Water Quality Assessment of Downstream Penang River and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Seagrass

This research aims to provide a measurement of the assessment of the water quality of polluted Penang River and to evaluate the seagrass bed in Penang Middle Bank’s role as bio-indicator and phytoremediator to reduce heavy metals concentration in the water from being discharged further seawards. The river is containing of heavy metals from the discharge of land activities nearby the river. Thus, the heavy metals are harmful to the aquatic livings nearby the area. Seagrasses are great species for biomonitoring purposes which makes the seagrass bed very important to be preserved. The said seagrass bed is the second largest seagrass bed in Malaysia which is measuring of 50.6ha, home to various marine species such as turtles and dugongs, sp. Enhalus Acoroides (tape seagrass) and sp. halophilia ovalis, hermit crabs, clams, sea urchins, and octopus also comprising of at least six seagrass species.