IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY ON SEAGRASS MEADOW AT TANJUNGKUPANG

SHAIKHAH BINTI SABRI

A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the award the degree of the

Master of Engineering (Civil-Environmental Management)

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

November, 2009

iii

To my beloved family and friends

Thank you for everything

“Today we are nobody but tomorrow we will be somebody”

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, a very grateful to Allah gives me the ability to finish up my final

master project. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd

Ismid Mohd Said as final project’s supervisor for his valuable time, guidance, advice

and critics in fulfill the study. Also a million thanks to my co-supervisor Dr. Shamila

Azman for her encouragement, guidance and friendship throughout the course of this

study. Not forgetful my friends and colleagues for their patience and cooperation

during the entire study making process.

I am also would like to thank to staffs and technicians of Universiti Teknologi

Malaysia’s Environmental Laboratory who provided assistance and shared the

information that I needed.

Last but not least, my appreciative to all my family members for their support

and encouraging me to finish up my study.

v

ABSTRACT

Seagrasses which colonize near shore ecosystem may be used as indicator of

environmental health since it is vulnerable to the changes of water and environmental

quality. Six species of seagrasses were found at Tanjung Kupang, Johor which are

identified as Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor, Halophila spinulosa, Enhalus

acoroides, Halodule pinifolia and Thalassia hemprichii. Meanwhile three species

were found at Teluk Buih, Mersing identified as Enhalus acoroides, Halodule

pinifolia and Cymodocea rotundata. Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Hg) were

analyzed using ICPMS and Halophila minor have the highest accumulation of heavy

metal among the species. Thalassia hemprichii turned out to be strongest

accumulator for Cd (0.016 mg/g dry weight) and Halophila ovalis for Hg (0.044

mg/g dry weight). The results obtained for water quality analysis exceeded the

Interim Marine Water Quality Standard except for Pb (0.0014 to 0.0066 mg/L) and

Total Cr (0.1486 to 0.105 mg/L). Dredging activities for land reclamation could be a

possible release of heavy metals to the seawater since the concentration of heavy

metal decrease in the following order: sediment > water > seagrass leaves. Therefore,

Halophila minor has the potential to be used as bioindicator since it accumulates

higher concentration of heavy metal compared to other species. Two rivers, Sungai

Pok Besar and Sungai Pok Kecil, situated near the seagrass bed is classified as Class

III based on Water Quality Index.

vi

ABSTRAK

Rumput laut yang tumbuh di kawasan perairan di pesisir pantai boleh

digunakan sebagai petunjuk kepada tahap pencemaran kerana hidupan ini sangat

sensitif terhadap perubahan kualiti air dan persekitaran. Enam spesies rumput laut

yang dijumpai di Tanjung Kupang, Johor dikenalpasti sebagai Halophila ovalis,

Halophila minor, Halophila spinulosa, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia dan

Thalassia hemprichii. Sementara itu, tiga spesies yang dijumpai di Teluk Buih,

Mersing direkodkan sebagai Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia dan Cymodocea

rotundata. As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb dan Hg dianalisis menggunakan ICPMS dan Halophila

minor menunjukkan bacaan kandungan logam berat paling tinggi berbanding spesies

lain, Thalassia hemprichii pula mengumpulkan kandungan logam berat bagi Cd

(0.016 mg/g berat kering) dan Halophila ovalis untuk Hg (0.044 mg/g berat kering).

Keputusan yang didapati untuk analisis kualiti air melebihi Piawaian Interim Kualiti

Air Laut kecuali plumbum (0.0014 – 0.0066 mg/L) and Jumlah Kromium (0.1486 –

0.105 mg/L). Aktiviti pengorekkan untuk tebusguna tanah dikenalpasti sebagai

penyumbang kehadiran logam berat di dalam air laut kerana kandungan logam berat

berkurang mengikut aturan berikut: tanah > air > rumput laut. Oleh itu, Halophila

minor mempunyai potensi untuk digunakan sebagai penunjuk biologi kerana

mengumpul kandungan logam berat paling tinggi berbanding spesies rumput laut

lain. Dua buah sungai, Sungai Pok Besar dan Sungai Pok Kecil yang terletak

berhampiran dengan hamparan rumput laut dikenalpasti berada dalam Kelas III

berdasarkan Indeks Kualiti Air.

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

TITLE i

DECLARATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xii

LIST OF SYMBOL xiv

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Preface 1

1.2 Seagrass Distribution 2

1.3 Problem Statement 3

1.4 Objective of Study 4

1.5 Study Area 5

1.6 Scope of Study 7

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.1 Overview 8

2.2 Characteristics of Seagrass 9

2.2.1 Seaweeds 12

viii

2.3 Growth Requirements 12

2.4 The Significance of Seagrass 13

2.4.1 Marine Life Associated with Seagrass 14

2.5 Threats to Seagrass 17

2.5.1 Natural Threats 17

2.5.2 Eutrophication 17

2.5.3 Dredging 18

2.5.4 Boating 19

2.6 Physical Water Quality Parameter 19

2.6.1 Total Suspended Solid 19

2.6.2 Turbidity 20

2.6.2 Temperature 21

2.7 Chemical Water Quality Parameter 21

2.7.1 Dissolved Oxygen 22

2.7.2 Biochemical Oxygen Demand 22

2.7.3 Chemical Oxygen Demand 23

2.7.4 pH 23

2.7.5 Nutrients 24

2.7.5.1 Phosphorus 24

2.7.5.2 Ammoniacal Nitrogen 25

2.7.6 Heavy Metal 25

2.7.6.1 Arsenic (As) 26

2.7.6.2 Cadmium (Cd) 27

2.7.6.3 Total chromium 27

2.7.6.4 Copper (Cu) 28

2.7.6.5 Lead (Pb) 28

2.7.6.6 Mercury (Hg) 29

2.7.7 Oil and Grease 30

2.8 Marine Water Quality Standards 31

2.8.1 Malaysia Interim Marine Water Quality

Standards32

2.8.2 Marine Water Quality Criteria for the

ASEAN Region32

ix

2.8.3 Singapore Marine Water Quality Criteria 33

2.9 United Kingdom Interim Marine Sediment Quality

Guidelines (ISQG)33

3 METHODOLOGY 35

3.1 Study Area 35

3.2 Sample Preparation 37

3.2.1 Water Sample 38

3.2.2 Seagrass Specimens and Sediment 40

3.3 Analysis of Samples 41

3.4 Chemical Analysis 42

4 RESULT AND ANALYSIS 43

4.1 Introduction 43

4.2 Specimen Identification 43

4.3 Marine Life at Tanjung Kupang 52

4.4 Water Quality Analysis 53

4.4.1 Oil and Grease 56

4.4.2 Total Suspended Solid 56

4.4.3 Ammoniacal Nitrogen and Phosphorus 57

4.5 Heavy Metals in Water 59

4.6 Heavy Metals in Sediment 63

4.7 Heavy Metals in Seagrass 64

4.8 Development Adjacent to the Seagrass Meadow 67

4.9 Overall Discussion 72

5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 75

5.1 Introduction 75

5.2 Recommendation 76

REFERENCES 77

x

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

2.1 The common seagrass species in Malaysia and theiridentification features (Save Our Seahorse Handbook,2006)

11

2.2 The differences between seagrass and marine algae(Seagrass-Watch, 2008)

12

2.3 List of marine life supported by a seagrass bed 15

2.4 Malaysia Interim Marine Water Quality Standard(Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia, 2004)

31

2.5 Marine Water Quality Criterion for ASEAN region(Association of Southeast Asian Nation, 2009) 32

2.6 Summary of criteria for site selection for floating netcagefarming (Singapore Fisheries and AquacultureDepartment, 2009)

33

2.7 Interim Marine Sediment Quality Guidelines (UK MarineSpecial Areas of Conservation) 34

3.1 (a) Schedule of sampling at Tanjung Kupang(b) Schedule of sampling at Teluk Buih, Mersing

38

3.2 Analytical procedures (Standard Method AmericanPublic Health Association, 2005) 42

4.1 Specimen identification based on acknowledged speciesby previous study at seagrass meadow Tanjung Kupangand Teluk Buih, Mersing

45

4.2 List of marine life found during survey at seagrassmeadow 52

4.3 Water quality result of Sungai Pok Kecil and Sungai PokBesar

53

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4.4 Result of water quality parameter based on IMWQS andAMWQC at Teluk Buih 54

4.5 Result of water quality parameter based on IMWQS andAMWQC at Tanjung Kupang 55

4.6 Heavy metal concentration at Sungai Pok Kecil andSungai Pok Besar 59

4.7 Heavy metal concentration and Teluk Buih 61

4.8 Heavy metal concentration at Tanjung Kupang 62

4.9 Concentration of metals (mg g-1 dry weight) in thesediment which evaluate to United Kingdom interimmarine sediment quality guidelines (ISQG)

63

4.10 Concentration of metals (mg g-1 dry weight) in thedifferent species of seagrass 66

4.11 Land use in Tanjung Pelepas Zone (MBJBT, 2008) 68

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE

1.1Seagrass distribution at Malaysia (The Encyclopedia ofMalaysia, The Seas, 2001) 3

1.2The position of study area that is near to Pulai Riverestuary, Second Link Bridge and Singapore 5

1.3Location of seagrass field and sampling location

6

3.1

Station 1 for water quality at Sungai Pok estuary. Theland is fully covered with riverbank vegetation especiallymangrove

35

3.2Second station for water quality measurement at seagrassbed 36

3.3Merambong Island as the third sampling station; inhabitsa lot of unique species. 36

3.4

(a) Upstream of Sungai Pok Besar used as boat parkingbay by local fisherman and (b) is downstream of theriver.

37

3.5

(a) Upstream of Sungai Pok Kecil and (b) is downstreamof the river. The river is surrounding by palm oilplantation.

37

3.6:Multi-Parameter Analyzer-Consort 535 that has used tomeasure the pH level on surface water 39

3.7YSI probe to determine concentration of dissolvedoxygen 39

3.8Secchi disk used to measure the depth of turbidity in thewater column at Merambong Island 40

3.9Seagrass leaves ((a) Halophila ovalis and (b) Halophilaspinulosa) that have been preserved in formalin andplaced in glass bottles

41

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3.10Digestion process using open beaker technique on hotplate 41

4.1

(a) Current condition of coastal line near seagrassmeadow while (b) is the future development which underTanjung Pelepas industrial region

69

4.2Existing and future development of Port Tanjung Pelepaswith potential expansion up to 95 berths 71

4.3

Several creatures that can found from seagrass areawhere (a) is Holothuria leucospilota, (b) is Stichodactylagigantean meanwhile (c) Sabella spallanzanii, (d) isProtoreastar nodosus, (e) Purple Climber Crab and (f)Hippocampus kuda.

74

xiv

LIST OF SYMBOLS

AMWQC ASEAN Marine Water Quality Criteria

AN Ammoniacal Nitrogen

As Arsenic

BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Cd Cadmium

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand

Cr Chromium

Cu Copper

DO Dissolved Oxygen

DOE Department of Environment Malaysia

Hg Mercury

IMWQS Interim Marine Water Quality Standard

INWQS Interim Water Quality Standard

Pb Lead

SOS Save Our Seahorse

UTM Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

WQI Water Quality Index

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Preface

Increasing human populations associated with port expansion, urbanization,

industrial development and agricultural activities along the Johor Strait especially at

Pulai River have focused intention on the risk of those activities to the estuaries and

coastal. The largest seagrass bed in Peninsular Malaysia located in the coastal area

of Johor, situated between Merambong Island and Tanjung Kupang. The green

carpet in the sea could very well be a submerged is vegetation “bridge” connecting

southwest Johor to Tuas in Singapore, given its sheer size of 38ha (New Strait

Times, 2008). 60% of Malaysia’s natural wetlands are located in Johor including the

seagrass sites. It supports a rich biodiversity such as seaweeds, sea cucumbers and

fishes that are facing the competition between development and preservation of

natural ecosystem.

Generally, the seagrass meadow are very important ecosystems especially for

the fishing industry and therefore for food supplies, beside to ensure stabilisation of

the coast as an important characteristic in view of rising sea levels and protection

against coastal erosion. Moreover, the area also identified as habitat for rare marine

animals like seahorses, pipefish and dugongs. There are between 70-76 species of

fish in 41 families that have been observed in the seagrass beds and the adjacent

mangrove areas in Tanjung Adang-Merambong (Aziz et al., 2006). Even with its

importance role in food production, climate regulation, genetic resources and

recreations, there have been minimal attempt to conserve the seagrass. According to

2

Choo (2006) the disappearance of a huge tract of seagrass bed was due to

reclamation works by Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the Second Link project, a

coal-fired power plant and a petrochemical hub. However the results have not been

revealed.

Seagrass is identified as an aquatic flowering plant which lives completely

submerged under saline environment. These marine angiosperms include 12 genera,

which 7 are characteristic of the tropics; Halodule, Cymodocea, Syringodium,

Thalassondendron, Enhalus, Thalasia and Halophila. Meanwhile 5 others are

confined to temperate waters which are Zostera, Phyllospadix, Heterozostera,

Posidonia, and Amphibolis (Mann, 2000).

1.2 Seagrass Distribution

Worldwide there are 60 described seagrass species and majority of species

are found in the Indo-Pacific region where most of them grow in silty or sandy

sediment (Choo, 2006). Australia was identified to have more seagrass species

compared to other continent where 30 species can found there. Meanwhile, in

Malaysia the occurrence of seagrass are scattered at 78 sites which involves

mangroves, coral reefs, shallow inter-tidals, semi-enclosed lagoons and shoals areas

(Japar et al., 2000). Along the west coast, mixed species of seagrass inhabit from

sandy mud of Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi Island to sand-covered corals at Teluk

Kemang, Negeri Sembilan and extend till Serimbun Island in Malacca. At depths of

2-2.7 m at Tanjung Kupang-Merambong area, the largest and highest numbers of

seagrass species grows on calcareous sandy mud sub-tidal shoals.

At the east coastline, there are several species of seagrass that can be found

which populate on substrates of fine sand along shallow inland coastal lagoons from

Pengkalan Nangka, Kelantan to Paka, Terengganu. Meanwhile at Sibu Island,

Tengah Island, Besar Island, Tinggi Island, Redang Island, Tioman Island and

Perhentian Island, the seagrass communities occur in the water off-shore with

3

fringing coral reefs. In Sarawak, the presences of seagrass recorded at Bintulu River

and estuary area of Punang-Sari- Lawas. The substrates of sand, muddy-sand and

coral rubble of the inter-tidal region support the mixed species of seagrass along the

west and south-eastern coast of Sabah. Figure 1.1 shows the major location of

seagrass ecosystems in Malaysia.

Figure 1.1: Seagrass distribution at Malaysia (The Encyclopedia of Malaysia, TheSeas, 2001)

1.3 Problem Statement

Coastal environments are subjected to contamination especially metals

through inputs from point sources and diffuse sources which transported via river

discharge and atmospheric deposition. The pollution entering in coastal systems will

incorporated into biota and may interferences the chemical and biological processes

in the water column, sediments and biota. Meanwhile, seagrasses are the least

studied and least protected among marine habitat and they are very sensitive and

vulnerable to the changes of water and environmental quality. Hence, seagrasses

which colonize near coastal ecosystem have potential as indicator of environmental

4

health. Pulai River’s mangrove forest is the most extensive wetland site in Malaysia

and exposed to human activities at Pulai River catchment area. The lost of mangrove

which act as buffer zone may propel sediment loading and siltation to seagrass bed

located near the Pulai River estuary.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) located at the mouth of Pulai River is included

under Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in order to enhance economic

achievement. It is a strategic location to develop a mega port since the Sungai Pulai

mouth is located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia and the confluence of the

international trade lanes which go right into one of the world's busiest route, the

Straits of Malacca (BERNAMA, 2007). In the other hand, the largest privatized

coal-fires power plant located at Tanjung Bin is on the opposite bank. The latest

development is an integrated petrochemical facility on 40.5ha of reclaimed island at

the estuary and it is expected to handle annually 60 million tones of petroleum

products - industrial and marine fuel oils, diesel, jet fuel and biodiesel (The Star,

2007). With all the activities occurring in the area it seem that the country’s most

extensive seagrass meadow ecosystem is in danger of being destroyed and requires

more intention to preserve the unique bio-ecology system.

1.4 Objective of Study

The objective of the study is to assess the seagrass occurrence at Tanjung

Kupang via the following evaluation:

1. To identify the marine life include plants and animals associated with

seagrass

2. To determine water quality at the surrounding area of seagrass meadow

3. To determine heavy metal concentration in sediment at seagrass meadow

4. To assess possibility of seagrass as bio-indicator of heavy metal

concentration through extraction of its leaves

5

1.5 Study Area

The study area is located near the Pulai River estuary (illustrated in Figure

1.2). It emphasizes the seagrass bed, which lay between Merambong Island and

Tanjung Kupang in given size of 38ha.

Figure 1.2: The position of study area that is near to Pulai River estuary, SecondLink Bridge and Singapore

There are only a few villages located along the coastal area nearby to the

seagrass bed which includes Kampung Tanjung Adang, Kampung Pok Besar and

Kampung Pok Kechil. Most of villagers are fisherman and some of them are

involved in agriculture and palm oil plantation. From Figure 1.3 several sampling

points have been chosen that is significant to the study located at the seagrass

meadow, Pok River and Pulai River estuary, Merambong Island, Tanjung Adang and

near the Second Link Bridge. Pok River is the nearest waterway which brings runoff

from inland waters. Therefore, water quality level at the river will also be taken into

consideration.

Seagrassmeadow

6

(a)

(b)

Figure 1.3: Location of seagrass field and sampling location

LEGEND:

Seagrass meadow

Water quality sampling pointpoint

Tanjung Binpower plant

Expansion of PTP

7

Johor Port at Pasir Gudang have expanded rapidly since it commencing

operation 1977 and growth prediction showed that the port would suffer capacity

problems by 2000 (Renkema and Kinlan, 2000). On 1990 the Johor Port Authority

start a study to find a site for a new port that can cater all future demands for cargo

traffic. Based on a site selection study, Tanjung Pelepas was selected as the most

strategic location for Johor’s new port because it protected by a deep water bay.

Moreover, it amidst the world busiest international shipping lane which guarantees a

good opportunity for it to become a port of call for ships passing through these

waters (Johor Port Authority, 2008). Nowadays, PTP have been covered on 1935

acre of reclamation land growth rapidly and in the year 2000, it was awarded ‘Best

Emerging Container Terminal’ on Llods list for excellent throughout its operations

(Johor Port Authority, 2008). In order to achieve world class port and fulfil the future

demand, PTP plans to expand their port up to 95 berths with terminal handling

capacity of 72 million TEUs. This future expansion area is including seagrass area

and if the plan is continue, the meadow will disappear forever.

1.6 Scope of Study

The study emphasizes on the following methodology analysis, which are:

1. In-situ and Ex-situ test; Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen

Demand (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), pH, salinity, phosphorus,

nitrogen, Suspended Solid (SS) and Secchi disk depth

2. Rapid assessment using time search method and fisheries sampling for

marine life identification

3. Analysis of seagrass based on extraction of leaves and sediment

4. Using secondary data to assess the future and current development at the

nearby area (Tanjung Pelepas, Tanjung Bin, Tanjung Adang and Tanjung

Kupang coastal area)

77

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