A Study on Dissolved Oxygen, pH and Temperature of the Lake Water in Pengkalan Gawi-Pulau Dula Section of Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu

Kamaruddin, I.S., A.S. Mustafa Kamal, A. Christianus, and S.K. Daud, (2010). A study on dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature of the lake water in Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula Section of Kenyir Lake, Terengganu. Towards a Healthier and Sustainable Future: International Annual Symposium on Sustainability Science and Management (UMTAS 2010). Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. 9(2): 482-486.

A Study on Dissolved Oxygen, pH and Temperature of the Lake Water in Pengkalan Gawi-Pulau Dula Section of Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu

1^st Kamaruddin, I.S., *2^nd A.S. Mustafa Kamal, 3^rd A. Christianus and 4^th S.K. Daud

^{1st, 2nd, 3rd} Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

^4thDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author: E-mail: akuakultur_upm@hotmail.com

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the dissolved oxygen, D.O. (mg/l), hydrogen ion concentration, (pH) and temperature (°C) of the lake water in Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu. Water samples were collected monthly from March 2008 to January 2009 (11 months) at three sampling stations designated as station A (Pulau Dula), station B (Sungai Ikan) and station C (Pulau Pupi). Water samples were collected using 1-litre polyethylene bottles that were washed with acid hydrochloric. The results of the study showed that the mean values of the studied water quality parameters for the entire study period were as follows: D.O. = 6.18 mg/l ± 0.49; pH = 6.91 ± 0.46; water temperature = 29.8 °C ± 1.33. Across months, all water quality parameters remained more or less constant with little or no monthly variations. Across sampling stations, the results showed that, except for pH, there were no statistically significant differences among stations in the values of other water quality parameters. pH readings were significantly different between Sungai Ikan and Pulau Pupi. The overall results of this study showed that the water quality parameters of the Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir remained within acceptable ranges. Management and conservation programs for Tasik Kenyir that are sustainable should be stressed in order to maintain and stabilize the water quality of the lake. 

Keywords: Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Temperature, Lake, Tasik Kenyir

INTRODUCTION

Being a reservoir, the water level of a lake varies every month. Hydroelectric impoundments used mainly for power production often are more like giant riverine pools than lakes because of the high turnover rate of the water (Moyle and Cech, 2004). Seasonal surface water fluctuation can have profound effects on the physical, chemical and biological stability of a reservoir (Wetzel 1990). During the monsoon period, the lake water level increases due to rainwater intrusion from its large catchment area (Rouf et al., 2008). During the dry season the volume of lake water will decrease and these conditions have an effect on the dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature of the lake water.

Scientific management and conservation of lakes is overwhelmingly important in the milieu of predicted freshwater shortages in this new century, especially with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the Asia-Pacific region (ILEC, 2007). Management and conservation programmes in lake, however, need baseline data and information. As such, the objective of this study was to determine the data on dissolved oxygen (D.O) (mg/l), pH and temperature (°C) of the lake water in Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir. These data are hoped to provide some useful information to agencies in managing and conserving Tasik Kenyir.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Tasik Kenyir is the biggest man-made lake in Malaysia about 36,000 ha (Figure 1). The lake lies in the state of Terengganu at 4°47’N to 5°15’N and 102°32’E to 102°55’E. This man-made lake was initially impounded in 1986 to generate hydroelectric power, receiving water inputs from two main rivers – the Terengganu and Terengan rivers (Furtado et al., 1977). The lake has 340 island, located 145 m above the sea level with a mean depth of 37 m. It is a pleasant retreat for anglers and urban dwellers.

The study was conducted in one of the lake section named Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir (Figure 1). The study area was about 30 km². Three stations were set up and designated as station A, which was located near Pulau Dula, Station B, which was located near Sungai Ikan and Station C, which was near Pulau Pupi.

This study was conducted for 11 months from March 2008 to January 2009. Water samples were collected in situ from each station and were collected using 1 litre acid washed polyethylene bottles. Water quality parameters for dissolved oxygen (D.O) and temperature (°C) were recorded using a portable dissolved oxygen meter model YSI 55 D.O. Meter. A portable pH meter model HACH EC 10 was used to determine pH in the lake water. All the data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and were processed using SPSS version 17.0 to measure the significant difference among sampling stations.

Figure 1: Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu is the biggest man-made lake in Malaysia and the square box shows the location of Pengkalan Gawi- Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The water quality parameters of the lake were generally constant at each station every month. The data sets of the water quality were analysed from March 2008 to January 2009. Table 1 shows the water quality parameters during the sampling period. Throughout the study period the mean water temperature (29.76 °C ± 1.33) was in the range of natural environment temperature. Other parameters also had mean readings within the normal range; D.O (6.18 mg/l ± 0.49) and pH (6.91 ± 0.46) (Table 1). 

The results of this study showed some similarity with previous studies done by Verdegem (1999) and Yusoff and Ambak (1999) in Tasik Kenyir. Their studies found that temperature ranged from 24.2 to 30.6 °C, D.O readings from 3.50 to 8.90 mg/l and pH reading from 6.72 to 7.61 mg/l. Meanwhile, the results of this study showed that temperature ranged from 26.5 to 31.8 °C, D.O reading ranged from 5.01 to 7.90 mg/l ad pH reading from 6.25 to 7.96 mg/l (Table 1). From here we can predict that these three water quality parameters do not change much even after more than 10 years. In terms of stations, the water quality parameters showed no significant difference among stations except for pH readings (Tables 2). The pH reading in Sungai Ikan showed a significant difference of pH in Pulau Pupi. Pulau Dula meanwhile, showed no significant difference with both of the stations in terms of pH. The D.O and temperature showed no significant difference among stations. This indicates that Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section has a uniform reading of D.O and water temperature.   

The lake generally experiences heavy rain from the north-east monsoon from November to March and a hot and dry season from May to October (Ambak and Jalal, 1998). The monsoon season and the dry season effects the water quality parameters in this section. This is clearly shown in the monthly trends of water temperature, where it decreased from October 2008 to January 2009 (Table 3). Heavy rain during the monsoon season might results in a decrease in the temperature of the lake water.

Studies carried out by Kah-Wai and Ali (2001) in Tasik Chenderoh found that the mean water temperature at two sampling stations were at 27.40 °C ± 0.40 and 28.1 °C ± 0.60. These seem to be lower than the mean temperature of this study. In addition, Kah-Wai and Ali (2001) mentioned that due to the depth of Tasik Kenyir, it has a higher range of water temperature when compared to Tasik Chenderoh. Meanwhile, in Tasik Chini, Suhaimi-Othman and Lim (2006) recorded that the mean readings for water temperature, D.O and pH of the lake water were at 29.73 ± 0.44 °C, 6.08 ± 0.88 mg/l and 6.63 ± 0.24, respectively. These showed some similarity with the result of this study maybe due to the same ecological conditions of these lakes.

Table 1: Table shows the minimum, maximum and mean reading for different water quality parameters in Pengkalan Gawi- Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu from March 2008 to January 2009.

Water quality parameters	Minimum	Maximum	Mean ± SD
D.O (mg/l)	5.01	7.90	6.18 ± 0.49
pH	6.25	7.96	6.91 ± 0.46
Temperature (°C)	26.50	31.80	29.76 ± 1.33

Table 2: Mean water quality parameters of the lake water at three sampling stations in Pengkalan Gawi- Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir from March 2008 to January 2009. Mean ± S.D. within column with the same letters are not significantly different at (P < 0.05) level.

Stations	D.O (mg/l)	pH	Temperature (°C )
Pulau Dula (A)	6.18a ± 0.56	6.97ab ± 0.43	29.66a ± 1.17
Sungai Ikan (B)	6.27a ± 0.43	6.73a ± 0.37	30.15a ± 1.38
Pulau Pupi (C)	6.10a ± 0.49	7.03b ± 0.53	29.47a ± 1.40

Table 3: Mean water quality parameters of the lake water based on months at Pengkalan Gawi- Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir from March 2008 to January 2009. Mean ± S.D.

Months	D.O (mg/l)	pH	Temperature (°C )
March 2008	7.26 ± 0.39	7.45 ± 0.69	29.02 ± 0.27
April	6.55 ± 0.23	7.12 ± 0.68	30.80 ± 0.61
May	6.26 ± 0.09	6.78 ± 0.15	30.90 ± 0.63
June	6.25 ± 0.23	6.72 ± 0.19	30.52 ± 0.10
July	5.98 ± 0.03	6.54 ± 0.11	30.30 ± 0.23
August	6.03 ± 0.16	6.51 ± 0.08	30.03 ± 0.62
September	6.41 ± 0.08	6.81 ± 0.22	30.70 ± 0.38
October	5.67 ± 0.36	6.54 ± 0.08	30.88 ± 0.47
November	5.79 ± 0.49	6.90 ± 0.18	29.43 ± 0.08
December	5.86 ± 0.20	7.13 ± 0.33	27.68 ± 0.39
January 2009	5.98 ± 0.23	7.55 ± 0.09	27.08 ± 0.44

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that the water quality parameters (D.O, pH and temperature) in Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir were still between the normal range that can support various flora and fauna inhabiting this lake section. Monitoring and sustainable lake managements are needed in order to maintain the lake water quality for future generations.

REFERENCES

[1]           Ambak, M. A. and K . C . A. Jalal (1998) Habitat utilization by the tropical fish community in the man-made Lake Kenyir, Malaysia. Fisheries Management and Ecology 1998, 5, 173-176. Blackwell Science Ltd.

[2]           Furtado, J., Soepadmo, I. E., Sasekumar, A. et al. (1977) Ecological effects of the Terengganu hydro-electric project (Kenyir project). Wallaceana (Suppl. 1), 51.

[3]           International Lakes Environmental Committee Foundation (ILEC) (2007) World Vision Action Report Implementing the World lake vision for the Sustainable Use of Lakes and Reservoirs. World Vision Action Report Committee, Shiga, Japan. 402 pp.

[4]           Kah-Wai, K. and Ali, A. B. (2001) Chenderoh Reservoir, Malaysia: Fish Community and Artisanal Fishery of a Small Mesotrophic Tropical Reservoir. 167-178. In: De Silva S.S. (ed.). 2001. Reservoir and culture-based fisheries: biology and management. ACIAR. Cornell University. Bangkok.

[5]           Moyle, P. B. and Cech, Jr. J. J. (2004) An Introduction to Ichthyology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

[6]           Rouf, AJM A., M. A. Ambak, Lokman Shamsudin, Siew-Moi Phang and Sinn C. Ho (2008) Temporal changes in the periphytic algal communities in a drowned tropical forest reservoir in Malaysia: Lake Kenyir. Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management 2008 13: 271–287.

[7]           Suhaimi-Othman, M. and E. C. Lim (2006) Eutrophic Condition at Tasik Chini, Pahang. Sains Malaysiana 35 (2) 2006: 29-34.

[8]           Verdegem, M. C. J. (1999) Lakes and reservoirs in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. In: W. L. T.

[9]           Wetzel, R. W. (1990) Land-water interfaces: Metabolic and limnological regulators. Int. Verein. Theor. Limnol. Verh. 24, 6–24.

[10]         Yusoff, F. M., Ambak, M. A. (1999) Trends and fluctuations in the environmental characteristics of surfacewaters inKenyir Reservoir. In: W. L. T. van Densen, M. J. Morris (Eds.), Fish and Fisheries of Lakes and Reservoirs in Southeast Asia and Africa. pp. 49–58, Westbury Publishing, Otley, UK.

This poster has won "the best poster presentation award" during the Symposium: 

SPECIES COMPOSITION AND FEEDING HABITS OF FISH POPULATION IN PENGKALAN GAWI- PULAU DULA SECTION OF TASIK KENYIR, TERENGGANU

Kamaruddin, I.S., A.S. Mustafa Kamal, A. Christianus, and S.K. Daud, (2009). Species composition and feeding habits of fish population in Pengkalan Gawi - Pulau Dula Section of Kenyir Lake, Terengganu, Malaysia. Tropical Agriculture in a Changing Climate and Energy Scenario: Agriculture Congress 2009. Faculty of Agriculture. Universiti Putra Malaysia. 157-159. 

SPECIES COMPOSITION AND FEEDING HABITS OF FISH POPULATION IN PENGKALAN GAWI- PULAU DULA SECTION OF TASIK KENYIR, TERENGGANU

Kamaruddin, I.S.,¹* A.S. Mustafa Kamal,¹ A. Christianus¹ and S.K. Daud²

¹Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, ²Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: E-mail: hmelintang@hotmail.com

INTRODUCTION

            Presently, there are more than 51 reservoirs in Malaysia and the number is expected to increase by the next decade (Ho, 1994). Earlier studies carried out on selected reservoirs in Malaysia indicate that these reservoirs contained numerous species of commercial and non-commercial fish species (Khoo et al., 1982). Over exploitation and habitat degradation therefore, only deplete the stocks and reduce the replacement rate in the population (Khan et. al., 1996). The distribution and composition of the fish species in each habitat were closely associated with various factors such as the availability of food, breeding sites, water current, depth, topography and physicochemical properties of water (Harris, 1995). Studies on feeding patterns of fish species help describe the ecological relationship of that species with the rest of the community (Caragitsou and Papacanstantinou, 1994).

            Studies on ecosystems, biodiversity and fishery resources after the construction are essential in understanding these changes in enabling effective reservoir management and efficient use of their natural resources (Hanpongkittikul & Wongrat, 2005). Scientific management and conservation of lakes is overwhelmingly important in the milieu of predicted freshwater shortages in this new century, especially with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the Asia-Pacific region (ILEC 2007). Thus, the aim of the research was to gain the baseline data for the lake conservation programmes with determining the species composition and feeding habits of fish population in one of the lake section named as Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

            Tasik Kenyir is the largest man made lake in Malaysia about 36,000 hectares. The lake average depth is 37 meters and its maximum depth is 145 meters. This manmade lake was initially impounded in 1986 to generate hydroelectric power, receiving water inputs from two main rivers – the Terengganu and Terengan rivers (Furtado et al. 1977). Pengkalan Gawi is the main jetty to lake where Tasik Kenyir is a pleasant retreat for urban dwellers.

            Three stations have been set up in one of the lake section between Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section of Tasik Kenyir. Sampling was done based on a monthly basis from February 2008 to July 2008. Fish sampling method was using gill nets of 100 m long, 3 m deep and a stretch-mesh of 6 cm. Fishes caught were counted and the species were identified following Mohsin and Ambak (1983). All fish stomach from gill to anal opening were removed and were preserved with 5% formalin solutions for laboratory analysis. In the laboratory, the stomach contents were analyzed where the larger organisms were sorted and counted using dissecting microscope (16 x to 30 x) while planktons were analyzed using compound microscope (40 x and 100 x).

RESULTS

            A total of 170 individual fish from 9 species were caught during the study period from February to July 2008. The most abundance species was Barbodes Schwanenfeldii (Lampam Sungai) with 35.29% from total fish caught. This followed by Notopterus sp. (Belida) and Hampala macrolepidota (Sebarau) with 27.65% and 16.47% respectively. Hemibagrus nemurus (Baung) representing 10.59%, followed by Channa micropeltes (Toman) with 4.12%, Pristolepis fasciatus (Patong) with 3.53% and Osteochilus vittatus (Rong) with 1.18%. One individual fish from species Labiobarbus lineatus (Kawan) and Channa striatus (Haruan) representing 0.59% for each species.

            The most abundance of food item occurred in fish stomachs were insects with 68.46%. The second food item consumed by the fish was plant with 10.39% and this followed by detritus with 5.29%. The other food item occurred in fish stomach were bacillariophyta with 3.14%, cyanophyta with 2.96%, crustaceans with 2.01%, chlorophyta with 1.73%, cladocerans with 1.48%, fish juvenile with 1.34% and rotifer with 1.13%. Copepods and Euglenophyta were consumed by the fishes with 0.74% while mollusks with 0.60% from the total food item occurred. Most of the fish species like Baung, Belida, Haruan, Lampam Sungai and Patong were consumed on insects as their main food item. The fish species that eat mainly on fish juvenile were Toman and Sebarau while Kawan and Rong were mainly eat on phytoplankton.             

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

            According to Ambak and Jalal (2006), the most abundant fish species in Tasik Kenyir was Lampam Sungai and this was significant with the results of this study. Lampam Sungai in reservoir was originated from riverine species which can adept quite well especially in the littoral areas. So far 36 species of fish from 13 families were caught in Kenyir Reservoir, as compared to 22 species belonging to 6 families in Temenggor and 48 species belonging to 14 families in Bukit Merah (Ambak and Jalal, 1998; Yap, 1992). The different in terms of number of species caught maybe due to the study was conducted only in one of the lake section. Moreover, because of using gill nets with deep of 3 m, it does not captured fish that lives at the bottom of the lake. If these species are abundant in that area, then the gill nets would underestimate these demersal species populations.

            Mohsin and Ambak (1983), and Ambak and Jalal (1998), shows that Toman and Haruan were carnivorous fish while Baung were classified as omnivorous fish. Peralta (2004) found that food item eaten by Baung contained animal origins indicating that it was highly carnivorous fish and Sebarau also has been classified as carnivorous fish. Similar feeding pattern have been shown in some of the species with previous studies. This indicates that fish species in Pengkalan Gawi – Pulau Dula section live in a stable ecosystem which can support their natural feeding habits.          

REFERENCES

Ambak, M. A., Jalal, K. C. A. (1998) Habitat utilisation by the tropical fish community in the man-  made lake Kenyir, Malaysia. Journal of Fisheries Management and Ecology 5(2), 173–176.

Ambak, M. A., Jalal, K. C. A. (2006) Sustainability issues of reservoir fisheries in Malaysia. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 9 (2006) 165–173.

Caragitsou, E. and Papaconstantinou, C. (1994) Feeding habits of piper (Trigla lyra) in the Saronikos gulf (Greece). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 10: 104-113. 

Furtado J., Soepadmo I. E., Sasekumar A. et al. (1977) Ecological effects of the Terengganu hydro-electric project (Kenyir project). Wallaceana (Suppl. 1), 51.

Hanpongkittikul, A. and Wongrat, L. (2005) Phytoplankton Community in The Pasak Jolasid Reservoir, Lop Buri Province. Kasetsart University Fisheries Research Bulletin, Kasetsart University of Thailand.

Harris, J.H. (1995). The use of fish in ecological assessments. Australian Journal of Ecology, 20, 65-80.

Ho, S.C. (1994) Status of limnological research and training in Malaysia. Mitt. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 24: 129-45.

International Lakes Environmental Committee Foundation (ILEC) (2007) World Vision Action Report Implementing the World    lake vision for the Sustainable Use of Lakes and Reservoirs. World Vision Action Report Committee, Shiga, Japan. 402 pp.

Khan, M.S., Lee, Patrick K.Y., Cramphorn, J. and Zakaria Ismail, Mohd. (1996) Freshwater Fishes of the Pahang River Basin, Malaysia. Wetland Internaional Asia Pacific Publication No : 112.

Khoo, K.H., T.S. Leong, S.P. Tan, S.Y. Wong and F.L. Soon. (1982) Study plan for the Temenggor Lake Fisheries Research Project. Report No USM / TF / 02, Universiti Sains Malaysia.    

Mohsin, A.K.M. and M.A. Ambak (1983) Freshwater fishes of Malaysia. Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Peralta, E.D. (2004) Food availability and stomach content of fish populations in Semenyih Reservoir, Malaysia. Master of Science thesis. Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Yap, S. Y. (1992) Inland capture fisheries in Malaysia. Fish. Rep. No. 405 Suppl. FAO, Rome.