Mohamad  Mustaqim Abdul Majid, Mohd  Zafri Hassan, Nurdiyana  Ahmad Denil, Kamil  Latif, 
    Influence of Habitat Affinity on the Bioaccumulation of Copper, Cu and Zinc Zn in Coastal Fishes of Bintulu, Sarawak,
    Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
    Volume 11,Issue 9,
    2016,
    Pages 1967-1971,
    ISSN 1816-949x,
    jeasci.2016.1967.1971,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2016.1967.1971)
    Abstract: Anthropogenic activities are increasingly growing in Bintulu area where residues and runoffs from
the activities would consequently affect its adjacent aquatic systems and organisms. An investigation on the
trace metal accumulation (copper, Cu and zinc, Zn) was conducted in coastal fishes off Bintulu, Sarawak of three
habitat affinities: pelagic, benthopelagic and benthic. Samples of fish gills, livers and muscles from the fishes
were analyzed to examine the accumulation of Cu and Zn. The study found that habitat affinity affected the
accumulation level of Zn and Cu in the fishes examined. Benthic fishes, living in the bottom area of water
column accumulated the highest trace metals as compared pelagic fish (surface dwellers) which accumulated
the least trace metals. In almost all tissues analyzed, muscles accumulated the least concentration of Zn and
Cu while livers accumulated the highest. The study exhibited a significant interplay in trace metal accumulation
among fishes, their organs and habitat within water columns.
    Keywords: benthic fishes;coastal fishes;trace metals;Bioaccumulation;Zn