13.05.2018 Views

merged

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Meiobenthos Assemblage Structure Emphasizing On Harpacticoid<br />

(Benthic) Copepod from Southern South China Sea<br />

Nur Sanim Azlan<br />

Supervisor: Dr. Maizah Mohd Abdullah<br />

Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology)<br />

School of Marine and Environmental Science<br />

Ecological studies focusing on meiobenthos community structure are gathering its<br />

pace. Present study aims to relate the meiobenthos community with environmental<br />

variables and, to determine the harpacticoid copepod density at different stations in<br />

the Terengganu and Kelantan waters. Sampling was conducted during April and July<br />

2017. Meiofaunal assemblage shows correlation with salinity (+0.071) and also<br />

combinations of salinity and oxygen saturation; salinity and temperature (+0.070).<br />

PCA documents significant variability within the physical parameters with total<br />

variation of 99.9%. Total harpacticoid density recorded in this study were<br />

significantly high (726.30 ind./10cm 2 ) and was shown to correlate with two<br />

combinations of depth, temperature and salinity; depth, salinity and oxygen<br />

saturation (+0.028). Harpacticoid assemblages was explained by nMDS and<br />

conformed by Cluster analysis. ANOSIM analysis showed that the harpacticoid differ<br />

among stations (R=0.189, p-value

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!