THE IMPROVEMENT OF WATER QUALITY INDEX AND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER FISHES IN MANJUNG RIVER

Abstract

This project mainly studies the water quality of the Manjung River in Perak, Malaysia. Six sampling sites were used to collect water quality and fish samples. The goal of this study was to verify the water quality parameters based on the diversity of freshwater fish distribution. The second is to evaluate the influence of water quality on freshwater fish distribution. Finally, data on fish diversity and distribution in the study area will be analyzed. The method used in this study's data collection and analysis is the collection of water samples in a designated research region using designated equipment. A fishing net was utilised as a method to gather fish samples. The analysis of fish diversity (H'), richness (R'), and evenness (E') was done using PAST software. Fish from 11 distinct species and 7 different families totaled 162 individual fish in total. Fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae made up the majority of the region's fish species (50 species; 41.5%), followed by those belonging to the families Bagridae and Cichlidae (22 and 21 species; 27.69%). Additionally, samples of four fish species were gathered, including Latidae, Notopteridae, Balitoridae and Eleotridae, all of which are considered endangered. In this river, pH was the most significant water quality factor for fish occurrences, followed by temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and turbidity. Data analysis shows that the presence of fish was influenced by a number of water quality factors, but not by the sampling month. The findings provide fresh information from research of fish assemblage and habitat quality that may be crucial for river fisheries activity and fish conservation in the future.