With special reference to Sabah, Malaysia

Issues and Challenges of SEAGRASS

With special reference to Sabah, Malaysia

Issues and Challenges of SEAGRASS

With special reference to Sabah, Malaysia

Josephine Gumpil M. W. Ranjith N. De Silva

PenerbiU.

Kota Kinabalu . Sabah . 2007 hnp:J/www.wns.edu.my/penerbit

" l1niv(,Nili Malaysia S.lhah. 1007

All ri~hl$ rt'iCr\'td. Nl> parts of this publication may be reproduced or tr;ansmiued in any (lmn or by any means. electronic or

mn:hankal. phutocupying. recording. or any information slllrage lind f(lrie\'al system. without permission

in writing from Uni\'ersiti Malaysia Sabah.

Cataloguing-in-Publicalion Data Gumptl JO\CPhinc. 1972·

I~~ ~ Cb.lllcngcs of Seagras~: With Special Reference To Sabah, M.u.J),i~ lJ~phinc Gumpil and M.W. Ranjilh N.De Silva

Indudes blbhografi reference!!

ISBS 978·983-2369·61-~

I. ~agrau-Sabah. 2. Marine plants·-Sabah. I. De Silva. M. W. R. N.

II. Tille

~82.959~21

Printed by:

I-Teamwork (M) Sdn. Bhd.

c o N T E N T s

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES

vii

FOREWORD ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS x

THE SCOPE OF THE BOOK

xiii

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION 1

Seagrasses 1

The importance of seagrasses

The importance of seagrass beds to fisheries Associated macrofauna and flora

CHAPTER 2

DISTRIBUTION OF TROPICAL SEAGRASSES

9

Factors determining the distribution of seagrasses

10 Temperature

Light Turbidity Oepth Salinity

Type of Substrate

CHAPTER 3

STATUS OF KNOWLEDGE OF SEAGRASSES OF MALAYSIA

13

Status of knowledge of seagrasses of Sabah

CHAPTER ..

DEGRADAnON OF SEAGRASS BEDS

~uses

of leagrass degradation

Natural threats

AAthropogenic threats

17

Causes of seagrass degradation In Southeast Asia 19

Consequences

0'

seagrass loss

CHAPTER 5

MANAGEMENT ORIENTED RESEARCH

23

Management options and strategies

CHAPTER'

A

BASIC GUIDE TO IDENTIfICATION Of THE

29

SEAGRASSES OF SABAH

Separation of genera and species of seagrasse. of 31 Sabah

Key to the separation of seagras. genera of Sabah, 31 Malaysia

Genera. description of seagrasse. of Sabah 34

FiiII1Wy: Cvmodoceaceae

Genus; Cymodocea Genus: Halodule Genus: Syrlngodium Genus: Thalassodendron

Family: Hydrocharttaceae

Genus: Enhalus

Genus: Halophlla

Genus: Thalassla

REfERENCES INDEX

51 61

\/1

LIST OF TABLES

Table

1.1 Primary productivity rate of tropical seagrass beds as compared with several other aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

3.1 4.1 6.1

Figure 1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

3.1

3.2

4.1

4.2 5.1

Species of seagrasses recorded from Malaysian waters The causes of seagrass loss in Southeast Asia

Families, genera and species of seagrasses that have been recorded for Sabah, Malaysia

LIST OF FIGURES

General morphology of a seagrass

Flower of (a) Enhalus acoroides (b) fruit of Thalassia hemprichii The different leaf shapes of seagrasses

A school of fish mostly in their juvenile stages in the seagrass bed of Kunak, Sabah

Bivalves associated with the seagrass beds in Kunak and Teluk Lung, Pulau Balambangan, Kudat. Sabah

Seagrass resources e.g. fish. mollusks. holothurians (sea cucumbers), echinoderms (sea urchins) and crabs were the targeted organisms collected in seagrass bed at Kunak, Sabah. Malaysia

Macroalgae associated with seagrasses in Darvel Bay. Sabah

The distribution and species composition of seagrasses in Sabah, East Malaysia

The seagrass bed in Kunak, Sabah. Malaysia

Collecting mollusks, sea urchins and sea cucumbers during low tide were the main activities practiced by women and children in the seagrass bed of Kunak, Sabah, Malaysia

A seagrass bed at Kunak. Sabah, Malaysia affected by 'fish bombing' Comparison of percentage seagrass cover (mean ± s.e) between Kunak and Teluk Lung. Kudat from December 1999 to November 2000 using permanent line transects

vii

Page 4

14 21

29

Page 1

2

3 6 6

7

8 15 16 19

20

25

f~n

~ ~ Tbt 1a,"~h)tI

"t

sluJy sites in Kun"k, D.lf"d nay (3 ~agrass bed c __ 'iAkrcJ 10 ~ slrt'iscJ ~y human a"'livilic~) anJ Tcluk Lung.

f\tt.& B.al.am".an~.an. KuJal. S"lloah. Mabysia (a seagrass bed COCl.ilJr:r.:-J I.&-'illy SIrt's\C:J ~y human al:li vilic~)

~J [umpic: ur lbe rd"liun~hip vr Ihe: liJe: Ic:vdlo huntan 84:livities

~n~ in a \(',,~ra.'i~ ~J III Kunak. Sabah. Malaysia 6 I \~J('t.aClvt murphulogy of. seagrasscs

6: tut 11r"

:anJ

leaf m.ara;ins of scagra'iscs 6) 1lIc

aut

\haP<''' of sc"a;ra,sc",

6~ l>u,umm.&li~ rtprtscnlaliun of C)'I"'''/ouo rolundala 6S Ol.alt;unm.a(M: rc:prC:'lCnlalion or Cy,,,,,,/oua san/lalcl 66 (,. .. 'tiamm~ll~ rc:prc:scnlalion of 1I1I1'''/lIlt I'illi!o/ia 67 l>,.a,nn"n.lll~ rc:prc:senlalion of lIaloc/ult un;IIt'Tvis 61 Ol .. ,,..amma'i~ rt'prtSCnlalion of Sy,illgm/ium isotli/o/ium 69 l.>l.alt;)fftm.&lic rcpresenlalion of Tha/cusodtlltlrrm ci/imum 610 Ol .. " .. mmalic reprcscnlalion

or

E"hIJ/Ul ocomidn 611 o..agl;)fftJrullic rc:prescnlation of IItl/OplJiltl "((ip;(ns 612 Ougr.amJrullic representation of IItl/ophiia

"';'111'

61] Ot.a,r;untrUlic rt'presenlation of lIa/ophila ol'alis

61~ Olllgr;untnalic representation of lIalophila spillul(}sa b.1S Otolgnmmalic rcprescnlalion of Th%uio htmp,icllii

vIII

Page 25

27

30

32 33 36 37

38 39 40

41

43

4S 46

47

48

49

FOREWORD

It is a privilege and honour to be able to introduce this book on a little appreciated but extremely important and productive coastal ecosystem - the seagrasses. Although largely based on scientific research carried out in Sabah, its application to tropical seagrasses in general needs to be emphasized. The authors have been able to present the issues and challenges faced by the seagrass ecosystems in a very readable and simple manner while retaining the factual and scientific nature making it useful to both researchers and laymen.

The present study on seagrasses was part of a comprehensive programme to formulate an integrated management plan for Darvel Bay, Sabah by the Borneo Marine Research Institute under the marine component of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (VMS) -Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED) Biodiversity Conservation Project. I am sure that this book based on Ms. Josephine Gumpi\'s M.Sc. thesis with its suggested management options, will dovetail nicely into an Integrated Management Plan for Darvel Bay.

I am glad that Ms. Josephine Gumpil with a keen interest in seagrasses of Sabah and Dr. M.W. Ranjith N. D Silva a former Professor of the Borneo Marine Research Institute, VMS, now back in his home country Sri Lanka, have been able to come up with this valuable contribution to the seagrass ecosystem.

Prof

Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman Marine Biologist and

Director of the Research Management Centre Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful and indebted to Prof. Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman, the Director of the Research Management Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah who was the co-supervisor of the Master of Science programme of the primary author on "Status, Utilization and Suggested Management Strategies of Seagrass Beds in Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysia, for his enthusiastic support, assistance, suggestions and encouragement both during the writing of this book and research work.

We would also like to express our sincere gratefulness to Prof. Dr. Saleem Mustafa, the Director of Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah for his tremendous support, suggestions and assistance during the preparation of this book.

A special thank you to Mr. Asri Mohd. Suari for his tremendous help, support and assistance during the fieldwork throughout the study. A big thank you and appreciation to the VMS seaweed team in Pulau Banggi, Mr. Basarun Kasim, Mr.

Ramlan Ali, Mr. Sabbas Mohd. Ali, Ms. Arinah Ajok, Mr. Rahim and all the staff for their assistance in Teluk Lung, Pulau Balambangan.

We wish to thank the VMS - DANCED Biodiversity Project of Universiti Malaysia Sabah for providing financial support for carrying out a post graduate research programme which led to this book; Borneo Marine Research Institute and the Research Management Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah for all the assistances;

Mr. GP.H.S. De Silva and Professor Datin Dr. Hjh. Ann Anton for reviewing the book and for helpful suggestions.

The primary author would like to record her appreciation to many of the government departments for their co-operation and assistance, namely, the Sabah Parks, Department of Fisheries Sabah, District offices in Lahad Datu and Kunak as well as the Forestry Department of Lahad Datu, particularly during the interview surveys.

Last but not least, the primary author wishes to thank her family members and close friends, Val, Cory, Fin, Justin and Lilian; a heart felt thank you for always being there.

xl

THE SCOPE OF THE BOOK

This book is designed for multilevel users. It focuses on the importance and threats to the high productive seagrass ecosystems of Sabah, Malaysia which are not yet widely known nationally and internationally. Little or no published information is available as to how seagrass beds are being utilised, what the actual and potential threats to them are and what management options are needed to ensure their sustainability. This book aims to bridge some of these information gaps. The book by no means claims to provide the readers with an in-depth knowledge of seagrasses and associated organisms but attempts to introduce them to the seagrass ecosystems of Sabah, Malaysia that have been investigated. It is our fervent hope that this will lead the way to "knowing and loving the seagrass ecosystem" and culminate in the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources spear-headed particularly by our younger generation.

The book targets the following:

POLICY AND DECISION MAKERS

In particular, those involved in Integrated Costal Zone Management, fisheries Protected Areas.

STUDENTS

It would be useful to obtain a working knowledge of the seagrass ecosystem and associated organisms. It also aims to promote interest among students and create awareness of the importance of seagrasses as an ecosystem.

RESEARCHERS

It would serve as a basic reference for researchers interested in the seagrasses of Sabah, Malaysia and is intended to open the door to promote further development of research on seagrass ecosystems in Malaysia and elsewhere.

NATURALISTS AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTALISTS

It would enhance the knowledge of a little appreciated but extremely important and producti ve marine ecosystem that should be used wisely for the benefit of present and future generation.

Josephine Gumpil

M.W. Ranjith N. De Silva April2006

xiii