JurnalBiosains Vol, 13 No, 2, 2002 THE FISH FAUNA OF PANTAI ACHEH FOREST RESERVE, PENANG, MALAYSIA “Amirrudin A, **Yusri Y, !Siti Azizah MN and ‘Ali AB School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Abstrak: Sebanyak dua puluh enam spesies ikan telah dicamkan dari Hutan Simpan Pantai Acheh, Pulau Pinang, yang mana hanya enam daripadan Ikan gobi merapakan kumpulan yang dominan bicolor (Anguilidae) di Pulau Pinang disahkan Gianggap sebagai spesies ikan air tawar primer catatkan i dalam kajian ini Kehadiran Angulla Abstract: Twenty-six species of fishes were identified from the newly’ established Pantai Acheh National Forest Reserve, Penang, of which only six species were considered as primary freshwater species, Gobies were the most dominant fish group recorded in the study. The presence of Anguila bicolor (Anguillidae} in Penang Island is confirmed. INTRODUCTION Studies on ichthyofauna of Peninsular Malaysia have been carried out in many localities mainly on freshwater fishes but most have been in national and state parks. Taman Negara, Pahang, for example, previously the only national park in Peninsular Malaysia has received greater attention with studies by ichthyologists like Hora and Gupta (1941), Menon. (195A) Tweedie (1949, 1952, 1956, 1961) and Zakaria-Ismail' (1984). Others have conducted studies in state-managed parks (eg, Zakaria-Ismail 1987; Lim et al. 19903" Ng & Tan 1999; Amirrudin et al. 2000), Penang Island is separated from the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia by a narrow channel. Many part of the island had been converted to either an industrial area or residential area. However, despite rapid development face by the island also known as the “Pearl of the Orient’, a small yet vulnerable piece of land has been Proposed and approved for conservation and declared as national park. Once gazetted, Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve (PAR) will be the first national park established in northern Peninsular Malaysia and only the second one there, * Corresponding author: amirrudinahmadayahoo.com ‘The forest reserve consists of several small and shallow freshwater streams. The streams are relatively short, the longest and largest being Sg. Pantai Kerachut which flows into a meromictic lake before entering, the sea, ‘The streams are generally under forest cover, and are swift flowing and follow a boulder-strewn course with many small cascades with a short riffle upstream. In the flat coastal areas, the typical stream course meanders and is slow flowing, with several small pools. The water is generally slightly acidic upstream (pH 6.2) to medium-hard at the lower reaches (pH 7.5) Although annotated checklists of the inland fishes of Penang Island have been compiled by Alfred (1963) and Shah (1993), these were based on localities further inland. This present report incorporated collections and observations made during several trips to the area prior to the MNS. USM Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve Scientific Expedition from 15 to 23 April 2000 as well as several subsequent collections to the area. The aim of this study was to establish fa checklist of fishes in PAFR, Penang, However, this checklist is still incomplete. ‘Present address: ICLARM- The World Fish Centre, Jin. Bt. Maung, Penang, Malavsia,MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling Sites ‘The PAFR (5° 29° N, 100° 12° £) is a coastal forest covering an area of 1200 ha, consists of a series of forested hills located on the northwestern of the Penang Island (Fig. 1) Two main geographic units, the granitic hills are overlain by Oxisol_and Utisol, which constitutes about 80% of the landscape ranged from 100 to 500 m above sea level and the narrow coastal plains that was cut by several small and shallow freshwater streams. The main vegetation is the coastal hill dipterocarp forest characterized by an abundance of the gregarious dipterocarp Shorea curtisii Figure 1: The map of Peninsular Ma (Turmet et al, 1990} on the higher coastal plains and several patches of mangrove forest along the wet shore. Altogether, five small streams were sampled during the study (Fig. 1). The first was a small stream at Kg. Teluk Awak, located at the entrance to the PAFR. The second was Sg. Tukun, followed by streams at Pantai Kerachut that consists of three tributaries (all streams are referred as Sg, Pantai Kerachut) that flows into the meromictic lake. The last two streams visited were a small stream at Teluk Kampi [referred as Sg. Teluk Kampi) and a small unnamed stream at Pantai Mas (here referred to as Sg. Pantai Mas) ee \Vhaiand ¢ \ ssia showing the study sites (arrow). The sampling locations were (1) Sg. Teluk Awak, (2) Sg. Tukun, (3) Sg. Pantai Kerachut, (4) Sg. Teluk Kampi and (5} Sg. Pantai Mas situated at the northwest of the Penang Island. The shaded area indicates the meromictic lake at the lower part of Sg, Pantai Kerachut, 36‘The first stream visited was Sg. Teluk Awak situated at the entrance to the Park, ‘The stream the smallest, shortest and very shallow. The stream is partly disturbed particularly at the lower part, as it is Jocated close to human settlements. However, the water is clear, cool and flows smoothly. The upper part is very narrow and shallow with clear water, With regards to the substrate, the lower part is mostly fine sand, the upper part been mainly small rocks and boulders, Riparian plants provide cover for part of the stream, Sg. Tukun is probably the most disturbed stream within the forest reserve. This stream has been used for recreational purposes and has been blocked to create several small pools for swimming. The stream is relatively short with fast flowing water before ending up at the man-made pool. At most parts of the stream, the width recorded was less then S m. The water is shallow, clear, cool and with high dissolved oxygen. The lower part of the etream ic slightly turbid. The main substrate is mainly boulders upstream and fine sand downstream. The upper part of the stream is almost entirely covered by riparian plant but the lower reach is slightly open with several mangrove trees growing on its batiks, Sg, Pantai Kerachut is the biggest and Jongest stream within the forest reserve, ‘The average channel width of this stream is, about 7 m at the upstream and can reach approximately 15 m at the lower end during the wet season, ‘Ihe surface width most of the time is less then 5 m wide and the river is relatively shallow. The bottom substrate is mainly fine sand at the lower reach and boulders and rocks creating several small pools and short riffles upstream. The Fiparian plant covered most part of the river particularly at the upstream, Sg. Teluk Kampi is a small stream situated at Teluk Kampi, which is partly disturbed at the lower part. The stream mouth is blocked by a sand bars. The upper part was however undisturbed but very shallow and narrow whereas the lower part was relatively deep, about 1.5 m, The water was clear, cool and flowing smoothly before 37. ending in the stagnant pool at the downstream. The bottom substrate at the upstream is mainly rock and pebbles whereas the lower part mainly fine sand. Most part of the river was covered with riparian plant. Sg. Pantai Mas is a small stream and relatively untouched except at the stream- mouth, where it is used by the shore fisherman to sort their catch, This short stream was very shallow but the water was clear, cool and highly suitable for swimming. Large boulders dominated the bottom substrate at the upstream whereas the lower reach was mainly sandy bottom. The river is entirely covered by riparian vegetation. ‘The fishes were collected by cast nets and scoop nets with stretch mesh size of 1.5 cm and 2 mm, respectively, Samplings were conducted during daytime as well as at night, The fishes were immediately precerved in 10% formalin eolution. After 2 weeks, the specimens were immersed in freshwater to remove excessive formalin and subsequently transferred to 70% alcohol for long-term storage. These specimens are deposited in the Ichthyology Collections of the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Peviany, Malaysia. Abbreviations and Malay names used are: Sg. (Sungai = river), Kg. (Kampung = village), Teluk (» bay) and Pantai (= beach). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Annotated Checklist Order Anguilliformes Family Anguillidae Anguilla bicolor McClelland Material: Sandy stream of Sg, Pantai Kerachut (2 ex.) Collected from underneath a fallen tree with, decaying Ieaves and twigs. Rath examples (TL = 13 and 12.5 em) were juvenile. The present collections confirm the continual ‘occurrence of this eel on Penang IslandORDER GONORHYNCHIFORMES. Family Chanidae Chanos chanos (For: et) Material: Sg. Pantai Kerachut at meromictic lake (1 ex.) This fish was previously cultivated in aquaculture ponds at Pulau Betung near Balik Pulau, Penang, ORDER BELONIFORMES Family Belonidae Strongylura strongylura (Bleeker) Material: Sg, Tukun (1 ex.) ‘This garfish enters the stream mouth at high tide is large reaching approximately 32.8 em SL, Family Adrianichthyidae Oryzias javanicus (Bleeker) Materials: Sg. Teluk Kampi (4 ex}, Sg. Tukun (13 ex.), Sg. Teluk Awak (2 ex.) Mainly found at the stream mouths swimming at the water surface in small schools. Also observed in the meromictic lake of Pantai Kerachut ORDER CYPRINODONTIFORMES Family Aplocheilidae Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton) Materials: Sandy streams of Sg. Pantai Kerachut (5 ex, Sg. Teluk Kampi (1 ex.) The species was collected from both brackish water and freshwater. Family Poeciliidae Poecilia reticulata Peters Material: Sg. Tukun (3 ex.) A non-native freshwater fish that has presently become welkestablished in Penang. ORDER PERCIFORMES Family Centropomidae Lates calcarifer (Bloch) Material: Sg. Tukun (1 ex.) A juvenile was collected from among the mangrove roots. Family Chandidae Ambassis interrupta Bleeker Materials: Sg. Tukun (3 ex.), Sg. Pantai Mas (Lex) This glassfish was collected mainly at the stream mouth. Family Terapontidae Terapon jarbua (Forsskal) Material: Sg. Pantai Mas (4 ex.) Collected near the stream mouth, but was also observed entering a small tributary of Sg. Pantai Mas, which is a freshwater stream, Family Gerreidae Gerres filamentosus (Cuvier) Material: Sg. Pantai Kerachut at meromictic lake (2 ex.) This species was collected in the meromictic lake. Family Mugilidae Liza melinoptera (Valenciennes) Material: Sg. Tukeun (5 ex.) ‘This mullet occasionally enters freshwater but is mainly recorded to be below tidal influence. Family Eleotrididae Eleotris melanosoma Bleeker Material: Sg. Pantai Kerachut (8 ex.)The specimens were obtained from the bottom part of a freshwater stream within piles of leaves in a small, slow flowing pool, Butis butis (Bleeker) Material: Sg. Takuan (1 ex.) ‘This fish has characteristic red markings on the side of its body. It inhabited the bottom part of the stream below tidal influence Butis humeralis (Bleeker) Materiats: Sg. Pantai Kerachut (2 ex.), Sg Teluk Awak (1 ex.) This species inhabits a habitat similar to that of B. butis but is less colourful with a uniformly black body. Ophiocara porocephala (Valenciennes) Material: Sg, Teluk Awak (2 ex.) ‘This species enters freshwater sporadically. It was mainly collected from within piles of leaves, Family Gobiidae ‘Mugitogobius fasciatus Larson Material: Sg. Pantai Kerachut (2 ex, Se Teluk Awak (5 ex.) This goby inhabits streams detritus and riparian vegetation. with thick ‘Mugitogobuis rambaiae (Smith) Materials: Sg. Teluk Kampi (2 ex, Si Tukun (2 ex.), Sg. Pantai Kerachut (3 ex.), Sg, Teluke Awak (10 ex.) A brackish water goby that was collected mainly within leaves piles, Stigmatogobius sadanundio (Hamilton) Material: Sg. Pantai Mas (3 ex.), Sg. Tukun (Sex), Sg. Teluk Awak (6 ex.) A popular aquarium fish that prefers saline water. It was collected mainly near the stream mouth. 39, Eugnathogobius oligactis (Bleeker) Materials: Sg. Teluk Kampi (10 ex), Sg Tukun (9 x:) Previously known as Pseudlogobiopsis, oligactis, it is usually recorded above tidal influence. Glossogobius aureus Akihito & Meguro Materials: Sg. Tukun (3 ex,, Sg. Teluk Awak (I ex.) Mainly collected in areas under tidal influence. Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton) Materials: Sg. Pantai Kerachut (1 ex), S& Pantai Mas (2 ex.) Similar in appearance to G. aureus but mainly collected in streams above tidal influence. Acentrogobius viridipunctatus (Valenciennes) Material: Sg. Tukun (1 ex.) A colourful goby that inhabited the middle section of the streams at low-lying arcas, Periophthalmus novemradiatus (Koumans) Materials: Sg. Tukun (1 ex.), Sg. Pantai Mas (Bex). This species enters stream mouth during high tides, Periophthalmodon schlosseri (Pallas) Materials: Sg. Tukun (1 ex.), Sg. Pantai Kerachut (1 ¢x4, Sg, Pantai Mas (3 e.) ‘This mudskipper was found at the stream mouth. Pseudapocryptes elongatus (Cuvier) Materials: Sg. Pantai Kerachut (1 ex.), $ Teluk Awak (1 ex.)tidal does ‘The specimens were collected below influence but this mudskipper penetrate freshwater Family Osphronemidae Betta pugnax (Cantor) Material: Sg. Teluk Kampi (3 ex.) Confined to freshwater, this fish collected from among the leaf litter submerged branches. and A total of 139 specimens of fish representing 26 species from eight families were collected. The most dominant family was Gobiidae with 10 opecies. The fich fauna of the PAFR consisted largely of anadromous, secondary division freshwater forms and these appeared to be concentrated mainly at the lower reaches and stream mouth, Most of the species recorded were euryhaline. Betta pugnax is fone of the examples of species that is confined to freshwater. Also collected in the study was Anguilla bicolor, diadromus taxa, which is an obligate inhabitant of freshwater in its adult life, The others included sporadic species such as member of the Mugilidae, Ophiocara porocephala and Lates calcarifér that occasionally enter freshwater. IL is not possible to draw a clear line with taxon such as Aplocheilus panchax, which appeared to occur in both freshwater and brackish water. CONCLUSION ‘Twenty six species of fish are recorded from within the PARR. They are mainly secondary freshwater fish and brackish water species. The low diversity of fish at the upstream area probably resulted from unpredictable and unstable flow regime created by relatively short and steep gradient streams, Several species collected In the study like Stigmatogabius sadanundio is highly vulnerable to environmental influence and attention must be given to prevent phiysical alteration of the area Unt can lead to habitat destruction and subsequently loss of fish diversity in the Park. 40 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains. Malaysia especially the MNS-USM expedition, committee for inviting us to join the expedition. Assistance from Mr. Kelvin P. Lim of National University, Singapore and Chavalit Vidthayanon of Fisheries Museum Division, Department of Fisheries, Thailand in fish identification is greatly appreciated, We also thank the two anonymous reviewers for providing constructive criticisms and valuable suggestions that greatly contributed to improvement of earlier version of this manuscript. Our gratitude ip aleo extended to the team members for providing the support in field work during the study, namely Hidayat, Asyraf and Ruzainah. REFERENCES Alfred E R. (1963). Notes on a collection of freshwater fishes from Penang. Bull Singapore Nat. Mus. 32: 143-154. Amirrudin BA, Ali A Band Mansor M (2001). Freshwater fishes of Wang Kelian, Perlis. State Park, In. Kepelbagaian Biologi dan Pengurusan Taman Negeri Perlis: Persekitaran fizikal dan Biolog’ Wang Kelian (Faridah- Hanum et al. (eds.} Pelis: Jabatan Perhutanan Perlis. pp. 111-121 Hora $ Land Gupta JG. (1941). 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