Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2010.652.657JalalK.C.A. KamaruzzamanY. FairuzA. AkbarB. ShahbudinS. FaridahY. 82010108Physicochemical parameters influence the vertical spatial distribution of microbial communities in any water bodies. Based on this perspective, a study on physicochemical parameters and bacterial community was carried out from five stations on January-June 2009 at the Kuantan estuary of Pahang, Malaysia. The temperature was ranged from 25.01-27.48°C, salinity fluctuation observed 0.03-25.84 ppt, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 6.10 to 10.73 mg L-1, specific conductivity ranged from 0.10 to 42.43 mS cm-1, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ranged from 0.05 to 26.36 g L-1) and pH varied from 5.69 to 8.11 and chlorophyll a ranged 0.01 to 1.14 μg L-1. The nitrite concentration was higher at St. 5 (0.19 mg L-1) followed by St. 4 (0.16 mg L-1) and it was lowest at St. 1 (0.13 mg L-1). Similarly, high phosphorus content (0.17 mg L-1) was found at St. 4 followed by St. 5 (0.16 mg L-1) while, it was lowest at St. 1 (0.08 mg L-1). Out of 19 isolated bacteria most dominant bacteria were Citrobacter freundii followed by Leuconostoc sp. and Staphylococcus xylosus. High bacterial colony (cfu mL-1) was observed at St. 4 (570 cfu mL-1) in water column followed by St. 5 (490 cfu mL-1). In contrary, it was lowest at St. 2 (213 cfu mL-1). Meanwhile, the highest bacterial colony in sediment was observed at St. 4 (390 cfu mL-1) followed by St. 5 (333 cfu mL-1). It was lowest observed at St. 2 (167 cfu mL-1). Nevertheless, a continuous monitoring of water quality is needed in this estuary especially at St. 4 and 5 which could be alarming in the long run due to deposition of nutrients from the outlets of fishing villages and industry sources.]]>Alavandi, S.V.,1990308992Bartram, J. and R. Ballance,1996Chau, K.W.,20066415451549Dominik, K. and M.G. Hofle,20026836063613Garrity, G.M.,20012nd Edn.,Hahn, M.W.,200617256261Jain, R.K., M. Kapur, S. Labana, P.M. Sarma, D. Bhattacharya and I.S. Thakur,200589101111Lindstrom, E.S.,200142598605Martinez, J., D.C. Smith, G.F. Steward and F. Azam,199610223230Nielsen, T.G. and T. Kiorboe,1991133551Parsons, R.P., Y. Maita and C.M. Lalli, 1992Pierce, D.W. and R.K. Turner,199235515Rheinheimer, G.,19802nd End.,Smith, S.V.,19842911491160United States Environmental Protection Agency,2002Wu, Q.L. and M.W. Hahn,2006576779Yannarell, A.C. and E.W. Triplett,200470214223