Malays. Appl. Biol. (2018) 47(1): 223–230
EFFECTS OF LAND USE ON FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN
INUNDATED AREA OF PLEIRAN RIVER AND DANUM RIVER
SECTIONS OF MURUM RESERVOIR, BELAGA, SARAWAK
ANGIE SAPIS1*, GABRIEL TONGA NOWEG2, LEE NYANTI1 and JONGKAR GRINANG2
1Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti of Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
2Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation,
Universiti of Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
*E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Accepted 13 February 2018, Published online 31 March 2018
ABSTRACT
Land use changes and degradation of riparian zone had been proven to have effects on water quality and eventually affecting fish communities of newly impounded tropical reservoirs. For the case of newly impounded Murum reservoir in Sarawak, Pleiran and Danum catchments showed a significant disturbance due to logging, plantation and subsistence farming. A drastic change of land use is observed in Pleiran catchment, whereas Danum catchment is relatively less disturbed. This study aims to investigate fish assemblages at inundated areas of both catchments for one year. A total of 5,367 individuals of fish representing 36 species and eight families were caught. Results of multivariate analysis showed significant land use changes in both catchments, which contribute to significant differences in water quality. Pleiran catchment had significantly higher water temperature and TSS, but lower concentrations of Chl-a and DO. While Danum catchment showed otherwise. In this relatively good aquatic environment, the fish assemblage comprising the intolerant species: Tor douronensis and Osteochilus spp. The results imply that conversion of forested area at riparian corridor to open area led to changes in physicochemical characteristics, and subsequently resulted in habitat partitioning by fish species according to their environmental tolerance limit.
Key words: Malaysian reservoir, fish composition, land use change, riparian zone
