Assessment on Water Quality Parameter and Nutrients Level of Nyatuh River in Relations with Macrobrachium rosenbergii Prawn Populations

Abstract

In order to determine the safety level of water parameters and nutrients in the natural environment of fish and freshwater prawn in Nyatuh River, Terengganu, Malaysia, it is necessary to conduct an assessment of water quality parameters. Due to its important, a study was conducted to assess the water quality parameter and nutrients contents from Nyatuh River of Setiu Terengganu in relations to the population of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii caught along the Nyatuh River basin. Total of four expeditions and five stations at different tidal condition for the water quality parameter were assessed during the study. From the results achieved, the overall temperature varied between (26.56°C–29.30°C), dissolved oxygen, DO (3.59 mg/L–6.50 mg/L), pH (4.99–7.01), salinity (0.01ppt–4.22ppt), depth (2.71 m–5.54 m) while for ammonia (0.01 mg/L–0.24 mg/L), nitrite (0.01 mg/L–0.05 mg/L) and phosphate (0.01 mg/L–0.12 mg/L). While the number of prawns caught are 176, 160, 102 and 68 for Expeditions 1, 2, 4 and 3, respectively. Possibly, the heterogeneous number of prawns caught is a result of significant differences in water level depth during high tides and low tides, as well as a fluctuation in the ammonia concentration levels in each of the stations and expeditions. For statistical analysis, the temperature showed no significant difference between the expedition, stations and tidal. That is p = 0.280, p > 0.05 and F = 1.206, respectively. While dissolved oxygen, DO, showed no significant difference as well, that is p = 0.714, p > 0.05 and F = 0.737. However, the level of water depth was significantly different between expedition, station and tidal, that is p = 0.000, p < 0.05 and F = 3.120. Ammonia, on the other hand shows no significant difference between expedition, station and tidal, that is p = 0.476, p > 0.05 and F = 0.973. The same goes for nitrite and phosphate concentration. There was no significant difference between expedition, stations and tidal, that is p = 0.569, p > 0.05 and F = 0.879 and p = 0.247, p > 0.05, F = 1.255, respectively. In Expedition 1, the good water quality parameter and very low ammonia concentration resulted in a larger prawn population as compared to other expeditions. The distribution or mixture of prawns caught is heterogeneous at different stations due to the significant differences in water depth and also to the fluctuation in water quality due to varying ammonia levels. In conclusion, the water quality in Nyatuh River fluctuated across expeditions, stations, and tides, as well as significant differences in water level depths between high and low tides. Due to the rapid growth and importance of industrial and aquaculture operations along the river, extra attention should be devoted to avoid the impact of excessive pollutant in order to protect the ecosystem.

Regulation and Response Mechanism of Acute Low-Salinity Stress during Larval Stages in Macrobrachium rosenbergii Based on Multi-Omics Analysis

“…Crustaceans generally have an ideal salinity range for optimal growth and development, within which their feeding, larval development, and reproduction rates are the highest [ 8 , 9 ]. If the salinity fluctuates too much, beyond the salinity adaptation range of crustaceans, it is not favorable for their growth [ 10 , 11 ].…”

River discharge, fishing effort and catch composition of prawn fisheries in coastal Tanzania

“…Fluctuations in prawn catch are a worldwide concern (Schlenker et al, 2023;Silas, 2011); recently, these have been attributed to the growing influence of anthropogenic pressures, including pollution, mangrove cover loss, reduced river flow, erratic rainfall patterns, and climate change (Cheung et al, 2012;Gammelsrød, 1992;Hoguane, 2012;IPCC, 2021;Kasan et al, 2023;Perry et al, 2005;Schilling et al, 2023;Silas et al, 2023). Like many other aquatic organisms, prawns are highly sensitive to environmental changes.…”