Authors : Mohamad Mustaqim Abdul Majid, Kamil Latif, Nurdiyana Ahmad Denil and Mohd Zafri Hassan
Abstract: Anthropogenic activities are increasingly growing in Bintulu area where residues and runoffs from the activities would consequently affect its adjacent aquatic systems and organisms. An investigation on the trace metal accumulation (copper, Cu and zinc, Zn) was conducted in coastal fishes off Bintulu, Sarawak of three habitat affinities: pelagic, benthopelagic and benthic. Samples of fish gills, livers and muscles from the fishes were analyzed to examine the accumulation of Cu and Zn. The study found that habitat affinity affected the accumulation level of Zn and Cu in the fishes examined. Benthic fishes, living in the bottom area of water column accumulated the highest trace metals as compared pelagic fish (surface dwellers) which accumulated the least trace metals. In almost all tissues analyzed, muscles accumulated the least concentration of Zn and Cu while livers accumulated the highest. The study exhibited a significant interplay in trace metal accumulation among fishes, their organs and habitat within water columns.
Mohamad Mustaqim Abdul Majid, Kamil Latif, Nurdiyana Ahmad Denil and Mohd Zafri Hassan, 2016. Influence of Habitat Affinity on the Bioaccumulation of Copper, Cu and Zinc Zn in Coastal Fishes of Bintulu, Sarawak. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11: 1967-1971.