Spatial Distribution of Organic Carbon Contents of Langkawi Island Coastal Waters, Malaysia

B. Y. Kamaruzzaman, N. T. Shuhada, S. Shahbuddin, K. A. C. Jalal, S. M. Al-Barwani and J. S. Goddard

¹Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies, International Islamic University (Malaysia). ²Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang (Malaysia). ³Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, Sultan Qabos University, P. O. Box 34, Al-Khod 123 (Sultanate of Oman).

The distribution of total organic carbon content (TOC) in surface sediments of 5 zones in the area of Langkawi Island coastal waters were analysed by using wet oxidation dichromate method. A total of 51 samples were obtained using Ekman Grab from Kuah coastal area (Zone A), Cenang coastal area (Zone B), Datai River (Zone E), Kilim River (Zone D) and Pulau Tuba waters (Zone E). In this study, the highest mean of organic carbon was found in zone A (2.27±0.59), followed by zone C (2.09±0.14), zone D (2.01±0.15), zone E (1.89±0.28) and the lowest is in zone B (1.72±0.38). A relatively weak positive relationship was also found between the organic carbon content and the sediments grain size.

total organic carbon; Langkawi Island; coastal waters; surface sediment sample