Malays. Appl. Biol. (June 2003) 32(1): 51-60
INTERTIDAL MACROBENTHIC FAUNA: THE FOOD RESOURCES FOR MIGRATORY SHOREBIRDS IN KAPAR AND PANTAI REMIS, SELANGOR MALAYSIA
*RIAK, K.M, ISMAIL, A., ARSHAD, A. and ABDUL-RAHIM, I.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
ABSTRACT
A study was carried out during southward migration period of shorebirds (in 2001) to determine the composition of macrobenthic fauna, the natural food supply for shorebirds in the intertidal mudflats of Kapar and Pantai Remis, the Coast of Selangor. Samples of the infaunal and epifaunal organisms were taken from each of the study sites using quadrate technique along with line transect method. In total eight major taxa of benthic organisms viz Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Sipunculida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata and Chordata were recorded from both mudflat ecosystems. Gastropoda was the most diverse taxon recorded with 16 species belonging to 9 families. Other diverse species groups were the Crustacea (15 species, 7 families), Polychaeta (14 species, 6 families) and Bivalvia (10 species, 6 families). The diversity of macrobenthic species collected also varies considerably between study areas, being more diverse in mudflat of Pantai Remis (ft, 1.4) compared to Kapar (H, 1.3). Mean densities also varied significantly (P<0.01) between the sites being 340.96 ind.nr2 in Kapar and 472.6 ind.nr2 in Pantai Remis. Shorebirds species such as Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Great Knot were observed to pull out lampshell species and larger polychaetes from the mud. Similarly, Ruddy Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit and Plover species were observed to utilize various species of bivalves, crustaceans and polychaetes.
ABSTRAK
Satu kajian tentang burung-burung migrasi pantai telah dijalankan semasa musim perpindahan ke selatan (tahun 2001) di kawasan pasang surut pantai yang berlumpur di Kapar dan Pantai Remis, Selangor. Kajian ini adalah bagi menentukan kandungan fauna makrobentos, yang merupakan sumber makanan semulajadi utama bagi kumpulan burung-burung ini. Sampel organisma infauna dan epifauna telah diambil dari setiap kawasan ajian dengan menggunakan teknik kuadrat dan garis transek. Secara keseluruhan, sejumlah lapan taksa utama iaitu Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Sipunculida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata dan Chordata telah direkodkan daripada kedua-dua ekosistem pantai berlumpur tersebut. Gastropoda adalah merupakan taksa yang paling tinggi kepelbagaiannya dengan jumlah keseluruhan sebanyak 16 spesies dan terangkan di bawah 9 famili. Taksa lain yang tinggi kepelbagaiannya adalah Crustacea (15 spesies, 7 famili), Polychaeta (14 spesies, 6 famili) dan Bivalvia (10 spesies, 6 famili). Kepelbagaian spesies makrobentos yang dikumpul didapati berubah mengikut kawasan kajian, di mana ianya lebih tinggi di Pantai remis (ft, 1.4) dibandingkan dengan Kapar (H, 1.3). Min ketumpatan juga menunjukkan perbezaaan bererti (P<0.01) di antara kawasan kajian di mana Kapar menunjukkan nilai sebanyak 340.96 ind.nr2 dan Pantai Remis sebanyak 472.6 ind.nr2. Spesies burung laut seperti Numenius arquata, Numenius phaeopus, Limosa lapponica and Calidris tenuirostris dilihat memakan spesies 'lampshell' dan cacing polikit daripada Lumpur. Juga diperhatikan yang spesies Arenaria interpres, Limosa limosa dan Plover memakan dwicangkerang, krustasia dan polikit.
Key words: shorebirds, macrobenthic fauna, mudflat, Selangor Coast.
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