Bidong Island: Natural History and Resources (Geography of the Physical Environment)

Bidong Island is a small island located in the South China Sea, and is about 14 km from mainland Peninsular Malaysia. The island and the Bidong archipelago boast of its richness in diversity of both terrestrial and marine organisms and its undeniably pristine and thriving ecosystem. In 1975–1990, Bidong Island was formerly a UNHCR refugee camp for a quarter of a million Vietnamese "Boat people" escaping the Vietnam War, and still holds great significance to many of its descendants. Due to its historical significance, the Terengganu State government plans to develop Bidong Island as a heritage tourism site and a new scuba diving destination. This book highlights the uniqueness of Bidong Island and its archipelago, paying particular attention to the biological aspect (which includes marine and terrestrial organisms) and the pollution status surrounding the island. These mainly focus on organisms of the open water and benthic ecosystems such as plankton, fishes, corals reef communities, crustaceans and foraminifera. In addition, we discuss terrene related topics, which includes tree diversity, lichens and also herpetofauna surrounding the Bidong Island. Indisputably an important topic, we also address the pollution status surrounding Bidong Island, with emphasis on heavy metals and its impact. Readers interested in the areas of environmental sciences should find this book appealing. This book can also be used by students and researchers when discussing about tropical environments on island ecosystems. We do hope that stakeholders that would partake in future interest of Bidong Island (particularly in tourism) are equally aware of the current health status of the island and would engage in conserving and sustaining the diversity and heritage of the archipelago for the benefit of the community. Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Editors Contributors Abbreviations 1 General Geology of Bidong Island, Terengganu Abstract 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Tectonic Framework 1.3 Holocene Sea-Level Changes of Bidong Island 1.4 Rock Formation in Pulau Bidong 1.5 Geomorphology of Bidong Island 1.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 2 Sustainable Economic Development of Bidong Island Abstract 2.1 Introduction: Sustainable Development Goal 2030 Development Planning, Terengganu 2.2 Driver for Sustainable Development 2.3 Data Collection and Research Approach 2.4 Addressing the Environment Issues of Bidong Island 2.5 State Government Sustainable Development Plan: The Economic Development Sphere 2.6 The First Phase 2.7 The Second Phase 2.8 The Impact of Bidong Sustainable Development on the Economics and Society (Social Sphere) 2.9 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 3 Historic Vietnamese Settlement of Bidong Island Abstract 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Early Vietnamese Refugee 3.3 Settlement Vietnamese Refugee in Bidong Island 3.4 Vietnamese Relics in Bidong Island 3.5 Bidong Island as Eco-Tourism 3.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 4 Species Richness of Plants in Bidong Island Abstract 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Data Collection and Species Identification 4.3 Tree Species Richness 4.4 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 5 Community Structure and Diversity of Trees in Coastal Forest of Bidong Island, Terengganu Abstract 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Methodology 5.3 Floristic Composition 5.4 Species Diversity 5.5 Community Structure 5.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 6 Decapoda Crustaceans at the South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia Abstract 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Identification Procedure 6.3 Results and Discussion 6.4 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 7 Checklist of Lichens from Bidong Island, Terengganu Abstract 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Methodology 7.2.1 Study Site 7.3 Results and Discussion 7.3.1 Family Composition 7.4 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 8 Diversity of Birds in Bidong Island Abstract 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Bidong Island 8.3 Field Surveys 8.4 Data Analyses 8.5 Species Composition and Relative Abundance 8.6 Diversity Indices 8.7 Species Richness 8.8 Performance Evaluation of Estimators 8.9 Species Composition and Relative Abundance 8.10 Performance Evaluation of Estimators 8.11 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 9 Rapid Assessment of Terrestrial Fauna in Bidong Island, Malaysia Abstract 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Materials and Methods 9.3 Results and Discussion 9.3.1 Birds 9.3.2 Small Mammals 9.4 Updated Species Checklist 9.5 Conclusion Acknowledgements Appendice References 10 Impact of Tropical Storm Pabuk on Intertidal Gastropods in Bidong Island, Malaysia Abstract 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Materials and Methods 10.2.1 Sampling Method 10.2.2 Study Area 10.2.3 Data Analysis 10.3 Results 10.4 Discussion 10.5 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 11 Lunar Cycle Drives Migration of Zooplankton in Coral Reef of Bidong Island Abstract 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Materials and Methods 11.2.1 Study Site 11.2.2 Sampling and Analysis 11.3 Results 11.3.1 Environmental Data 11.3.1.1 Zooplankton Composition and Density 11.3.1.2 Diel Variation of Major Zooplankton Groups 11.4 Discussion 11.5 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 12 Modern Benthic Foraminifera in the Coral Reefs of Bidong Island, Terengganu Abstract 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Morphological Characteristics of Foraminifera 12.3 Method 12.4 Foraminiferal Occurrences 12.5 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 13 Meiofauna from the Shipwrecks of Bidong Island, South China Sea Abstract 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Materials and Methods 13.3 Results and Discussion 13.3.1 Total Meiofauna 13.3.2 Phylum Arthropoda 13.3.3 Phylum Nematoda 13.3.4 Phylum Annelida and Others 13.3.5 Shipwreck in the Marine Ecosystem Function 13.4 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 14 Fish Distribution in Tropical Bidong Island, South China Sea Under Influence from Nearshore Sea Acidification Abstract 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Design of Case Study 14.3 Data on Physicochemical Parameters of Water 14.4 Data on Fish 14.5 Discussions Acknowledgements References 15 Host Preferences and Colouration of Christmas Tree Worms, Spirobranchus corniculatus (Grube, 1862) from Bidong Island, South China Sea Abstract 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Materials and Methods 15.3 Results 15.4 Discussion 15.4.1 Spirobranchus corniculatus Host at Pantai Pasir Cina 15.5 Colour Polymorphism of Spirobranchus corniculatus at Pantai Pasir Cina 15.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 16 Cellular Stress Response of Scleractinian Coral Acropora Robusta and Acropora Florida in Bidong Island Abstract 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Sampling Site and Sample Collection 16.3 Enzyme Assays 16.4 Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) Activities 16.5 Catalase (CAT) Activities 16.6 Fluorescent Protein Labelling and SDS-PAGE Gel Electrophoresis 16.7 Results and Discussion 16.8 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 17 Effects of pH on the Early Life Histories of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf Solaris) in Bidong Island, Terengganu, South Chine Sea Abstract 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Sample Collection and Preparation for Spawning 17.3 Induce of Spawning and Fertilization 17.4 Early Life Stages Observation 17.5 Fertilization and Gastrulation in Lowered pH 17.6 Early Larvae Developmental Stages 17.7 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 18 Metals Concentration in Coral Reef Fishes of Bidong Island During the 2017 to 2019 Marine Biology Fieldwork Course Abstract 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Study Areas and Sampling Activity 18.3 Sample Preparation and Analysis 18.4 Metals Concentration in the Reef Fish Tissues Acknowledgements References 19 Heavy Metals in Surficial Sediment from Bidong Island, Southern South China Sea Abstract 19.1 Heavy Metals Pollution 19.2 Bidong Island 19.3 Sediment Collection for Heavy Metals Determination 19.4 Sediment Samples for Heavy Metals Analysis 19.5 Heavy Metals Concentration in Bidong Island Surrounding Sediments 19.6 Assessment of Bidong Island Sediment Contamination Acknowledgements References Appendix_1