West Coast Of Malaysia Research Articles

Assessment of variability of peat physicochemical properties, subsidence and their interactions within Selangor forests

AbstractTropical peat swamp forests are carbon‐rich ecosystems both above‐ and belowground, which play a major role in the climate balance of the earth. The majority of the world's tropical peat forest cover is located in Southeast Asia and is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. Despite their importance for biodiversity conservation and climatic balance of the earth, pristine peatlands are almost extinct in many parts of Southeast Asia. Peninsular Malaysia is one such region, where there are no undisturbed peatlands left in the west coast. We studied the largest peat forest area in the west coast of Malaysia, located in the state of Selangor. We evaluated variability of peat subsidence (for 1 year), peat physicochemical properties and macronutrient contents between forest regions and between different depths (not for subsidence) covering the top 50 cm, and the complex interactions between them. We found that there was significant peat subsidence in all the studied regions, however, there was no significant difference in subsidence between different forest regions. Physicochemical properties such as peat moisture, pH and carbon (C) content and all macronutrient contents except phosphorus (P), either varied between regions, or showed significant interactions between region and depth in Selangor peat forests. All the measured peat physicochemical properties varied with depth. Among macronutrients, only nitrogen (N), P and calcium (Ca) showed significant change with depth, while there were no changes with depth for sulphur (S), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) contents. These changes in each peat physicochemical property and macronutrient contents correlated with changes in other peat physicochemical properties and nutrient contents; however, there is a need for controlled experiments to further understand these significant interactions. The findings show continued carbon loss in secondary peat swamp forests through subsidence, indicating the long‐term impact of selective logging and associated historical drainage. The significant variability of peat physicochemical properties and macronutrient contents with region and depth, also show the need for intensive sampling to characterise large secondary peat swamp forests.

Genetic Diversity, Population Structure and Demographic History of Orange Mud Crab Scylla Olivacea from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and Adjacent Seas in the Northern Indian Ocean Based on Mitochondrial COI Gene Sequences

In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial COI gene sequences to reveal genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of two Bangladeshi (BD) populations (SB and CK) of the orange mud crab Scylla olivacea of the Northern Bay of Bengal (BoB), and compared these two with other four populations in the Northern Indian Ocean region (Arabian Sea, Andaman Sea and Malacca strait) and South China Sea. For all of the populations, nucleotide diversities were low (0.005–0.01) while the haplotype diversities were as high as 0.70–0.96, indicating that the S. olivacea has undergone a recent population expansion after experiencing bottleneck. The pairwise population statistics (FST) revealed that no genetic variation was made between SB and CK populations of BD in BoB. However, these two BoB populations showed separate genetic structure with each of the Andaman Sea (Myanmar coast, MM) and Malacca strait (West coast of Malaysia, MS) populations. On the other hand, two BoB populations did not form separate genetic structure from the population of Arabian Sea (AS). Larval dispersal-based migration by the East and West India coastal currents probably caused this genetic homogeneity between BoB and AS populations.The MM population had separate genetic structure from all of the populations studied in the present study. The Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed four large population groups of S. olivacea within its distribution range in the Indo-west Pacific region namely, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea and South China Sea groups. Some geographical barriers (e.g. Indian peninsula, Andaman and Nicobar Islands) along with seasonally formed marine gyres in the Andaman Sea are responsible for separate genetic structure among different populations and also for establishing four population groups. Star-shaped patterns of haplotype network and neutrality test corroboratethe recent population expansion of all populations except MM and CK. Mismatch distribution analysis reveals that the demographic expansion of the species started during the late Pleistocene period approximately 125,000 to 365,000 years ago. These results will help to establish the conservation and management strategy for orange mud crab in the Northern Indian Ocean region including the Bay of Bengal.
 J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 4(1): 101-118, 2022

Evidence of a chlorophyll “tongue” in the Malacca Strait from satellite observations

Remotely sensed surface chlorophyll-a concentration from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) unveils signatures of a “tongue” like feature extending into the Malacca Strait from the west of Malaysia. A threefold increase of chlorophyll-a amplitudes is observed in the strait during the northeast monsoon (December–February) compared to the lowest values during the southwest monsoon (May–September). This seasonal variability of chlorophyll-a is linked with the seasonal variabilities of the meridional component of Ekman mass transport (M y ), sea surface temperature (SST), wind stress curl, and the sea surface height anomaly (SSHA). A multiple regression analysis indicates that the monsoonal winds and SST are the dominant contributors to the chlorophyll-a variability in the strait. The role of SSHA is limited to the presence of a seasonal cyclonic eddy in the strait during December–February and its associated upwelling. The monsoonal winds associated with the active phase of Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) events during November induced strong coastal upwelling along the west coast of Malaysia. Later, strong upwelling associated with both wind-induced coastal upwelling and open ocean upwelling due to wind stress curl is observed in the strait during December–February, which is also well supported by the entrainment of cold and saline waters from the subsurface and advection of colder SST within the strait. The advection of higher chlorophyll-a in the north-westward extension of the “tongue” off the west coast of Malaysia during December – February is attributed to the Ekman mass transport due to higher wind stress. On the other hand, lower chlorophyll-a during May–September is due to the negative wind stress curl and downwelling. Rectified wavelet analysis shows higher correlations of chlorophyll-a variability with the active phases of the MJO events than with the ENSO and IOD events, indicating substantial impacts of the MJO events in the Malacca Strait. • First study to link Chl-a seasonality in Malacca Strait with winds, SST and SSH. • Highest Chl-a values during December–February manifest as a “tongue.” • Winds drive open ocean and coastal upwelling processes to generate the “tongue”. • MJO events influences chlorophyll-a variability more than ENSO and IOD events.

Melissopalynological, physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey from West Coast of Malaysia

Stingless bees are native to tropical region and produce honey which are high in moisture content. Compared to honey from honeybees, there are limited studies on honey derived from stingless bees. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of stingless bee honey. Fifteen types of honey were collected from six states in West Coast of Malaysia and pollen analyses were carried out. Four types of unifloral honey samples produced by stingless bees were selected to determine their physicochemical and antioxidant activities including total phenolic, total flavonoid and ascorbic acid contents. Melissopalynological study of 15 honey samples collected from different states showed presence of both unifloral and multifloral origins. Honey samples collected from Apis mellifera (honeybee) combs had lower number of total pollen compared to samples collected from Heterotrigona itama and Geniotrigona thoracica (stingless bees). Jambul Merak honey contains the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents with greatest color intensity and has the highest antioxidant potential. This study highlights the chemical composition and biological activity of honey from stingless bees which may increase its commercial value or to be utilised as potential functional food ingredient.

Review of Year 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake Tsunami Fault Parameters

This paper reviews the fault parameters used in the literatures of tsunami source simulations for the 26 December, 2004 Sumatra–Andaman tsunami, as well as understanding of the geology and geography of the Sunda Trench. Although the source of tsunami generation is exclusive, the parameters used in the simulations differ according to source of data, method of parameter derivation and modeling experiences. Hence, identification of possible future source generations and results for best fit parameters obtained from literature review are integrated to be used for future simulations. Based on the literature review conducted, it is clear that the parameters of tsunami source generation play a vital component and indication in amplifying effects in the coastal areas. Hence, earlier identification of possible fault rupture parameters in the Andaman Sea provides an information about the effects of the future risks of tsunami towards the west-coast of Malaysia.

Ecotoxicological and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Short-Neck Clam (Paphia undulata) and Contaminated Sediments in Malacca Strait, Malaysia.

The distribution, sources, and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediment and the edible tissue of short-neck clam (Paphia undulata) from mudflat ecosystem in the west coast of Malaysia were investigated. The concentrations of ∑16 PAHs varied from 347.05 to 6207.5 and 179.32 to 1657.5ngg-1 in sediment and short-neck clam samples, respectively. The calculations of mean PEL quotients (mean-PELQs) showed that the ecological risk of PAHs in the sediment samples was low to moderate-high level, whereas the total health risk through ingestion and dermal contact was considerably high. The PAHs biota sediment accumulation factors data for short-neck clam were obtained in this study, indicating a preferential accumulation of lower molecular weight PAHs. The source apportionment of PAHs in sediment using positive matrix factorization model indicated that the highest contribution to the PAHs was from diesel emissions (30.38%) followed by oil and oil derivate and incomplete coal combustion (23.06%), vehicular emissions (16.43%), wood combustion (15.93%), and natural gas combustion (14.2%). A preliminary evaluation of human health risk using chronic daily intake, hazard index, benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent (BaPeq) concentration, and the incremental lifetime cancer risk indicated that PAHs in short-neck clam would induce potential carcinogenic effects in the consumers.

An application of fuzzy inference system to marine fish landings for west coast of Malaysia

Malaysia marine fishery sector and its activities are prominent in Malaysia waters, contributing to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and providing sustenance and protein. Among these activities are the landings of different fisheries resources from different landing districts, collated on states level, and officially reported annually. However, contributions of these landings to GDP are not adequately reported; moreover, fuzzy terms used in some cases were not evenly represented. Therefore, in the context of marine geospatial data infrastructure (MGDI) decisions, these constitute fuzzy decision problems resulting from stakeholders' subjectivity and uncertainties. In this paper therefore, evaluations of reported landings from 2006-2010 for western coast of Malaysia were investigated using fuzzy inference system. Categorisation of these contributions to GDP appropriately analysed to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions. Additionally, this novel approach is yet to be reported in literature to cases of fisheries landings and GDP across Asia and beyond.

An application of fuzzy inference system to marine fish landings for west coast of Malaysia

An application of fuzzy inference system to marine fish landings for west coast of Malaysia

ECOLOGICAL INDICATOR AGENTS FOR INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS STATE MONITORING THROUGH SONNERATIA ALBA, AVICENNIA ALBA AND RHIZOPHORA APICULATA

Mangrove forest ecosystems are threatened by direct impacts such as cutting and pollution due to agricultural, industrialization and urbanization activities. Mangrove forests are often regarded as unpleasant environments with little intrinsic value. Mangrove forests perform valued regional and site-specific functions. Mangrove species can take up excessive nutrients and also play a crucial role in creating a favourable environment for a variety of chemical, biological and physical processes that contribute to the inorganic removal and degradation of organic compounds. Among the many mangrove species, Sonneratia alba, Avicennia alba and Rhizophora apiculata have been studied for biomonitoring of toxic heavy metals elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn) in a wide range of plant tissues (roots and leaves) and sediment composition at three different locations in Negeri Sembilan, west coast of Malaysia. The results established that there were significant differences between the three mangrove species, locations, plant tissues and sediment samples and their interaction for all the five heavy metals content. The findings revealed that leaf tissues for all species accumulated mostly Fe, Zn, Pb and Cu. Interestingly we noticed that different localities will accumulate different type of heavy metals, for instance R. apiculata leaf tissues were detected with higher concentration of Cu and Pb at Kampung Sungai Sekawang whereas in another two sites were detected with Cu, Fe, Zn and Pb. S. alba indicated that the most heavy metals highly accumulated was Zn followed by Pb and Cu at Pasir Panjang. In this study A. alba showed Zn was highly accumulated in leaf tissues at Pasir Panjang. Thus, those three mangrove species appear to have the greatest potential for use as an effective ecological indicator tools as green application for inorganic contaminants monitoring in mangrove ecosystems.

Assessing cockle shells (Anadara granosa) for reconstruction subdaily environmental parameters: Implication for paleoclimate studies

This study aims to investigate the potential of cockle shells as an environmental recorder, examining the environmental factors controlling the shell growth of the intertidal Anadara granosa from west coast of Malaysia. Subdaily environmental factors were recorded from December 2011 to November 2012. A total of 600 individuals were collected on a monthly basis and the shells sectioned from umbo to ventral margin, polished, etched and photographed under a light microscope to observe microgrowth bands and increments. Comparison of correlation matrix between mean increment width and each environmental factor indicated that shell growth had the highest positive correlation with seawater temperature (+0.72) and weak positive correlation with salinity (+0.53). Multiple regression analysis was used to assess independent associations between shell mean increment width and environmental parameters. Study model showed that 60.8% of the variation in shell growth could be explained by temperature, salinity, rainfall and tidal change. Individually, temperature and salinity made the greatest unique contribution to explain shell growth, respectively (p < 0.01). Laboratory results showed shell growth was in a linear trend to optimum temperature and salinity. These findings provide a basis for the interpretation of the temporal changes in shell microgrowth patterns in terms of environmental conditions of cockle shells.

Length-weight relationship, growth and mortality ofAnadara granosain Penang Island, Malaysia: an approach using length-frequency data sets

Length-weight relationship, growth parameters and mortality rates ofAnadara granosain the intertidal zone of Balik Pulau, Penang Island, West Coast of Malaysia were investigated based on monthly length-frequency data (December 2011 to November 2012). A total of 548 individuals ranging from 11.25 to 33.13 mm size were subjected to analysis. Logarithmic relationship between the length and weight was LogW = 2.328LogL − 2.537 (R2 = 0.922) for combined sexes. From this equation it was clear that the exponent ‘b’ value forA. granosashowed a negative allometric growth (b &lt; 3). A von Bertalanffy growth function with an asymptotic length (L∞) of 35.40 mm and a growth constant (K) of 1.1 year−1was established from length frequency distributions. Thet0(−0.140) was estimated by substituting theL∞andKin the Pauly's equation. The sizes attained byA. granosawere 10.13, 14.36, 17.89, 20.82, 23.56 and 25.29 mm at the end of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months, respectively. The estimated growth performance index (Ø) was 3.13 while the estimated lifespan of the cockles was about 2.72 years at the study area. The estimated value of total mortality based on length-converted catch curve wasZ = 3.02 year−1. The natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) rates were 1.84 and 0.48 year−1, respectively. The exploitation level (E) ofA. granosawas 0.20, which indicated slight fishing pressure on the stock.

Investigation of linezolid resistance among methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from state hospitals in the East and West coast of Malaysia

Investigation of linezolid resistance among methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from state hospitals in the East and West coast of Malaysia

Genetic Structure and Haplotype Diversity of Tachypleus gigas Population along the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia-Inferred through mtDNA AT Rich Region Sequence Analysis

A detailed investigation was carried out to determine the genetic structure and haplotype diversity of Malaysian horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas [Muller, 1785]) distributed along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Mitochondrial DNA (AT rich region = 369 bp) analysis showed that T. gigas had 13 haplotypes along the Malaysian west coast of which 4 were unique to Selangor samples while 3 were unique to Johor sample and 1 each were unique to other two stations respectively. Highest haplotype diversity (h) was observed among the Selangor samples (0.873±0.071) followed by Langkawi, Johor and Kedah samples with 0.833±0.222, 0.752±0.066 and 0.733±0.155 values, respectively. Over all haplotype diversity of T. gigas in west coast of Malaysia was observed to be 0.797±0.129. Pair wise haplotype frequency (FST) value were statistically significant (p<0.05) for all the groups except for Langkawi/Kedah samples indicating higher gene flow (Lower haplotype diversity) among these two populations. Average nucleotide diversity (π) was higher in Selangor samples (0.0083±0.001) followed by Johor (0.0063±0.0011) and it was almost similar in Langkawi (0.0045±0.0012) and Kedah (0.0040±0.0008) samples which indicated higher polymorphic sites in Selangor and Johor samples while it was lower in Langkawi and Kedah samples. In addition phylogenetic analysis clearly clustered T. gigas samples from T. tridentatus samples indicating good phylogenetic signals in mtDNA AT rich region. Overall, findings from this study have important implications for proper management and conservation of this living fossil along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

An SLP in Malaysia

An SLP in Malaysia

Sex in the tropics: reproduction of Chthamalus malayensis Pilsbury (Class Cirripedia) at the equator

The reproduction of a key intertidal space occupier, the barnacle, Chthamalus malayensis, was examined over a 13-month period. The reproductive cycle of C. malayensis was studied at three shores (Singapore, east and west coast of Malaysia) near the centre of its geographical range. Testes, vesiculae seminales, ovaries and embryos were scored for their stages of development. Although, in general, C. malayensis contained gonads throughout the year, the timing and level of peak development varied between the three shores. Embryos were present throughout the year in west Malaysia but were absent for 4–5 months in east Malaysia (June–August and October) and Singapore (February, April and August). Variations in the reproductive cycles and brooding were not clearly linked to the timing of monsoons. The lack of seasonal peaks in breeding may be attributed to the relatively constant climatic conditions experienced near the equator.

Activity concentrations of210Po in the soft parts of cockle (Anadara granosa) at Kuala Selangor, Malaysia

Polonium-210 has been measured in the soft parts of Anadara granosa purchased at Kuala Selangor, West Coast of Malaysia in August 2001, April 2002 and September 2002. It is shown that 210Po is non-uniformly distributed within cockles of various sizes (i.e., 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 cm of shell length) and the concentration of 210Po in the soft parts of cockle was significantly different (p<0.05) due to sampling date. The highest value was observed in the smallest cockle with a shell length of 2.5 cm (411.6±26.16 Bq/g dry wt.). It is clear that there is an allometric relationship between 210Po activity concentration and individual cockle weight. This may reflect on the differences of metabolic rate and growth age of cockles. The mean activity concentration of 210Po measured in Kuala Selangor filtered water were 1.75±0.17, 0.79±0.08 and 1.13±0.20 Bq/kg for August 2001, April 2002 and September 2002, respectively. The yield concentration factors for 210Po in the soft parts of cockles varies from 27.3. 103 to 106.9. 103.

Charlie Loke: Contributions from Tennis Court Road—Past, Present and Future

0143–4004/03/$-see front matter and almost every volume of Trophoblast Research has contained his reviews. Yung Wai Loke (known to everyone as Charlie) was born in Penang, an island off the West Coast of Malaysia. His family fled to Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion and he remembers the dog fights overhead before Singapore was captured in 1941. The remainder of the war was spent under the Japanese occupation in Kuala Lumpur living on a diet of brown rice. After the war he was despatched to England, a journey taking three days by air, and was educated at the Leys School and then King’s College in Cambridge. He then moved to St Thomas’s Hospital and qualified as a doctor in 1960 but, after spending a year as a houseman, he left England to return to Malaya where he worked as a Pathologist. It was there that his life was influenced in two important ways; he reduced his golf handicap to four and developed an interest in hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinomas, both common tumours in the Far East. There were strong pulls to settle permanently in Malaya and join the family business (his grandfather had emigrated from Southern China and founded the tin and rubber industries in Malaya), but in 1967 Charlie felt he should return to Cambridge. He was appointed as a Demonstrator in the Department of Pathology where he stayed for the next 35 years. In one of his earliest publications, arising from work performed in Malaya, he counted Barr bodies in placental tumours and found they were all XX in chromosome constitution and inferred (naively as it now turns out) that female placentae are more prone to the development of trophoblast tumours than males (Loke, 1969). Charlie’s long interest in trophoblast had begun. He became fascinated by how the allogeneic nature of choriocarcinomas might influence their behaviour (Loke, 1975) and the extension of this question to the normal placenta became his main intellectual preoccupation. Is the placenta discerned by the mother as self, nonself, missing self or surrogate self? How does this happen? Trophoblast cells are extraembryonic, arising from trophectoderm as the first differentiated cell of the embryo. The placenta is neither mother nor fetus, but provides an interface, a crucial intermediary, a no man’s land between these two genetically different individuals. There is an analogy with this concept in Charlie himself, buffered between England and Malaysia yet a To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK. Tel.: 44 1223 333727; Fax: 44 1223 765065; E-mail: am485@cam.ac.uk Figure 1. Charlie Loke, Melbourne, Australia, October 2002.

SCIENTIFIC CHARACTERIZATION AND MONITORING: ITS APPLICATION TO INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is assisting Asian region member nations to develop and implement coastal management approaches to improve fisheries resources. Approaches are adapted to specific geographic, political, and cultural needs of each member nation. In Malaysia, the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, FAO, and the Bay of Bengal Program have been working together in the design and implementation of a Special Area Management (SAM) approach to address the issues facing the Pulau Payar Marine Park along the west coast of Malaysia. Early results of the scientific work have assisted in achieving the SAM project objectives. For example, science applied in the project helped participants to view the issues objectively, to gauge the effectiveness of past management actions, and to guide decisions on future actions. Important success stories of the SAM project discussed in the paper include: (1) Pulau Payar Marine Park appears to be succeeding at what it set out to do (i.e., sustain or enhance fisheries productivity); (2) “unmanaged tourism” seems to have greater adverse impact than previous fisheries practices; (3) it is possible to identify and promote tourist activities that reduce or eliminate harm to coral reefs; (4) the ground has been laid to tackle the infrastructure and development-related issues identified through the multi-sectoral SAM process as having major impacts on both water quality and coral reefs; and (5) multi-sectoral and scientific input can be successfully sought and incorporated to identify issues for management attention and decision making.

The Penang Botanic Gardens, 1794–1905: the design and development of a tropical botanic garden

Botanic gardens in South-East Asia made a significant contribution during the discovery and dissemination of flowering and economic botany throughout the world from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. While many of these gardens have received both international recogmtlOn and national expenditures commensurate with their significance, the Penang Botanic Gardens on Pulau Pinang, an island off the west coast of Malaysia, have often been overlooked. These gardens silently supported and assisted the endeavours of the Singapore Botanic Gardens' administration and botanical research. They were also an important venue for the cultivation and dissemination of seeds and specimens throughout Asia and into Britain. Prominent in Penang's development was the vision of its first Curator, Charles Curtis (1854–1928), who supervised the design and development from 1884 to 1903 and established Penang's credentials as a significant botanical research centre. This article reviews the history — notably the design development — of the Penang Botanic Gardens, from 1794 to 1905, and considers their contribution on the Pulau itself and to South-East Asian botanic garden history.

Multiple Bacteriosis, with Special Reference to Spoilage BacteriumShewanella putrefaciens, in Cage-Cultured Barramundi Perch in Malaysia

Abstract An incidence of multiple bacteriosis that caused heavy mortality in cage-cultured barramundi perch Lates calcarifer during May-July 1991 in the Pulau Ketam estuary in west coast of Malaysia was investigated. All fish showing hemorrhagic dermatitis were infected with Pseudomonas anguilliseptica and Vibrio alginolyticus, and the spoilage bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens was consistently isolated from all sampled fish. High-density culture under suboptimal nutritional and environmental conditions, together with feeding on spoiled coarse fish, was considered to have initiated the epizootic.