Abdulla- Al-Asif | Bangladesh Agricultural University (original) (raw)

Papers by Abdulla- Al-Asif

Malaysian Forester, Jun 28, 2024

The mangrove ecosystem, renowned for its global productivity, sustains livelihoods for millions, ... more The mangrove ecosystem, renowned for its global productivity, sustains livelihoods for millions, especially in Malaysia, through provisioning, regulatory, cultural, and supporting benefits. Despite extensive biological and environmental research on mangroves in Malaysia, scant attention has been given to their social aspects, particularly in Terengganu. This study addressed this gap by evaluating the awareness of Merchang residents in Terengganu regarding the tangible and intangible advantages of mangroves and their ecosystem services. The study unveiled intriguing insights through a structured questionnaire involving a total of >10% users of Merchang lagoon, including fishermen and mangrove forest beneficiaries. While provisioning services from the Merchang mangrove forest were not a primary reliance, a significant percentage of the community depended on it for fishery resources (67%), honey (37%), and fruits (26%). Moreover, there was a profound belief in the importance of the mangrove forest for regulatory services, such as erosion control (96%), climate control (93%), and air quality control (85%). Culturally, the mangrove forest played an integral role in knowledge systems, education, inspiration, aesthetics, social interactions, recreation, and ecotourism, as unanimously agreed upon by all respondents. Supporting services were also recognized, encompassing nitrogen cycling (67%) and soil formation with primary production (63%). Encouragingly, a majority of respondents expressed a keen willingness to actively participate in Merchang mangrove development, showcasing strong potential for community engagement. The study concludes that involving local communities in mangrove conservation efforts could bolster fishing resources, community livelihoods, wildlife, and ecotourism development.

Journal of Tropical Life Science, Jun 6, 2024

The pygmy halfbeak Dermogenys colletei, is known for its viviparous nature, this presents an intr... more The pygmy halfbeak Dermogenys colletei, is known for its viviparous nature, this presents an intriguing case of relatively low fecundity, raising questions about potential compensatory reproductive strategies employed by this species. Our study delves into the examination of fecundity and the Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) in the Pygmy Halfbeak, D. colletei (Meisner, 2001), an intriguing viviparous fish indigenous to Sarawak, Borneo. We hypothesize that the Pygmy halfbeak, D. colletei, may exhibit unique reproductive adaptations to offset its low fecundity, thus enhancing its survival and fitness. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study utilizing 28 mature female specimens of D. colletei, carefully measuring fecundity and GSI to shed light on the reproductive adaptations of this species. Our findings reveal that D. colletei indeed exhibits low fecundity, with a mean of 16.76 ± 2.01, and a mean GSI of 12.83 ± 1.27, providing crucial insights into the reproductive mechanisms at play in this species. These results underscore the existence of unique reproductive strategies in D. colletei, enabling its adaptation and persistence in Borneo's diverse aquatic ecosystems, and call for further ecological research to elucidate these mechanisms. This study lends to a better understanding of viviparous fish in Borneo and contributes to the broader field of aquatic ecology, enhancing our knowledge of species adaptations to unique ecological challenges.

Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, Jan 26, 2024

Bangladesh, with its extensive river network, vast coastlines, and rich maritime heritage, stands... more Bangladesh, with its extensive river network, vast coastlines, and rich maritime heritage, stands at the crossroads of a transformative Blue Economy. This comprehensive review explores the rich tapestry of Bangladesh's maritime journey. Commencing with a historical lens, it traces the nation's roots in fisheries, showcasing its transformation into a diversified and dynamic Blue Economy. The significance of this transition unfolds across the review, underscoring the sector's contributions to GDP, employment, and food security, while candidly addressing challenges such as overfishing and environmental impact. This work not only chronicles historical milestones but distills valuable lessons from both successes and setbacks, offering a nuanced understanding of the economic resilience embedded in Bangladesh's fisheries sector. Beyond a historical retrospective, the review navigates through the contemporary landscape, emphasizing diversification beyond fisheries. It illuminates economic opportunities in maritime trade, explores non-fish marine resources, and delves into the transformative role of aquaculture. The policy framework governing Bangladesh's Blue Economy comes into focus, dissecting government strategies, legal landscapes, and international collaborations. The review also champions environmental sustainability, highlighting the impact of Blue Economy activities on marine ecosystems and advocating for conservation measures, thus positioning Bangladesh as a steward of its rich maritime heritage. Financial mechanisms and investments emerge as pivotal elements, shaping the trajectory of Blue Economy projects, as evidenced by case studies that weave success stories and lessons learned into the narrative. Concluding with a forward-looking perspective, the study identifies emerging trends, growth opportunities, and strategies to tackle challenges, offering a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable development. In weaving together economic vibrancy, environmental stewardship, and future aspirations, this review illuminates Bangladesh's maritime odyssey as a beacon for the global Blue Economy community.

AACL Bioflux, Dec 24, 2023

Hybridization is a significant approach to breeding that enables the creation of new varieties th... more Hybridization is a significant approach to breeding that enables the creation of new varieties that enhance genetic diversity. Through fish inter-species hybridization, it is possible to produce hybrids that can be utilized in aquaculture and stocking programs to enhance growth rate, transfer desirable traits between species, and combine the favourable attributes of two parents into a single progeny. The present study revealed the successful hybridization between Clarias microstomus (Ng, 2001) ♂ and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) ♀ for the first time in the aquaculture industry. C. microstomus is a species of Clariid catfish endemic to the island of Borneo and C. gariepinus is an introduced species widely aquacultured throughout the southeast Asian region. The embryonic development of the hybrid offspring is described with the hatching percentage of 58.63% and the early survival rate for the first 72 hours for the larvae of 85.76%. The hybrids showed no signs of deformities and developed normally. The findings of the study provide a new high yield variety of catfish for farmers and aquaculture industry for increasing production and profit margin.

Malaysian Applied Biology, Dec 15, 2023

Freshwater Gastropoda can be considered as the biological indicator in ecosystems such as rivers,... more Freshwater Gastropoda can be considered as the biological indicator in ecosystems such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. The objectives of this study are to identify freshwater gastropod species, diversity, and distribution along Sungai Penebak, Sungai Nanga Tiga, and Sungai Kabo in the Betong division. The study was conducted on 10 November 2020. A 50 m transect was laid on the riverbank of all three stations. The existing specimens were counted and collected from each sampling point and stored were taken to the laboratory for species identification. The diversity index and morphological study of freshwater gastropods were performed. Five species of freshwater gastropods belonging to four families were discovered. The five species of freshwater gastropods consisted of Sulcospira pageli, which shows great abundance, followed by Clea nigricans, Brotia costula, Pila ampullacea, and Vittina pennata. The diversity indices of collected Gastropoda species from the different stations, for instance, Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H'), Pielou's evenness index (J'), and Margalef's richness index were assessed; where station 3 showed higher diversity of Gastropoda compared to other two stations. The information presented in this paper might be helpful for ecological wealth studies and considered as the baseline data for the stream ecosystem in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, Sep 30, 2023

Macrofaunal diversity and composition are essential to understanding the ecosystem structures and... more Macrofaunal diversity and composition are essential to understanding the ecosystem structures and functions of mangroves in any dynamic estuarine coast. To understand the temporal distribution of macrofaunal community structures and diversity on the surface sediment in the intertidal mangrove forest next to the seagrass beds, this study was conducted at Punang-Sari-River estuary, Lawas, Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo), South China Sea. Sampling was done during post-monsoon, intermediate-September, premonsoon, and monsoon from July 2019 to February 2020. The mean macrofauna abundance was higher pre-monsoon, while Gastropoda Optediceros breviculum (L. Pfeiffer, 1855) was the most abundant (RA = 0.704). Important species index (ISI = 70.36) and percentage of contribution (64.97%) were also higher of this species than any other records from the site. The ANOSIM (Analysis of Similarity), Jaccard index and SIMPER (Similarity Percentage Analysis) analysis suggested that the highest species abundance similarity was observed between pre-monsoon and monsoon, while the highest dissimilarity was observed between intermediate-September and pre-monsoon (74.67%). Seasonal PCA, nMDS, and cluster analysis revealed that pre-monsoon and monsoon were comparable in species and individual abundance. The dominance (0.85) was found significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in intermediate-September, while Simpson (0.734), Shannon (1.56) and Evenness indices (0.528) were found higher in monsoon, followed by the higher Margalef richness indices (3.21) in post-monsoon. It was observed that the seasonal ecological parameters were found to be significantly (P<0.05) different, including the temperature, salinity, rainfall, pore water nitrogenous compounds (NO2, NO3 and NH3-N), phosphorus compound (PO4) and micro minerals. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) results suggested that ecological factors influenced several species. Considering the few studies on mangrove macrofauna in Malaysian Borneo, further research on their trophic structures and food web interactions is very important to disclose their overall characteristics and ecosystem functions.

Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2023

Nemipterus japonicus (Japanese threadfin bream) is one of the most significant fish species throu... more Nemipterus japonicus (Japanese threadfin bream) is one of the most significant fish species throughout the Indo-Pacific regions. No previous studies on the population dynamics of N. japonicus have been carried out in the Eastern Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo). The present study focused on the population dynamics of N. japonicus from April 2013 to March 2014 in the coastal area of Bintulu, South China Sea. Local fishermen provided samples, which were then analysed. The FiSAT II software was used to evaluate the collected length frequency data. The asymptotic length (L ∞) and growth coefficient (K) were 26.78 cm and 0.85 yr-1, respectively. The growth performance index (ϕ'), total mortality coefficient (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 2.785, 2.97, 1.63 and 1.34 per year, respectively. According to the estimates, the exploitation rate (E) for N. japonicus was 0.45, while the E 0.1 , E 0.5 and E max were determined as 0.72, 0.4 and 0.806, respectively. The obtained value of exploitation was less than E max, although slightly higher than E 0.5. The recruitment characteristics of N. japonicus have been stable throughout the year, with one peak pulse. The results contribute to the knowledge of the dynamics of N. japonicus populations and are important for the sustainable management of the Sarawak fishing resources.

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Feb 21, 2023

The diversity and composition of macrofaunal communities are important components to understand t... more The diversity and composition of macrofaunal communities are important components to understand the mangrove ecosystem structures and functions. To understand the seasonal distribution of macro-infaunal community and diversity, this study was conducted from July 2019 to February 2020 in the intertidal mangrove forest of Punang-Sari-River estuary, Lawas, Sarawak. Sampling was carried out during post-monsoon, intermediate-September, pre-monsoon, and monsoon. It was observed that, the seasonal physico-chemical parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) different, including the temperature, salinity, rainfall, pore water nitrogenous compounds (NO2, NO3 and NH3-N), phosphate and micro minerals. A total of 39 infaunal macrobenthos taxa from 27 families were recorded while the mean abundance of infaunal macro benthos was found higher in monsoon (997.29 individuals/m2). The most abundant, the highest important species index and percentage contribution species was Bivalvia Eurytellina lineata (W. Turton, 1819) due to year-round favorable ecological condition. Seasonal faunal grouping suggested post-monsoon, intermediate-September and pre-monsoon were comparable in species and individual abundance. The Simpson, and Shannon indices were found significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in monsoon, while Margalef richness was found higher in pre-monsoon. The soil was sandy loam with major portion of sand, and positively correlated with sand and infaunal abundance in all seasons. The ANOSIM and SIMPER analysis suggested that the highest species abundance similarity was observed between post-monsoon and pre-monsoon, while the highest dissimilarity was observed between intermediate-September and pre-monsoon. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis results suggested, a number of species were influenced by ecological factors, for instance, salinity, soil pH, PO4, micro–macro minerals, water pH, and nitrogenous compounds. The relationship within benthic infaunal abundance in the mangrove ecosystem with their seasonality, ecological variables, and soil properties were established and addressed in this study.

Borneo Journal of Science and Technology, Jan 31, 2023

Gonad of sea urchin is considered as food delicacy in many parts of the world due to high nutriti... more Gonad of sea urchin is considered as food delicacy in many parts of the world due to high nutrition and mineral contents. Several species of sea urchins are available in Malaysia and reported from different habitat, including seagrass beds, coastal breakwater, coral reefs and other ecologically important habitats. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the proximate and mineral composition of long spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) roe collected from breakwater of Terengganu, Malaysia in October 2019, November 2019 and January 2020. The samples were analysed for proximate including protein, lipid, moisture, and ash content of sea urchin roe. The macro, micro minerals and heavy metals were also evaluated including Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Se, Mg, Ni, Pb, Al, and Cd. The result suggested that, long spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) roe can be considered as good sources of food due to high percentage of protein (ranged between 36.21±0.44 and 50.14±4.63). The presence of heavy metal such as Ni, Pb, and Cd suggesting the breakwater environments were not good enough and the possible sources of heavy metals contamination in sea water environment must be stopped and eradicated. This study provides important information with regard to the proximate and mineral values of D. setosum, as well as the need for a better management of its habitat before D. setosum can be widely promoted as delicacy in this region.

Journal of Tropical Life Science, Jan 31, 2023

The seagrass ecosystems found in the marine and coastal areas, with substantial economic and ecol... more The seagrass ecosystems found in the marine and coastal areas, with substantial economic and ecological services and span all over the globe excluding the Antarctic region. The Coral Triangle and Southeast Asia are recognized as a worldwide hotspot of seagrass species and habitats, encompassing 10-21 species of seagrass in every nation , although the study, understanding, and quantity of publications on seagrass ecosystems are rather limited in the region, including Malaysia. Malaysia contains 18 seagrass species from three families, which occupy 16.8 km 2 of coastal area, where the study and discovery of seagrass species and meadows began in 1904 with the report of Beccari. All of the published papers reviewed reported on Malaysian seagrass-related research, which was divided into nine topic groups: biology and distribution, carbon sequestration, fauna, remote sensing, impact and pollution genetic study, restoration , microbiological investigation, and others. The extensive study of the seagrass ecosystem began in 1993, and we have identified 183 published papers from Scopus, 141 publications from Web of Science, and 42 from Google Scholar. However, the average trend of the number of publications from 1993 to 1999 was 0.71 ± 0.36, while from 2000 to 2022 was 7.70 ± 1.16 followed by the average trend of the yearly number of publications was 6.78 ± 1.08. The highest number of publications was found on faunal categories (43.17%), followed by biology and distribution (21.85%). The number of articles that were published on Malaysian seagrass meadows each year has been discovered to be rising, which indicates that the trends in seagrass study and publishing were progressively garnering the attention of researchers, academics, and the government. However, to better understand the sustainable ecology and ecosystem services provided by seagrass habitats, an emphasis on certain research niches, such as the genetic study of flora and fauna in seagrass meadows, microbial ecology, and restoration as well as conservation of seagrass species might be helpful.

Arxius de Miscellania Zoologica, Jan 16, 2023

First record of saucer scallop Ylistrum balloti (Bernardi, 1861) from equatorial South China Sea.... more First record of saucer scallop Ylistrum balloti (Bernardi, 1861) from equatorial South China Sea. Ylistrum balloti is one of the Pectinidae species distributed within the Indo-Pacific region. Recently, 15 live specimens of Y. balloti were recorded from the continental shelf of Sarawak, Malaysia. The main morphological characteristics were displayed on the outer valve, these being a brown-red colour and a clear concentric pattern of thin brown lines. The prominent internal ribbing numbers on both valves also helped species identification. The preliminary report of Y. balloti revealed that the species is present in Sarawak waters and can be further explored in the future.

Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research , Nov 24, 2022

The fly larvae (Lucilia sericata) are being used as an alternative protein source in any kind of ... more The fly larvae (Lucilia sericata) are being used as an alternative protein source in any kind of animal feed as it reduces the cost of preparation of feed. This current study focused on the physico-chemical and proximate properties of raw poultry waste, while this study also revealed the production process of fly larvae and the proximate composition of it. The poultry waste was collected from Suvro poultry farm, Sutiakhali, Mymensingh, then the physic-chemical properties of the raw poultry waste were determined using different procedures. Three treatments were considered for production of fly larvae, T 1 (3 kg), T 2 (6 kg) and T 3 (9 kg) in a 15 kg capacity tray with three replications. After production, the proximate composition were also measured of fly larvae. Physico-chemical properties such as, color, odor, texture, temperature, pH, total solids (TSS+TDS), chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, available N, available P, and fiber in raw poultry waste were determined and presented. Proximate composition such as, moisture, total N, total P, available N, total Ca, ash and crude fiber were found in significant amount in the poultry waste. It was found that T 3 (1350±68g) produced highest volume of live maggot compared to the other treatments, but T 2 (17.50±1.10%) produced highest percentage volume. The proximate compositions of fly larvae were assessed and found 56.60±0.25% protein value in it, suggesting that fly larvae could be the protein replacer in fish feed. The result of this study revealed cheap protein source in aquaculture production, such as production and rearing of stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, and the findings might be helpful for cost reduction in aquaculture operation.

AACL Bioflux, Dec 16, 2022

Reduction of aquaculture operations and production cost is key to the success and profitability o... more Reduction of aquaculture operations and production cost is key to the success and profitability of this enterprise, while protein needs, especially the cost of fish meal, are cery expensive. The current study was conducted to investigate the post-larval production performance of Heteropneustes fossilis using Lucilia sericata maggot as a fish meal replacer in two ways, namely, live larvae and powder form. A 28 days growth trial was performed where five isonitrogenous diets for Heteropneustes fossilis post-larvae were experimented using live maggots and maggot meal, respectively. The proximate composition of each formulated diet, growth parameters of fish post-larvae, such as, weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, apparent protein utilization, survival rate and the food conversion ratio were examined. After the experiment, the carcass composition of the experimental fishes were evaluated. The best final weight (1.61 g), weight gain (1.418 g), percentage of weight gain (739±1.18%), specific growth rate (2.63), protein efficiency ratio (2.29), apparent protein utilization (85%), survival rate (90%) and lower food conversion ratio (2.06) were observed in fish fed with 75% maggot meal as a substitute of fish meal. This study will help the aquaculture industry, especially the catfish culture in identifying an alternate source of protein and lowering the cost of aquaculture operation.

Biotropia, Dec 15, 2022

Molecular study is important to detect variations and similarities among species from the same ge... more Molecular study is important to detect variations and similarities among species from the same genus, in case if they do not encompass any morphological or physiological differences. The study was conducted to differentiate among species of Meretrix spp. (Meretrix lyrata, M. meretrix, and M. lusoria) obtained from two locations in Malaysia through the phylogenetic tree. The adductor muscle tissues were used to extract DNA and to perform other procedures; the samples were subjected to analyses using PCR and gel electrophoresis. The multiple sequence comparison was conducted by MUSCLE and the phylogenetic relationships were established using Maximum Likelihood (ML) statistical methods with MEGA 6.0 statistical software. M. lyrata samples showed 99% similarity to the three accessions sequence, where M. lyrata indicated 87% similarities, and M. meretrix showed not more than 89% similarities from the deposited sequence. The nucleotide base composition sequences consisted of the mean of Thiamine (T) 37.9%, Cytosine (C) 15.4%, Adenine (A) 27.4%, and Guanine (G) 19.4%. Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis was conducted using the Tamura 3-parameter model to establish five major clades on Meretrix spp. and two out-groups clades significantly different from the Meretrix spp. These major clades were closely related to each other at the 50% evidence of bootstrap, which grouped as genus Meretrix. The present study on Meretrix spp. from the Sarawak locality was able to differentiate COI sequences between M. lyrata, M. meretrix, and M. lusoria. M. lusoria was close related to M. meretrix with strong bootstrap supporting evidence at 96% scoring. Moreover, M. lyrata was inferred as the ancestor to M. meretrix, and M. lusoria from Sarawak, Malaysia.

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 2022

The aquatic gastropods (marine and freshwater) in Malaysian Borneo (MYB) have an ancient history ... more The aquatic gastropods (marine and freshwater) in Malaysian Borneo (MYB) have an ancient history of 255 years, while the first record was observed in 1767 by the pioneer Carl Linnaeus. Over time, many European, native taxonomists and conservationists have worked on the diverse group of gastropods in the Malaysian part of Borneo (states of Sabah and Sarawak). No previous work has been conducted to assess the historical status of this particular class of Mollusca. The study objective was to reveal the types of aquatic gastropods and the number of published research and expeditions conducted in MYB. The bibliometric analysis found 145 research publications mentioning the names of the region and reporting at least one gastropod species from this geographic region. Over the history of 255 years, a total of 559 gastropod species were reported by different research groups. Between 1767 and 1900, a total of 150 gastropod species were reported, followed by 79 species from 1900 to 2000 and 330 species from 2001 to 2022. The Grubbs test (p<0.05) identified outlier years for the reporting of gastropod species from MYB with 54 new species each in 2011 and 2020 and 39 species in 2001. Over the history of aquatic gastropod research in MYB, the taxonomists making the greatest contribution were Han Raven and his colleagues from Naturalis who reported 111 new species from the region, followed by Nur Leena Wong from Universiti Putra Malaysia (54 new species). The results suggested that reporting of new species from MYB is increasing, which may reflect the many unexplored sites and suggests the existence of as yet unrecorded species in this ecoregion. In this regard further expeditions and research should improve estimates of the true number of aquatic gastropod species in this area. These results can help the regional governments in making a regional biodiversity database as well as in taking decisions regarding aquatic gastropod research and management.

Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 2022

Phytoplankton are the primary producer of the food chain in any aquatic ecosystem, and play a cru... more Phytoplankton are the primary producer of the food chain in any aquatic ecosystem, and play a crucial role in maintaining fishery resources. The community structure of phytoplankton in tropical mangrove estuarine and adjacent coastal waters was investigated in the South China Sea from January 2013 to December 2013 to compare the significance of two water bodies. Study revealed, 102 species of phytoplankton species under 43 genera covering 6 species of Cyanophyceae, 4 species of Chlorophyceae, 63 species of Bacillariophyceae and 29 species of Dinophyceae from estuarine mangrove area. Whereas 67 species from coastal waters were recorded which comprised of 47 species of Bacillariophyceae, 16 species of Dinophyceae, 2 species of Cyanophyceae with 1 species of both the Dictyochophyceae and Chrysophyceae. The phytoplankton community structure and mean abundance (cells/L) were recorded in a systematic order of Bacillariophyceae> Dinophyceae> Cyanophyceae> Chlorophyceae in mangrove waters. While from coastal waters the systematic order was found as Bacillariophyceae> Dinophyceae> Cyanophyceae> Dictyochophyceae> Chrysophyceae. Phytoplankton mean abundance fluctuated from 567 to 88890 cells/L in different seasons over the study period with its higher value in the dry season. The mean phytoplankton cell abundance in mangrove estuarine area (38313.74 ± 5614.26) found significantly ( p <0.0001) higher than the coastal water (1964.33 ± 666.68). Phytoplankton species observed from the estuarine waters were dominated by Pleurosigma normanii , Coscinodiscus sp., Coscinodiscus centralis , Coscinodiscus granii , Dinophysis caudata , Ceratium carriense , Ceratium fusus , and Ceratium lineatum . While the blue green algae, Chaetoceros pseudocurvisetus , and Thalassionema sp. found most dominant in the coastal waters. Significant differences (R = 0.23-1, p <0.05) were noticed in the phytoplankton species community assemblage between intermediate and wet seasons. The findings suggest that mangrove estuarine waters in South China Sea region were more productive in terms of phytoplankton abundance and diversity than the coastal waters, which are influenced by the season.

Ocean Science Journal , 2022

Area of the Coral Triangle (CT), namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solom... more Area of the Coral Triangle (CT), namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, comprises 5.7 million km2 of the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most bio-diverse marine eco-regions on the planet, as well as a global hotspot for seagrass species. Many sea creatures of this eco-region rely on the seagrass ecosystem, especially dugong species extensively (a total number of 2279 individuals), sea turtles (4–6 species), benthic organisms, and fish. Apart from these ecological services, carbon sequestration (2.6 billion Mg CO2 storage) by the seagrass ecosystem is considerably higher in comparison to terrestrial vegetation. In this paper, we scrutinized previously acknowledged seagrass species distribution, the associated fauna in seagrass meadows, the total carbon sequestration in the Coral Triangle, past and present research conducted on seagrass and other aspects, and major threats to seagrass ecosystems within this biogeographic region. Depending on their different locations, the six CT countries have a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 19 seagrass species that belong to four distinct families (Hydrocharitaceae, Cymodoceaceae, Zosteraceae, and Ruppiaceae) and cover almost 58,550.63‬ km2. While a total of 21 species of seagrass have been found throughout this eco-region, very little research has been conducted to assess the overall status of the ecosystems within this eco-region. Seagrass ecosystems and services from these habitats within the Coral Triangle are also associated with 100 million human inhabitants, who are supported directly or indirectly by the resources of this ecosystem. These inhabitants may cause considerable disturbance to seagrass ecosystems. For the long-term sustainable management and conservation of these ecosystems, two types of threats, namely local human activities and global transboundary issues including climate change, have been identified and need to be taken into consideration. In terms of human activities, local threats include water quality deterioration due to sewage and pollutant discharge, agricultural activities mainly from palm oil plantations, over-exploitation of seagrass-associated resources, sediment runoff, and destructive fishing practices. Global threats comprise macro and microplastics, sea-level rise due to climate change, global warming, and acidification. Further study of social, cultural, and economic interaction between the local inhabitants and seagrass ecosystems is highly recommended for assessing the ecological and economic contribution of this habitat to the human societies of the Coral Triangle. Despite their importance for human food services and the maintenance of the food web for marine and coastal animals, human activities have a negative impact on seagrass ecosystems around the world, particularly in the Coral Triangle.

Asian Journal of Conservation Biology, Dec 31, 2022

The Swinhoe's softshell turtle, Rafetus swinhoei (Gray, 1873),) is one of the world's largest fre... more The Swinhoe's softshell turtle, Rafetus swinhoei (Gray, 1873),) is one of the world's largest freshwater turtles, and possibly the most endangered turtle species on the planet (Stanford et al., 2018). It has an overall length of over 100 cm and a width of up to 70 cm, and it can easily weigh up to 70–100 kg, maximum weight was recorded at 169 kg (Solimine, 2013; Trong, 2018). Despite its enormous size and unusual look, this species is incredibly secretive and only comes to the surface to breathe, preferring to remain submerged deep down. For this species, there is very little ecological information, and the remaining distribution is unclear. This could explain why it's so difficult to positively identify and confirm occurrences of this species in the wild (Trong, 2018). If we look back to the history and biogeography of this species, it can be found that the existential records were documented in the historical literature of the Chinese and Vietnamese dynasties. This species was once thought to only live along the Red River in China and Vietnam, as well as the lower Yangtze River floodplain in China, but its current population size is estimated to be just one wild individual of undetermined sex and a solitary captivity male in Suzhou Zoo, China. Although recent thorough searches in Yunnan, China, and Vietnam failed to confirm the presence of more wild specimens, some sightings were reported until around a decade ago (Stanford et al., 2018), giving hope that more individuals may yet exist in Vietnam.

Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 2022

Snapper shrimp is a symbiotic organism usually hidden under the rocks, sponges and pen shells in ... more Snapper shrimp is a symbiotic organism usually hidden under the rocks, sponges and pen shells in the seagrass and coral habitats. The relationship study within snapper shrimp and pen shell was conducted from Merambong shoal, one of the biggest seagrass beds in peninsular Malaysia. A total of 40 individual pen shells were collected randomly and four species of pen shells were identified. 40 Anchistus custoides were found inhabiting symbiotically in the mantle cavity of the pen shell as solitary males and females and heterosexual pairs. Pen shell, Pinna bicolour and Atrina vexillum recorded the highest average SH 217.79±53.15 mm, SV 2.62±1.36 dm3 and SH 164.10-224.78 mm with the SV 1.18±0.43 dm3, respectively compared to the other species. The size of Anchistus custoides ranged from 15.00 to 20.00 mm in length and it was determined to be female due to the presence of eggs in the pleopods. The length of the cephalothorax and its length were highly related (rs=0.563, p≤0.01, N=40) and found wider in females. A little difference in size between the left and right chela in males of identical length was noticed, although the left chela is much bigger than the right. The significant relationship (rs=0.450, p≤0.01, N=40) between the pen shell length and shrimp (male-female) length revealed that the size of the shell is important to be hosted the snapper shrimp in the shell cavity.

Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology , 2022

Information on fisheries resources in East Malaysia is scarce and poorly known. The current revie... more Information on fisheries resources in East Malaysia is scarce and poorly known. The current review aims to compile a checklist of fisheries resources in the Northwest Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia) from available published literature, address the resources' present status, and suggest future monitoring needs for selected critical species. The study also aims to determine several Sarawak land-use issues that are in flux and responsible for habitat degradation. Five hundred sixty-four species belonging to 123 families and 32 orders were recorded from Sarawak waters. Freshwater fish species comprised 48.0% of the total, followed by a marine (36.6%), marine-euryhaline (12.9%), and brackish water (2.5%) species. Of this, Cyprinidae was the most dominant group accounting for the greatest number of species (82 species), followed by Balitoridae (34 species), Bagridae (21 species) and Penaeidae (21 species). Therefore, available fisheries resources should be managed carefully as 48 species (9.0%) are currently vulnerable to extinction. Furthermore, the presence of 20 alien species in Sarawak water bodies also requires attention from the authorities due to the potential disruption of aquatic ecological balance. Changing land use issues in Sarawak such as forest degradation, agricultural expansion, peatland deforestation and conversion, logging, destruction of mangrove forests, and construction of hydroelectric power dams and flood mitigation channels pose significant challenges to fishery management in Sarawak. Our study documents the priority of fishery monitoring and conservation in Sarawak water bodies to ensure sustainable management of fisheries resources.