Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak

Red seaweed Gracilaria (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) is known as ‘Janggut Duyong’ by the local people of Sarawak, widely distributed in both temperate and tropical seawater zones. Gracilaria plays important roles as food materials and income for local people, provide protection and source of foods...

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Main Author:	Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2017
Subjects:	GE Environmental Sciences
Online Access:	http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23850/2/Muhammad%20Nur%20Arif.pdf
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id	my-unimas-ir.23850
record_format	uketd_dc
spelling	my-unimas-ir.238502023-03-24T07:52:48Z Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak 2017 Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman GE Environmental Sciences Red seaweed Gracilaria (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) is known as ‘Janggut Duyong’ by the local people of Sarawak, widely distributed in both temperate and tropical seawater zones. Gracilaria plays important roles as food materials and income for local people, provide protection and source of foods for diverse aquatic organisms, one of the primary producer in marine ecosystem and main contributor of agar worldwide. Despite the importance of Gracilaria in terms of ecology and socio-economy, little is known about Gracilaria species in Sarawak. Hence, this study was designed to: (i) assess selected water quality parameters in Gracilaria habitats, (ii) examine the abundance of Gracilaria in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak as well as the aquatic organisms associated with it and (iii) identify species of Gracilaria using morphological characteristics and molecular approaches. Three field samplings were conducted in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya from April 2013 to December 2014. Selected water quality was measured in-situ and ex-situ, whole thallus of Gracilaria and other aquatic organisms found within it were collected. Identification of Gracilaria using molecular analysis was done using cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene marker. Four species of Gracilaria (Gracilaria blodgettii, G. changii, G. arcuata, G. coronopifolia) were identified based on morphological characteristics whereas only two species (G. blodgettii, Hydropuntia edulis) were found using molecular analysis. Both of the data were contradicted due to: (i) CO1 gene marker may not be suitable to resolve taxanomy of Gracilaria in Sarawak and (ii) high similarity in terms of morphology between G. coronopifolia and H. edulis. Other flora (Acanthophora sp. and Padina sp.) and fauna namely bivalves, polychaetes, shrimps, tunicates, small crabs and brittle stars were found living together in Gracilaria population. The water quality in Lawas and Santubong were under Class 2 of the Malaysian Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard (MWQCS). In contrast, Asajaya’s water qualities fall under Class iv E of MWQCS. Overall, the values of water qualities recorded were within normal range of standard water quality for mangrove water and mariculture in Malaysia. Approximately 80% to 90% of the cage net in Lawas was covered by seaweeds and pH was the only parameter that show negative correlation with percentage cover of seaweeds (p= 0.000). In comparison, percentage cover of seaweeds in Santubong and Asajaya could not be determined due to regular collection by local people. Healthy population of Gracilaria could be easily found at all the sampling sites, thus they have the potential for future seaweed aquaculture. It is recommended that the state government agencies, Department of Fisheries Sarawak and other nongovernmental organisations to introduce and assist the local people embarking in seaweed culture Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2017 Thesis http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23850/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23850/2/Muhammad%20Nur%20Arif.pdf text en validuser masters Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Faculty of Resource Science & Technology
institution	Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
collection	UNIMAS Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	GE Environmental Sciences
spellingShingle	GE Environmental Sciences Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
description	Red seaweed Gracilaria (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) is known as ‘Janggut Duyong’ by the local people of Sarawak, widely distributed in both temperate and tropical seawater zones. Gracilaria plays important roles as food materials and income for local people, provide protection and source of foods for diverse aquatic organisms, one of the primary producer in marine ecosystem and main contributor of agar worldwide. Despite the importance of Gracilaria in terms of ecology and socio-economy, little is known about Gracilaria species in Sarawak. Hence, this study was designed to: (i) assess selected water quality parameters in Gracilaria habitats, (ii) examine the abundance of Gracilaria in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak as well as the aquatic organisms associated with it and (iii) identify species of Gracilaria using morphological characteristics and molecular approaches. Three field samplings were conducted in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya from April 2013 to December 2014. Selected water quality was measured in-situ and ex-situ, whole thallus of Gracilaria and other aquatic organisms found within it were collected. Identification of Gracilaria using molecular analysis was done using cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene marker. Four species of Gracilaria (Gracilaria blodgettii, G. changii, G. arcuata, G. coronopifolia) were identified based on morphological characteristics whereas only two species (G. blodgettii, Hydropuntia edulis) were found using molecular analysis. Both of the data were contradicted due to: (i) CO1 gene marker may not be suitable to resolve taxanomy of Gracilaria in Sarawak and (ii) high similarity in terms of morphology between G. coronopifolia and H. edulis. Other flora (Acanthophora sp. and Padina sp.) and fauna namely bivalves, polychaetes, shrimps, tunicates, small crabs and brittle stars were found living together in Gracilaria population. The water quality in Lawas and Santubong were under Class 2 of the Malaysian Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard (MWQCS). In contrast, Asajaya’s water qualities fall under Class iv E of MWQCS. Overall, the values of water qualities recorded were within normal range of standard water quality for mangrove water and mariculture in Malaysia. Approximately 80% to 90% of the cage net in Lawas was covered by seaweeds and pH was the only parameter that show negative correlation with percentage cover of seaweeds (p= 0.000). In comparison, percentage cover of seaweeds in Santubong and Asajaya could not be determined due to regular collection by local people. Healthy population of Gracilaria could be easily found at all the sampling sites, thus they have the potential for future seaweed aquaculture. It is recommended that the state government agencies, Department of Fisheries Sarawak and other nongovernmental organisations to introduce and assist the local people embarking in seaweed culture
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Master's degree
author	Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman
author_facet	Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman
author_sort	Muhammad Nur Arif, Othman
title	Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
title_short	Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
title_full	Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
title_fullStr	Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
title_full_unstemmed	Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak
title_sort	ecology, diversity and molecular studies of red seaweed gracilaria spp. in lawas, santubong and asajaya, sarawak
granting_institution	Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
granting_department	Faculty of Resource Science & Technology
publishDate	2017
url	http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23850/2/Muhammad%20Nur%20Arif.pdf
_version_	1783728233357770752

Ecology, Diversity and Molecular Studies of Red Seaweed Gracilaria spp. in Lawas, Santubong and Asajaya, Sarawak

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