Effect of land use on coastal water and Perna viridis at Johor Straits, Malaysia

Abstract

In this study, land use effect on river water quality and its subsequent impact on Johor Strait coastal water and green mussel, Perna viridis cultivated at the strait near the fast growing city of Johor Bahru, is investigated. Over the years, changes in land use and increased discharge of domestic, agricultural and industrial waste into the coastal water has severely impaired the water condition and threatened the profitable green mussel aquacu lture activity. Cu and Zn concentrations in water were found to be higher at sampling points closer to Johor Bahr u city while Sungai Pendas and Sungai Melayu which are less develop yielded lower pollutants concentration. The heavy metal concentrations (in mg/L) are between 0.18 to 0.38 for Zn and 3.24 to 3.44 for Cu. Coastal water recorded Zn concentratio n (in mg/L) of 0.03 to 0.05 and Cu concentration of 0.25 to 0.33 while green mussels recorded (in μg/g) 18.24 to 40.01 of Zn and 24.29 to 92.52 of Cu.