Comparison of physical parameters at 2 selected mangrove areas in Carey Island / Siti Suraya Mansor

This study is a comparison between physical parameters and soil characteristics of two mangrove habitats on Carey Island. Selected parameters were conducted at three stations in mangrove habitat (Site 1) along the Langat River which contain a good community of mangrove forest. Similar study was also conducted in a degraded mangrove habitat along eroding sea line (Site 2). In Site 1; the water parameters featured high and almost constant salinity, high water temperature, high conductivity but relatively low dissolved oxygen concentration and high TDS. On the other hand, Site 2 recorded high in salinity but lower water temperatures. Site 2 also featured relatively low dissolved oxygen and high TDS. The water pH for both sites ranged from 6.54-8.16. There was a significant difference in temperature, pH, salinity and light intensity between both sites. Light intensity for Site 1 ranged between 3300 - 103600 Lux. In degraded mangrove site (Site 2), the light intensity ranged from 15400 Lux to 109 700 Lux. It was found that Site 1 was dominated with silt and content of silt ranges from 60% to 93%. Site 2 was dominated with sand and silt loam. The sand content ranges from 60% to 99% while silt content ranges from 59% to 89%. For vegetation survey, Site 1 was dominated by four species ( Avicennia sp, Rhizophora sp, Sonneratia sp. and Bruguiera sp.). Only Rhizophora sp and Bruguiera sp were found at Site 2