Photosynthetic and Respiration Responses of Dugong Grass Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenb) Aschers. at Teluk Kemang Seagrass Bed, Malaysia
Abstract:
Photosynthetic and respiration responses were measured in situ at different
depths and under a variety of light regime for seagrass Thalassia hemprichii
from coastal area of Teluk Kemang, Port Dickson, Malaysia. The photosynthesis
and respiration rate was measured from evolution of oxygen from the seagrass enclosed
in glass cuvet. The photosynthetic rate at 0.5 m was higher (0.429 ± 0.086 mg
O2/hr/g fr wt.) than at 2.0 m depth (0.289 ± 0.034 mg O2/hr/g
fr wt.). Respiration rate was not significantly different at two depths. In laboratory
study, the light saturation of T. hemprichii was reached at 400-800 μmol/m2/sec,
whereas, the compensation point was around 20 μmol/m2/s. The photosynthesis
was relatively constant at light intensity up to 1600 μmol/m2/s. Comparing
these results to in situ light measurement from the seagrass bed (1095.430±5.803
μmol/m2/s at surface water and 115.00±1.512 μmol/m2/s. at
2.0 m depth), this species depth distribution should not be light limited to a
depth of about 2.0 m i.e. T. hemprichii could penetrate a depth of more
than 2.0 m in this study area. However, the present field observation indicated
that this species could only be found at intertidal area (1.5 - 2.0 m High Water
Level) and assumed that other environmental factors i.e. current movement, water
visibility and sediment status may affects the depth distribution of this seagrass
in this costal water.
How to cite this article
M.K. Abu Hena, K. Misri, B. Japar Sidik, O. Hishamuddin and H. Hidir, 2001. Photosynthetic and Respiration Responses of Dugong Grass Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenb) Aschers. at Teluk Kemang Seagrass Bed, Malaysia. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 1487-1489.
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