Benthic Diatom in Tide Pools along Telok Melano Beach, Sematan, Sarawak

There has been few research of marine diatom in Sarawak compare to freshwater diatom. By conducting the collection of benthic diatoms in tide pools along Telok Melano Beach, Sematan, Sarawak; this study could contribute to the number of research in benthic diatoms. The objective of this study is to identify the genera and determine the percentage occurrence of benthic diatoms in tidepools along Telok Melano. On 30 and 31 March 2022, five stations were chosen to collect benthic diatom samples. The diatom cells from each station were then cleaned and later observed and identified under a light microscope. A total 15 genera of benthic diatoms were identified which are Achnanthes, Amphora, Cocconeis, Cymbella, Eunotia,, Frustulia, Gyrosigma, Melosira, Navicula, Nitzschia, Pinnularia, Stauronesis, Synedra and Tabellaria. The dominant genera were Synedra and Navicula. The physicochemical parameters of the water were measured, which showed dissolved oxygen (DO) in the range of 5.3 mg/l-6.8 mg/l, pH 7.92-8.34, temperature 29.3ºC–37.1ºC, salinity 27 ppt-35 ppt, and turbidity 3.93 NTU-21.4 NTU