Harpacticoid Copepods from Tioman Island, Malaysia

• Main Author: Kassim, Zaleha
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: World Association of Copepodologist 2022
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/99544/1/Harpacticoid%20Copepods%20from%20Tioman%20Island%2C%20Malaysia.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/99544/; https://e-icoc-2022.com/

Corals in the Tioman Island Malaysia was exposed to sea surface temperature rise and coral bleaching incident was reported in many parts in the island between 2016 and 2017. A series of ecological survey was carried out to investigate the lifeform condition during the bleaching incidents. As part of the study, survey on the meiobenthic community was done to identify harpacticoid species inhabited the area during that period. Field samplings were carried out between August, September and October 2017 at six selected stations, which are Salang, Tulai Station 1, Tulai Station 2, Batu Malang, Renggis and Soyak. Sediment cores were obtained by scuba divers using transparent hand core (3.5 cm mouth diameter) which later been preserved with 10% formalin added with Rose Bengal. Harpacticoid specimens were dissected and prepared for taxonomic examination with the help of Lucida camera attached to a compound microscope. The ultrastructure of the species was determined from the micrograph resulted from Scanning Electron Microscope examination. A total of 14 harpacticoid species representing 9 genera from the family of Dactylopusiidae (Dactylopusia sp.), family Ectinosomatidae (Ectinosoma sp.), family Miraciidae (Robertgurneya smithi, Typhlamphiascus lamellifer, Typhlamphiascus blanchardi and Delavalia clavus), family Laophontidae (Laophonte cornuta, Laophonte expansa, Quinquelaophonte quinquespinosa and Asellopsis sp.), family Tetragonicipitidae (Phyllopodopsyllus sp. 1 and Phyllopodopsyllus sp. 2) and family Canuellidae (Canuellina nicobaris and Brianola sp.) were discovered from the sampling sites. Based on taxonomic identification, the harpacticoid species in Tioman Island did not show a marked different from other area except the presence of row of spinules on the surface of swimming leg in Devalia clavus and Robertgurneya smithi, conical shape of furcal rami in Typhylamphiascus lamellifer, five setae ornamented the caudal rami of Quinquelaophonte quinquespinosa and 7 arthrites on maxillule on Canuellina nicobaris. The micrograph revealed features like strong and jagged claw of maxilliped of Asellopsis sp., and thick and pitted integuments ornamented the cephalotorax and somites of Laophonte cornuta and Laophonte expansa. Harpacticoids in Renggis were significantly related with the hard coral (p = 0.030, p <0.05), sand (p = 0.046) and dead coral (p = 0.031, p, 0.05), while species diversity of harpacticoid copepods from the Tioman coral reef area is considered high with the H’ value > 1.8, d > 1.5 and J > 1.8. The taxonomic data and biodiversity could be further help field experimental approach to understand the harpacticoid strategy towards environmental crisis.