Land reclamation in Penang began two decades ago and is still rampant with
large reclamation projects planned to be executed in the near future. The present study
provides the first information on effects of land reclamation in Penang towards the coastal
macroinvertebrates. This study assessed the abundance, diversity, and evenness of
coastal invertebrates assumed to be the foremost affected when land is reclaimed. Three
kinds of areas were focused on: reclaimed, unclaimed (adjacent to reclaimed), and
undisturbed. A total of 53 species of macroinvertebrates from 10 classes (Gastropoda,
Bivalvia, Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Maxillopoda, Echinoidea, Polyplacophora,
Branchiopoda, Scaphopoda, and Holothuroidea) were sampled. Reclaimed areas were
moderately rich in species averaging 11 species compared to 7 species in adjacent and
14 in undisturbed areas. Species richness was the highest in Teluk Aling (an undisturbed
area) with 22 species, and was the lowest in Gurney Drive (an adjacent area) with 2
species. The average species diversity and evenness on reclaimed land was the lowest
with values of 1.9974 and 0.5787, respectively. The diversity was higher by 5.07% in
adjacent areas and by 22.92% in undisturbed areas compared to reclaimed areas.
Species evenness was 29.75% higher in unreclaimed areas and 17.87% higher in
undisturbed areas compared to reclaimed areas. Land reclamation reduces species
diversity and evenness, and to a lesser extent, species richness.