Phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton

Plankton is the foundation of the ocean food web. The word plankton comes from the Greek word "planktos" which means drifting. defined “as organisms that live in the water column whose powers of locomotion are such that they are incapable of making their way against the current and are thus passively transported by currents in the sea". Although some of them have locomotory organs such as cilia and flagella or are able to swim, their movements in the water column are nearly completely controlled by water turbulence and currents and by the bulk density of the organisms.

Plankton consists of two component organisms which is phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton is plant plankton which has photosynthetic planktonic protists and plants. They usually consist of single-celled organisms or of chains of cells which are solitary or colonial. The zooplankton is animal plankton which are non-photosynthetic planktonic protists or animals that ranging from single-celled forms to smaller vertebrates such as larval fishes.

Result:

a) Epilithic phytoplankton:

The percentage abundance of zooplankton found in Pulau Kapas is Bacillariophyceae with 68.20% while the least percentage found is Coscinodiscophyceae with 1.31%. The highest density of zooplankton is Bacillariophyceae with 350000 individual/m³. And, class Coscinodiscophyceae is the least density of zooplankton found in Pulau Kapas. The highest percentage of abundance and density in the class Bacillariophyceae is because of Bacillariophyceae is under a diatom. Diatom is one of the biggest groups in phytoplankton. According to (Shamsudin, 1990) diatom itself contribute 20-25% of primer producer in this earth. Diatoms have relatively simple life cycles that nevertheless show adaptations for survival and dispersal in these fluctuating environments (Steidinger and Walker, 1988). Besides, the reproduction of diatom also was faster compared to other species. They divide by binary fission from normal size frustules until the critical small size frustules. The smaller frustules will then undergo sexual reproduction by fertilisation of egg by sperm cell to form auxospore. 

63 µm phytoplankton:

In the phytoplankton 63 µm mesh size, the highest percentage abundance found is from the class Bacillariophyceae with 90.21% while the least percentage abundance of phytoplankton found is Peridinea with 1.05%. On the other hand, the highest density of phytoplankton is class Bacillariophyceae with 302869.57 individual/m³. Bacillariophyceae was also the highest in this mesh size same with the epilithic phytoplankton. It is the same with the epilithic phytoplankton which the dominant class that was recorded is Bacillariophyceae. Bacillariophyceae is a diatom. Diatom has its own way of reproduction. It divides their frustules from normal size to critical small size. Then, the small size frustules will then undergo sexual reproduction by fertilisation of egg by sperm to form auxospore. 

120 µm phytoplankton:

While in the phytoplankton 120 µm mesh size, the highest percentage of phytoplankton found comes from the class Mediophyceae with 84.94% and the least percentage abundance of phytoplankton found are Coscinodiscophyceae and Dinophyceae with same percentage abundance which is 0.32%. Mediophyceae has a worldwide distribution in boreal to tropical coastal and estuarine environments, apparently absent only from polar oceans. Besides, as the size of the Mediophyceae is less or about 120 µm so it can fix the 120 µm mesh size. 

Zooplankton: 

63 µm zooplankton:

In the 63 µm mesh size zooplankton, the highest zooplankton recorded is nauplius with 52.48% while the least percentage abundance of zooplankton found is it includes four classes which is Monogononta, Spirotrechea, Ophilopluteus and others with the percentage abundance 0.25%. The highest density of zooplankton found in the mesh size 63 µm is nauplius with 1000 individual/m³. The Nauplius is the first larva stage of many species of crustacean. There is no way to determine what this larva may have developed into other than some form of crustacean. The nauplius larvae filters algae and other organic substances as it swims through the water by using its paired appendages. The single compound eye in the center of the head enable the Nauplius larva to swim to areas where algae is likely to be abundant. The nauplius shown above was caught using the plankton net and photographed with the Motic 2300 microscope camera coupled to the ocular lens of a compound light microscope. The specimen was photographed at 100 magnification. 

120 µm zooplankton:

The highest percentage abundance of zooplankton in 120 µm is class Maxillopoda with 55.48% and the least percentage abundance found is zoea with only 0.33%. The highest density of zooplankton found is class Maxillopoda with 1400 individual/m³. Maxillopods are generally small animals with barnacles being the exception to this rule.  Maxillopoda (copepods) have two swimming speeds.  The first is slow, steady, and accomplished using their mouthparts.  The second looks like a succession of jumps separated by stillness. This jumpy form of swimming in accomplished by the appendages on the thorax.  Planktonic copepods have been shown to collect and handle particles in a most interesting way (Koehl and Stickler, 1981) necessary because of their small size and interaction with the water they live in.

Materials and Methods.

 Sampling location

The sampling site is located at Pulau Kapas which the site that in front of the Gemia Island. The sample for phytoplankton for epilithic and by using 63 µm and 120 µm was collected near the shore, whereas the epilithic sample was collected from the rocks. For the coral reef and invertebrate survey, the data has been collected by snorkeling and record on the slate board. 

Plankton:

a) Epilithic:

First, rocks were collected from the rocky shore. Then, the rocks were brushed with the tooth brush to remove any of phytoplankton which lives within the rocks. A little amount of water was used in order to remove the phytoplankton on the rocks. After make sure that phytoplankton has been brushed, the tooth brush was rinsed with sea water in order to ensure all the phytoplankton has been washed down. The phytoplankton was placed with a little amount of sea water in a sample bottle to bring back to the laboratory for analysis. The sample was preserved with 10% formalin while in the laboratory the sample was observed and counted until 300 individuals of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The phytoplankton and zooplankton was classified until genus. 

b) Phytoplankton and zooplankton 63 µm and 120 µm:

Nano plankton net with a mesh size 63 µm and 120 µm was set up by close it valve before it was introduced into the water for collected the plankton. The net is spread as far as possible and being towed back horizontally. When towed the plankton net back, make sure the net is properly being withdrawn and avoid from coiled. Besides, the areas which there are many people must be avoided as the sand might being trapped in the net due to the currents produced by human. When the net has been arrived safely, the valve was opened and the collected sea water was placed in a sample bottle. The sample then was preserved with 10% formalin and brought back to laboratory for analysis. The process was being repeated for three times to get enough samples. In the laboratory, the sample was observed and counted until 300 individuals of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The phytoplankton and zooplankton was classified until genus. 

Coral and invertebrate (PIT):

First, 50 m transect line is run underwater. Then, the snorkeler swims and observed macrobenthic communities (coral reef and invertebrates) along the transect line. Data was observed every 0.5 m and recorded on the slate board. The data has been categorized and being calculated for their percentage abundance and density. 

Invertebrate.

 Animals that lack backbones are known as invertebrates. Over 98% of species on Earth are invertebrates that rely on other strategies than a backbone for support such as hydrostatic pressure, exoskeletons, shells, and in some, even glass spicules. Some invertebrate phyla have only one species, while others like Arthropoda include more than 83% of all described animal species with over a million species. The most common marine invertebrates are sponges, cnidarians, marine worms, lophophorates, mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms and the hemichordates.

Result:

SC - Sea cucumber
SU - Sea urchin
GC - Giant clam

For the invertebrates, the highest percentage abundance of invertebrates is sea cucumber with 77.78%, while the least percentage abundance is sea anemone with only 0.93%. The highest density of invertebrates is sea cucumber with 0.78%. The percentage abundance of sea urchin is lower than the sea cucumber which only 17.59% which indicates the coral reef area of the Pulau Kapas is good enough. But, the truth is not that good as the survey of coral cover state that the coral reef area is in poor and very poor condition. The sea urchin was used as indicator as it is one of the longest lived species. Due to their capability to respond to injuries, host invasion, and cytotoxic agents, coelomocytes which is in the coelomic cavity of sea urchin are regarded as the immune effectors of the sea urchin. In fact, coelomocytes react to challenges with modifications in their motility, increased phagocytic and encapsulation activities, and release of cytotoxic factors (Matranga 1996). The abundance of sea cucumber in this area might be because of their natural behaviour is actually live near rocks, corals or seaweed. Although the sea cucumber is a favourite food of large marine fish but sea cucumber in this area tend to be able to do several tricks such as thrown up their entire digestive system. This behaviour might be possessed for every single sea cucumber until its population reached the highest percentage abundance among the invertebrates. 

Coral reefs.

Coral is a jellyfish like organisms in order Scleractinia. It produce limestone calcium carbonate skeleton and symbiosis with zooxanthellae. Coral use its tentacles with stinging cells to catch zooplankton. Coral reef are the most diverse and beautiful of all marine habitats. Large wave resistant structures have accumulated from the slow growth of corals. The development of these structures is aided by algae that are symbiotic with reef-building corals, known as zooxanthellae. Coralline algae, sponges, and other organisms, combined with a number of cementation processes also contribute to reef growth. 


Coral reefs are a precious resource in the ocean because of their beauty and biodiversity. Coral reefs provide shelter for a wide variety of marine life, they provide humans with recreation, they are a valuable source of organisms for potential medicines, they create sand for beaches, and serve as a buffer for shorelines. Coral reefs are built by millions of coral polyps, small colonial animals resembling overturned jellyfish that use excess carbon dioxide in the water from the atmosphere and turn it into limestone. However, coral reef today seems to be declining due to the human impacts such as pollution and development. So, here the result of coral cover survey in Pulau Kapas. 


Point intercept transects (PIT) measure the points of interest at specific interval either below the line or below and adjacent to the transect tape (Wilkinson, 2000). The objective of this coral survey is to describe the coral reef macrobenthic communities (benthic life form) and to study the health status of coral reef in Pulau Kapas.

Figure 1 show the pie chart of percentage of coral cover (%) in Pulau Kapas

Index scale form (Idris et al., 2006)

Quality	Index scale
Very poor	<-0.602
Poor	-0.602 to -0.176
Fair	-0.176 to 0.176
Good	0.176 to 0.602
Very good	>0.602

a) Condition index

                CI = Log₁₀ [CR/ (DC+AL+OT)]

Where,

                CR = Percentage area cover of live coral category

                DC = Percentage area cover of dead category

                AL = Percentage area cover of algae category

                OT = Percentage area cover of other fauna category

    CI = Log₁₀ [16/ (40+16+4)]

                     = - 0.574

Based on the index scale form (Idris et al., 2006) the condition index is very poor.

b) Development index (DI)

                DI = Log₁₀ [(CR +DC+AL+OT)/ AB]

Where,

                CR = Percentage area cover of live coral category

                DC = Percentage area cover of dead category

                AL = Percentage area cover of algae category

                OT = Percentage area cover of other fauna category

                AB = Percentage area cover of abiotic category

                DI = Log₁₀ [(16 +40+16+4)/ 26]

                     = 0.4658

 Based on the index scale form (Idris et al., 2006) the condition index is poor.

c)  Succession index (CI)

                SI = Log₁₀ [OT/ (DC+AL)]

Where,

    DC = Percentage area cover of dead category

                AL = Percentage area cover of algae category

                OT = Percentage area cover of other fauna category

                SI = Log₁₀ [4/ (40+16)]

                     = -1.1461

Based on the index scale form (Idris et al., 2006) the condition index is very poor.

The coral condition in Pulau Kapas in categorized under very poor. The highest percentage of coral cover in Pulau Kapas is 56%. This might be due the increasing number of tourists in Pulau Kapas. This development (tourism centre) and associated diving activities are threatening valuable coral reef ecosystems (Jameson 1998; Jameson et al., 1995). Besides, as stated by (Wilkinson 2000), over the last two decades, coral reef communities have been experiencing increasingly stressfull conditions due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic detrimental factors. Dead coral algae (DCA) is dominant might be caused from the tourist that come to this islands for holiday. Not only that, the increasing number of new and inexperienced divers and snorkelers has also been identified as one of the threats causing physical damage to the coral reefs (Status of Coral Reef, 2010). The Terengganu state government recently banned the use of fins for snorkelling in the state to prevent snorkelers from inadvertently treading on the corals and damaging them (Coral Reef Monitoring Report, 2008). 

Pulau Kapas.

Introduction

Kapas Island (Pulau Kapas) is situated offshore about 30 minutes by slow boat or 10 minutes by fast boat from Marang jetty, 20 minutes south of Kuala Terengganu, is located 5 km offshore in Terengganu, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is a lovely small island with beautiful, quiet, unspoiled sandy beaches; cool and clear blue waters, swaying coconut trees and caves with swallows’ nests. Its waters are home to beautiful marine life such as fish, turtles, corals and others. It is a great place for swimming, snorkelling, diving, wind surfing, kayaking, boating or just pure relaxation. Accommodation varies from deluxe and budget chalets offering air conditioned or fan.

The waters around the island abound with sea-shells, fish and turtles. Snorkelling and underwater diving are popular along stretched of shallow coral reefs of the island's western shore. A World War II shipwreck located 5 nautical miles offshore is the key attraction to divers. During the months of May to August, you can go squid fishing.

Kapas Island (Pulau Kapas) or Cotton Island inherited its name from the native because of its incomparable white beaches. Surrounded by crystal clear ocean, Pulau Kapas promises a spectacular getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life to quiet natural retreats with abundant sunshine and crisp clean air.

An island renowned for its clear waters, sandy white beaches and swaying palms, it is relatively isolated. Home to an infinite variety of hard and soft corals, the waters around the island abound with sea-shells, fish and turtles. The island's laid back atmosphere is ideal for relaxation but the more adventurous will find it is also a haven for swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, boating and fishing.