Pulau Tinggi Research Articles

A new species of Pereionotus (Amphipoda, Senticaudata, Phliantidae) from Pulau Tinggi, Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, Malaysia

A new species of Pereionotus Spence Bate & Westwood, 1861 from Pulau Tinggi, Sultan Iskandar Marine Park (SIMP) is described and the first record of the genus from Malaysia. It was collected from Kg. Tg. Balang, Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia (2°16'59.5"N, 104°07'21.9"E) and can be distinguished by having wide and dorsally truncate carinae of pereonites 2–7, maxillipedal palp as long as the outer plate, lacking additional robust seta in the middle of propodi of pereopods 1–4, and the absence of short robust setae on the anterodistal corner of merus and carpus of pereopods 6–7. An updated identification key for the 11 known species in the genus is also presented.

Short Communication: A note on the new record of the amphibian fauna in Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia

Abstract. Ng YH, Ngadi E, Md-Zain BM, Md-Zairi Z, Abdul-Latiff MAB. 2020. A note on the new record of the amphibian fauna in Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 21: 2425-2429. A survey of amphibian species in Pulau Tinggi was conducted from February to October 2019. The study was carried out using the Visual Encounter Survey method and the drift-fenced pitfall trap method. Based on previously published literature and the present survey, an updated checklist of amphibians is presented. In total, nine species were recorded that comprise three previously recorded species (Limnonectes blythii, Polypedates leucomystax and Odorrana hosii), and six new recorded species (Limnonectes deinodon, Polypedates dischantus, Microhyla heymonsi, Fejervarya limnocharis, Ingerophrynus parvus, and Kaloula pulchra).

A new species of Aciconula (Amphipoda, Senticauda, Caprellidae) from Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, Malaysia.

A new species of caprellid, Aciconulatinggiensis (Amphipoda, Senticaudata, Caprellidae) was discovered from Pulau Tinggi, Sultan Iskandar Marine Park (SIMP), South China Sea, Malaysia. The new Malaysian species can be distinguished from the other Aciconula species by the combination of the following characters: 1. the presence of a very small suture between head and pereonite 1; 2. antenna 1 flagellum with 4 articles; 3. inner lobe of lower lip unilobed; 4. gnathopod 2 palm of propodus with a large proximal projection (stretching from the proximal margin of the palm to nearly mid-way of palm); 5. pereopods 3–4 with 2 articles (article 1 subrectangular, article 2 conical or tapering at the tip with 1 plumose seta and 2 normal setae) and; 6. pereopod 5 covered with relatively dense and long setae. An updated identification key for the five known species in the genus, including information on the respective geographical distribution and habitat, is presented.

Copepods status in seagrass area of Pulau Tinggi Marine Park, Johor, Malaysia

Zooplanktons were extensively studied to investigate species composition and density of copepods. Samples were collected from sea grass area in Pulau Tinggi for three months (April, June and October, 2015). Zooplankton samples were collected using Conically shaped plankton net (with mouth opening size of 0.30 m and 1.00 m length) with 100μm mesh size with an acrylic plastic cod end. Ten sampling stations were established for the collection of water samples. In the present study, a total of 54 species of copepods from 29 genera and 22 families were identified. Calanoids were the dominant group among the copepods. The most observed species were Paracalanus indicus, Paracalanus elegans, Oithona falax and Corycaeus agilis. The density of copepods was determined in the month of April, 2015. The highest density was 1245 individuals/m3 during the study period. The findings of the present study provide valuable information for fisheries authorities and marine controlling departments.

Preliminary Observations of Zooplankton in Pulau Tinggi, Marine Park, Johor, Malaysia

Zooplankton was studied in Pulau Tinggi, Marine Park, Johor, Malaysia for their abundance and species diversity. Water samples were collected within three months, April, June and October 2015.Ten sampling stations were established during the study period. A total of 54 species of copepods from 29 genera and 22 families were identified. An average of 86.70 % copepods and 15.84% non-copepods were recorded among the zooplankton groups. The water quality parameters such as depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, turbidity, and salinity were measured in situ. The present study was taken to observe the abundance and diversity of zooplankton in Pulau Tinggi, Johor. This research will be helpful for fisheries authorities and marine controlling departments. The effect of different physico-chemical parameters on the biomass and density of zooplankton will be discussed in the coming paper.

First record of Rhopalophthalmus longipes Ii, 1964 from Malaysian waters (Crustacea, Mysida).

The marine mysid species Rhopalophthalmus longipes Ii, 1964 is reported from Malaysian waters for the first time. Specimens are described and illustrated in detail based on material collected by epibenthic sledge from the seagrass meadows of Pulau Tinggi, Johor. Specimens exhibit a slight difference from Ii’s type material by possessing a rounded process bearing two small protrusions apically near the middle distal end of the third segment of antennal peduncle. In addition, its telson armed with 7-9 moderately strong setae at the lateral margin.

MARINE Streptomyces SP. UKMCC_PT15 PRODUCING UNDECYLPRODIGIOSIN WITH ALGICIDAL ACTIVITY

Marine actinomycetes are now in demand as they are capable of producing unique and novel compounds with wide biological activities. Marine Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT15 previously isolated from seawater collected in Pulau Tinggi, Johor was used in this study. Molecular identification showed high similarity of Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT15 with Streptomyces fradiae and S. diastaticus subsp. ardesiacus based on partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene. Further characterisations of this bacterium include spore morphology using SEM, growth on various media, salt tolerance test and carbon utilisation profile. This bacterium had straight spore chain with smooth-surfaced spores and was able to tolerate up to 11% NaCl with capabilities of utilising >40 carbon sources. Undecylprodigiosin (C25H35N3O) was successfully purified through succession of column chromatography and finally using HPLC. Structure elucidation was confirmed through NMR spectroscopy, MS and comparison with established data. This compound demonstrated strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus, B. subtilis and C. albicans but weak antibacterial activities against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Interestingly, undecylprodigiosin also demonstrated algicidal activity when tested against toxic dinoflagellates, A. minutum and P. bahamense, both of which are responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Undecylprodiogiosin with concentration of 10-100 μg/ml gave ~100% algicidal activity against both dinoflagellates. Further testing with undecylprodigiosin concentration < 10 µg/ml showed that undecylprodigision was capable of killing significantly high numbers of both dinoflagellates, giving a high algicidal activity. Findings from this study suggested the potential use of undecylprodigiosin as algicidal agent which could be used for the mitigation of HABs

Two new species of <I>Pendanthura</I> (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea) from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia with an identification key to the species of <I>Pendanthura</I>

Two new Pendanthura species are described and illustrated.Pendanthura tinggiensis sp. nov. was collected from coral rubble on the coral reefs of Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, and Pendanthura tiomanensis sp. nov. from similar habitats at Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia. The former species is recognizable by a blunt tooth on the propodal palm of pereopod 1, while the latter species is characterized by a pointed tooth with a transparent margin on the propodal palm of pereopod 1 and a significant large brown patch on cephalon dorsally.

Tinggianthura alba: a new genus and species of Anthuridae (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea) from Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia with an updated key to the genera of Anthuridae.

A new anthurid isopod from dead coral rubble and stones in the intertidal area of Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, is described. It is placed in a new genus and species, Tinggianthura alba. Tinggianthura is characterized by: (1) subtriangular carpus shape of pereopods 4–7, (2) pereopod 1 propodus palm without prominent tooth or steps and (3) maxillipedal palp 2-articled.

Spatial Structure of Seagrass Suggests That Size-Dependent Plant Traits Have a Strong Influence on the Distribution and Maintenance of Tropical Multispecies Meadows

BackgroundSeagrass species in the tropics occur in multispecies meadows. How these meadows are maintained through species co-existence and what their ecological drivers may be has been an overarching question in seagrass biogeography. In this study, we quantify the spatial structure of four co-existing species and infer potential ecological processes from these structures.Methods and ResultsSpecies presence/absence data were collected using underwater towed and dropped video cameras in Pulau Tinggi, Malaysia. The geostatistical method, utilizing semivariograms, was used to describe the spatial structure of Halophila spp, Halodule uninervis, Syringodium isoetifolium and Cymodocea serrulata. Species had spatial patterns that were oriented in the along-shore and across-shore directions, nested with larger species in meadow interiors, and consisted of multiple structures that indicate the influence of 2–3 underlying processes. The Linear Model of Coregionalization (LMC) was used to estimate the amount of variance contributing to the presence of a species at specific spatial scales. These distances were <2.5 m (micro-scale), 2.5–50 m (fine-scale) and >50 m (broad-scale) in the along-shore; and <2.5 m (micro-scale), 2.5–140 m (fine-scale) and >140 m (broad-scale) in the across-shore. The LMC suggests that smaller species (Halophila spp and H. uninervis) were most influenced by broad-scale processes such as hydrodynamics and water depth whereas large, localised species (S. isoetifolium and C. serrulata) were more influenced by finer-scale processes such as sediment burial, seagrass colonization and growth, and physical disturbance.ConclusionIn this study, we provide evidence that spatial structure is distinct even when species occur in well-mixed multispecies meadows, and we suggest that size-dependent plant traits have a strong influence on the distribution and maintenance of tropical marine plant communities. This study offers a contrast from previous spatial models of seagrasses which have largely focused on monospecific temperate meadows.

Microtripus tinggiensis, new genus and species (Amphipoda: Caprellidea: Phtisicidae) from Pulau Tinggi, East Johor Islands Archipelago, Malaysia

Abstract Microtripus tinggiensis, a new genus and species (Amphipoda: Caprellidea: Phtisicidae), was discovered in the interstitial benthos from Pulau Tinggi, an island in the East Johor Islands Archipelago (EJIA). Microtripus tinggiensis is distinct in its reduced pereopods 3–5 (1-articulate pereopods 3, 4 and 3-articulate pereopod 5). The new genus Microtripus most closely resembles Perotripus Dougherty & Steinberg, 1953 in its elongated body segments, shorter antennae 1 and 2 and gills on pereonites 2–4 but differs from the latter by its 3-articulate flagellum of antenna 1 and 1-articulate, vestigial pereopod 3.

Two new species of Urothoe (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridea) From The East Johor Islands Archipelago, Malaysia

Two new species of urothoid amphipods from Pulau Sibu and Pulau Tinggi, Johor are described and illustrated. The specimens of Urothoe sibuensis new species were collected by vertical haul plankton net and is distinctively different from other existing Urothoe species by these combination of special characters; similar gnathopods 1–2 with short and stout propodus expanded into poorly defined palms; large eyes and epimeron 3 smooth. Urothoe tinggiensis new species as collected using an airlift suction sampler at seagrass area is characterized by its different gnathopodal configuration with setose dactylus of 5th pereopod; eyes minute; carpus is wider than merus in the 5th pereopod; subquadrate coxa 4; merus and carpus of pereopods 6–7 are linear.

Knowledge gaps in tropical Southeast Asian seagrass systems

Seagrasses are habitats with significant ecological and economic functions but we have limited knowledge of seagrasses in Southeast Asia, the hypothesized centre-of-origin for tropical seagrasses. There have been only 62 ISI-cited publications on the seagrasses of Southeast Asia in the last three decades and most work has been in few sites such as Northwest Luzon in the Philippines and South Sulawesi in Indonesia. Our understanding of the processes driving spatial and temporal distributions of seagrass species here has focussed primarily on backreef and estuarine seagrass meadows, with little work on forereef systems. We used Pulau Tinggi, an island off the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as an example of a subtidal forereef system. It is characterized by a community of small and fast growing species such as Halophila ovalis (mean shoot density 1454.6 ± 145.1 m −2) and Halodule uninervis (mean shoot density 861.7 ± 372.0 m −2) growing in relatively low light conditions (mean PAR 162.1 ± 35.0 μmol m −2 s −1 at 10 m depth to 405.8 ± 99.0 μmol m −2 s −1 at 3 m water depth) on sediment with low carbonate (mean 9.24 ± 1.74 percentage dry weight), organic matter (mean 2.56 ± 0.35 percentage dry weight) and silt-clay content (mean 2.28 ± 2.43 percentage dry weight). The literature reveals that there is a range of drivers operating in Southeast Asian seagrass systems and we suggest that this is because there are various types of seagrass habitats in this region, i.e. backreef, forereef and estuary, each of which has site characteristics and ecological drivers unique to it. Based on our case study of Pulau Tinggi, we suggest that seagrasses in forereef systems are more widespread in Southeast Asia than is reflected in the literature and that they are likely to be driven by recurring disturbance events such as monsoons, sediment burial and herbivory.

Melitoid amhipods of the genera Ceradocus Costa, 1853 and Victoriopisa Karaman and Barnard, 1979 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maeridae) from the South China Sea, Malaysia

Two new species of Melitoid amphipods from Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Tinggi, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia were described and illustrated. Specimens were collected by means of an airlift suction sampler at seagrass areas of the two islands. Ceradocus mizani sp. nov. found commonly at seagrass areas of Malaysian waters, can be readily distinguished from any other known Ceradocus species by a set of distinct characters based on the asymmetrical male gnathopod 2; sculpturing on the palm of the larger gnathopod 2; serrated pleonal epimeron 1–3; and multidentate dorsal pleonites and urosomites with 11 spines on urosomite 1 and 6 spines on urosomite 2. Victoriopisa tinggiensis sp. nov. on the other hand is characterized by its prolonged lateral cephalic lobe; the presence of an anteroventral notch on the head; weakly developed eyes; and pereopod 7 basis with intermediate lobation. This would be the first record of the genus Ceradocus and Victoriopisa from the waters of Peninsular Malaysia. Discovery of these two new species represents an ongoing and continuous effort on amphipod taxonomical studies here in Malaysia.