Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES, FOREST CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER QUALITIES IN THE NORTH SELANGOR PEAT SWAMP FOREST, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

Hamidu Saadu, Ahmad Ismail, Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli, Amalia Mohd Hashim and Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal

Abstract

The degradation of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) is promoted by both natural and artificial factors. This study attempts to understand the associations between the anthropogenic activities, forest characteristics and water qualities in the undisturbed NSPSF and its nearby disturbed area. In each area, three sites were sampled in undisturbed area (UA); Sungai Karang Peat Swamp Forest site 1, Raja Musa Peat Swamp Forest and Sungai Karang Peat Swamp Forest site 2, while for disturbed area (DA); paddy field, forest fire and oil palm plantation areas were sampled. Modified scoring guides were used to determine the anthropogenic activities, while forest characteristics were also measured. Additionally, water physico chemical parameters were measured both in situ and ex situ. The means and standard deviations of obtained data were calculated, compared and associated between the areas. Generally, for anthropogenic activities, the findings showed that the state of accessibility, deforestation level and agricultural activities to be the predominant human activities in the DA. Moreover, construction activities cut across both UA and DA. However, for forest characteristics, the relative light intensity was higher in the DA compared to UA. The UA is characterized by higher number of trees. The DA showed high seedling percentage, but conversely lower in UA. For water quality analyses, lower dissolved oxygen values notably increase from UA to DA. However, the dissolved oxygen values were exceptionally lower in forest fire site in DA. Overall associations showed that the state of accessibility was closely correlated with NH3-N and Fe in the DA, while air pollution in the UA was associated with NO3 - concentration in the water. Understanding on the associations between anthropogenic activities, forest characteristics and water qualities could provide insight for monitoring the ecological conditions and conservatory status of NSPSF.