Authors : W.A. Wan Juliana, M.S. Nizam, H.H. Khatijah, Mohd Ekhwan Toriman, Mushrifah Idris, N.A. Nik Norafida, Y.H. Cham and M.N. Nurhanim
Abstract: This study determines the distribution, abundance and relationships between Nelumbo nucifera and Cabomba furcata as well as to map out the distribution of the two most dominant aquatic plant species at Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia. Ten sampling stations were selected and ten quadrats of 3x3 m were established at each sampling station on 2009 to July 2010. Data were analyzed to determine percentage cover of the two species, Nelumbo nucifera and Cabomba furcata in each quadrats and the biomass (dry weight) of each species was estimated. The water quality parameters using YSI multi probe in each station were also measured. Study on the mapping of distribution for Lepironia articulata and Pandanus helicopus includes all the twelve water bodies (namely Laut 1-12) in Tasik Chini. At every station, five coordinate sampling points for Global Positioning System (GPS) were recorded. At the same coordinate points recorded the depth of water were measured using a staff gauge with a maximum length of 5 m. The image of Tasik Chini dated 10 September, 2007 captured by spot-5 was obtained from Malaysia Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES). Image processing was done in the laboratory using ERDAS Imagine 9.1 and ArcGis 9.2 software. The result indicates that a total of 73 from 100 quadrats showed the occurrence of Cabomba furcata whilst the Nelumbo nucifera occurred in only three quadrates. Estimation of percentage cover of Cabomba furcata revealed 95.1% cover whilst the Nelumbo nucifera indicated a 4.9% overall cover. The total dry weight of Cabomba furcata was 7892.5 g whereas the Nelumbo nucifera indicated a dry weight of 237 g. The relationship between the two species with the water quality parameters were analyzed using the Redundancy Analysis (RDA). The RDA indicated that the parameter of NH4-N, PO42-, TSS, BOD and COD influenced the distribution and abundance of Cabomba furcata however, the distribution and abundance of Nelumbo nucifera were influenced by parameters of namely NH4-N, SO42, NO3-, temperature and DO. This study clearly shows that the water parameters influence the distribution and abundance of the two populations of Cabomba furcata and Nelumbo nucifera. From the image processing both species Lepironia articulata and Pandanus helicopus appear in the whole lake, except Laut 4 and 5. Lepironia articulata was found mostly at the shallow waters where as Pandanus helicopus was found at both shallow and deep areas.
W.A. Wan Juliana, M.S. Nizam, H.H. Khatijah, Mohd Ekhwan Toriman, Mushrifah Idris, N.A. Nik Norafida, Y.H. Cham and M.N. Nurhanim, 2010. The Biodiversity and Ecology of Aquatic Plants at Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 692-698.