Abstract:
Diatoms examination in the body of drowning death was an important procedure in determination of death location. The presence of diatoms found in the lung and the other organs were the intravital sign, proving the victim were alive on the water. Determination of diatoms species could be used as a supportive diagnostic in identifying drowning site by comparing diatoms between the body and water. The aim of the present research was to find out the species and abundance of diatoms in Kuantan river especially at Taluk Kuantan area. Samples were taken from three stations which decided purposively in May 2013.
The results showed that 23 species diatoms were found, namely: Isthmia sp, Aulacoseira sp, Diatoma sp, Melosira sp, Eunotia sp, Tubellaria sp, Gyrosigma sp, Achnantes sp, Fragillaria sp, Eucampia sp, Pleurosira sp, Cyclotella sp, Skeletonema sp, Rhizosolenia sp, Stephanodiscus sp, Streptotheca sp, Tintinnopsis sp, Triceratium sp, Dactyliosden sp, Chaetoceros sp, Thalassionema sp, Meridion sp, dan Eucyridium sp. Total abundance of diatoms account were 1442 cells/L, with the Diatoma sp were the dominant diatoms in the water which abundance of 736 cells/L.
