested as the most probable reason for the low fish fauna diversity within the area. *5 maculatus seemed to be the only species that are well adapted to the relatively higher temperature environment, the affected area is an open marine system, it is expected that any fishes that cannot tolerate this thermal pollution .Id have migrated from the area.
ABSTRAK
Kesan perlepasan haba dari satu stesen janakuasa ke atas fauna ikan di sekitar titik perlepasannya telah dikaji. Sebanyak z_2 puluh empat spesies ikan telah direkodkan dan komuniti ini didominasi oleh Arius maculatus (>50%) diikuti Johnius '•flangerii (16%) dan Setipinna taty (14%). Jumlah ini adalah dua kali lebih rendah dari keanekaan ikan yang biasa isrdapat di dalam habitat-habitat bakau di rantau ini. Kenaikan suhu air di atas paras di sekeliling (sehingga setinggi -!; C di sesetengah bahagian) merupakan alasan paling mungkin mengapa keanekaan fauna ikan di sekitar kawasan ini rendah. Arius maculatus nampaknya menjadi spesies tunggal yang telah dapat menyesuaikan diri dalam persekitaran dengan suhu relatif yang lebih tinggi. Oleh kerana kawasan yang terjejas adalah suatu sistem marin terbuka, adalah dijangka rahawa ikan yang tidak dapat bertahan dengan pencemaran haba ini telahpun keluar dari kawasan berkenaan.
Key words: Thermal effluent, fish community, Malaysia.
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