Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 338 in total

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  1. Zainordin 'F, Ab Hamid S
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2017 Jul;28(2):9-29.
    PMID: 28890758 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.2.2
    Stable isotope analysis has been used extensively to establish trophic relationships in many ecosystems. Present study utilised stable isotope signatures of carbon and nitrogen to identify trophic structure of aquatic food web in river and rice field ecosystems in Perak, northern peninsular Malaysia. The mean δ(13)C values of all producers ranged from -35.29 ± 0.21 to -26.00 ± 0.050‰. The greatest δ(15)N values noted was in zenarchopterid fish with 9.68 ± 0.020‰. The δ(15)N values of aquatic insects ranged between 2.59 ± 0.107 in Elmidae (Coleoptera) and 8.11 ± 0.022‰ in Nepidae (Hemiptera). Correspondingly, with all the δ(13)C and δ(15)N values recorded, it can be deduced that there are four trophic levels existed in the freshwater ecosystems which started with the producer (plants), followed by primary consumer (aquatic insects and non-predatory fish), secondary consumer (invertebrate predators) and lastly tertiary consumer (vertebrate predators).
  2. Bakaruddin NH, Ab Majid AH
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2019 Jan;30(1):33-56.
    PMID: 30847032 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2019.30.1.3
    This study examined the tunneling activity and the behaviour of two subterranean termites, Globitermes sulphurues and Coptotermes gestroi treated with four plant extracts, namely Pyllanthus niruri, Azadirachta indica, Leucaena leucocephala and Andrographis paniculata. All plants were extracted with three different solvents (methanol, hexane and water) and were diluted into three concentrations (500, 5,000 and 10,000 ppm). A group of 50 workers and 2 soldiers were tested and observed daily during the exposure in order to determine their survivorship and behaviour. Both sections were scored to determine their tunneling activities after seven days. There was a significant difference of tunneling activities of C. gestroi on sand treated with plant extracts (X2(2) = 31.790, p < 0.0001) with a mean rank of 8.50 for methanolic extracts and 32.50 for both hexane and water extracts. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed on tunneling activity of G. sulphureus on treated sand (X2(2) = 2.200, p = 0.333) with a mean rank of 20.72 for methanolic extracts, 26.31 for water extracts and 26.47 for hexane extracts. Results showed that plants extracted with methanol demonstrated strong repellent properties with 0 tunneling activity on the treated sand and low survivorship of both termites. Moreover, both termites did not survive (0%) when they were treated with methanolic extracts at 10,000 ppm. They also displayed a different behaviour post-exposure such as avoidance, gradually losing the ability to walk and low feeding consumption. These results indicate that there is a strong termiticidal activity of plants extracted with methanol against C. gestroi and G. sulphureus.
  3. Sahimi HNM, Chubo JK, Top Mohd Tah MM, Saripuddin NB, Ab Rahim SS
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2018 Mar;29(1):139-154.
    PMID: 29644021 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2018.29.1.10
    Tarsius bancanus borneanus was first reported by Elliot in 1990 which an endemic species that can be found on the Island of Borneo consisting of Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan, Indonesia. This sub-species has been listed as a totally protected animal under the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance (1998) and vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The present study was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB), Sarawak from October 2014 till March 2015. Through mark and recapture sampling covering an area of 37 ha of secondary forest patches and 7.13 ha of rehabilitated forest, a total of 16 tarsiers were captured using mist nets while one tarsier was recapture. The population density was 38 individuals/km2 was captured using mist nets in the secondary forest while 28 individuals/km2 was recorded for the rehabilitated forest. Using the catch per unit effort (net hour) method, the average time for capturing tarsiers in the secondary forest patches was 26.6 net hour per animal and 30.0 net hour per animal in the rehabilitated forest. The presented results provides information on the presence of tarsiers in both the secondary and rehabilitated forests of UPMKB, Sarawak, Malaysia which underlines the conservation value of these forested areas.
  4. Zulaikha Zahran, Abdul Hafiz Ab Majid
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2019;30(2):1-16.
    MyJurnal
    Pepijat telah dikumpul dari seluruh Semenanjung Malaysia untuk melihat tahap kerintangan terhadap dua kelas racun serangga, piretroid dan karbamat. Dalam kajian ini, deltamethrin dan propoxur yang tersedia secara komersial digunakan untuk menguji status kerintangan pepijat tropika, Cimex hemipterus di Malaysia. Status kerintangan mereka dinilai dengan menggunakan kertas yang diresapi racun serangga, suatu kaedah bioesei yang disyorkan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO). Sepuluh pepijat dewasa dalam setiap populasi diletakkan di dalam setiap tiub dengan kertas yang diresapi 0.05% deltamethrin dan 0.1% propoxur. Pada mulanya, pepijat terdedah selama 24 jam, kemudian tempoh pendedahan dilanjutkan hingga 14 hari. Bioesei dilakukan dalam triplikat. Tahap kerintangan tertinggi dipamerkan oleh populasi AR dengan nilai masa maut (LT50) sebanyak 466.119 j di dalam tiub yang mengandungi deltametrin. Sebaliknya, propoxur sangat berkesan terhadap populasi IP (Ipoh) kerana nilai masa maut yang paling rendah, (LT50 = 153.032 j). Perbezaan yang signifikan (p < 0.005) didapati antara kelas racun serangga dan populasi pepijat. Purata kematian di kalangan populasi AR, SW, HM, PY, dan PC menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan apabila terdedah kepada deltametrin. Sebagai kesimpulan, propoxur menunjukkan keberkesanan yang tinggi dalam mengawal populasi pepijat. Walau bagaimanapun, keberkesanannya hanya di tempat tertentu. Sementara itu, rawatan menggunakan deltamethrin harus dielakkan oleh profesional kawalan perosak kerana keberkesanannya yang rendah.
  5. Ishadi NA, Rawi CS, Ahmad AH, Abdul NH
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2014 Dec;25(2):61-79.
    PMID: 27073600 MyJurnal
    The hemipteran (Insecta) diversity in the upper part of the Kerian River Basin was low with only 8 families and 16 genera recorded at 4 study sites from 3 rivers. Water bug composition varied among sampling sites (Kruskal-Wallis χ (2) = 0.00, p<0.05) but was not affected by wet-dry seasons (Z = 0.00, p>0.05). All recorded water parameters were weakly associated with generic abundance but the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Water Quality Index (WQI) and heavy metals (zinc and manganese) showed relatively strong positive or negative relations with hemipteran diversity and richness (H' and R2). Within the ranges of measured water parameters, the WQI was negatively associated with hemipteran diversity and richness, implying the tolerance of the water bugs to the level of pollution encountered in the river basin. Based on its highest abundance and occurrence (ISI), Rhagovelia was the most important genus and along with Rheumatogonus and Paraplea, these genera were common at all study sites. In conclusion, habitat availability and suitability together with some environmental parameters influenced the abundance and composition of hemipterans in this river basin.
  6. Yusof WNSW, Abdullah H
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2020 Apr;31(1):69-84.
    PMID: 32963712 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2020.31.1.5
    Conventional and modern cancer treatment were reported to manifest adverse effects to the patients. More researches were conducted to search for selective cytotoxic agent of plant natural product on cancer cells. The presences of wide range phytochemicals in Quercus infectoria (QI) extract have been implicated with the cytotoxic effect against various types of cancer cell which remain undiscovered. This present study aimed to evaluate cytotoxic effect of QI extracts on selected human cancer cells and then, the most potent extract was further analysed for general phytochemical constituents. QI galls were extracted successively with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol yielded three main extracts; n-hexane (QIH), ethyl acetate (QIEA) and methanol (QIM), respectively. The most potent extract was qualitatively analysed for the present of tannin, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Next, the extracts were tested to determine the cytotoxic activity against cervical cancer cells (HeLa), breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and liver cancer cells (Hep G2) using MTT assay. Cytotoxic activity of QI extracts against normal fibroblast (L929) cell line was also evaluated to determine the cytoselective property. Meanwhile, DMSO-treated cells served as negative control while cisplatin-treated cells served as positive control. The most potent extract then chosen to be further investigated for DNA fragmentation as hallmark of apoptosis using Hoechst staining. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. QIEA extract exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells with (IC50 value = 6.33 ± 0.33 μg/mL) and showed cytoselective property against L929 cells. DNA fragmentation revealed QIEA induced apoptosis in the treated cells. The richness of phytochemical constituents in QIEA extract might contribute to the potency of cytotoxic activity towards HeLa cells.
  7. Yong WT, Henry ES, Abdullah JO
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Dec;21(2):115-30.
    PMID: 24575204
    Genetic engineering is a powerful tool for the improvement of plant traits. Despite reported successes in the plant kingdom, this technology has barely scratched the surface of the Melastomataceae family. Limited studies have led to some optimisation of parameters known to affect the transformation efficiency of these plants. The major finding of this study was to optimise the presence of selected enhancers [e.g., monosaccharides (D-glucose, D-galactose and D-fructose), tyrosine, aluminium chloride (AICI3) and ascorbic acid] to improve the transformation efficiency of Tibouchina semidecandra. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring the disarmed plasmid pCAMBIA1304 was used to transform shoots and nodes of T. semidecandra. Different concentrations of the transformation enhancers were tested by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter. The results obtained were based on the percentage of GFP expression, which was observed 14 days post-transformation. A combination of 120 μM galactose and 100 μM tyrosine supplemented with 600 μM AICI3 in the presence of 15 mg/l ascorbic acid gave the highest percentage of positive transformants for T. semidecandra shoots. Whereas 60 μM galactose and 50 μM tyrosine with 200 μM AICI3 in the presence of 15 mg/l ascorbic acid was optimum for T. semidecandra nodes. The presence of the hygromycin phosphotransferase II (hptII) transgene in the genomic DNA of putative T. semidecandra transformants was verified by PCR amplification with specific primers.
  8. Leh TY, Yong CSY, Nulit R, Abdullah JO
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2019 Jan;30(1):149-159.
    PMID: 30847038 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2019.30.1.9
    Stevia rebaudiana, a perennial herb native to northeastern Paraguay, has gained immense attention globally over the recent decades due to the natural sweetness of its leaves. Like in most plants, this particular species contains high amount of secondary metabolites, thus rendering the isolation of high quality and quantity RNA extract for molecular applications rather challenging. An effective, high-yield and high-quality RNA isolation protocol for this economically important plant species was devised here based on the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) extraction method, with an additional genomic DNA (gDNA) removal step. DNA and other contaminants that may affect downstream applications were effectively removed. Our results exhibited that RNA samples isolated from the leaves and stems of Stevia rebaudiana using this improvised method are high in integrity and quality with RNA integrity number (RIN) of more than 8 and low in contaminants.
  9. Nasir MD, Abdullah MT
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Dec;21(2):69-83.
    PMID: 24575200
    There is not much information available on the distribution of the Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegates) in Malaysia, despite it being one of only two known species in the order Dermoptera. Data on the presence of the Sunda colugo and the vernacular names used by various ethnic groups throughout Malaysia were collected and compiled from various primary and secondary sources. There were 27 locations from Peninsular, 11 locations from Sabah and 34 locations from Sarawak that reported the presence of the Sunda colugo throughout Malaysia. The various ethnic groups of Malaysia adopted 37 different vernacular names to describe the Sunda colugo. This baseline data can be useful for the management authorities in conducting periodic monitoring and will enhance our knowledge of the population dynamics of the Sunda colugo in Malaysia.
  10. Pounsin G, Wahab NS, Roslan A, Zahidin MA, Pesiu E, Tamrin NAM, et al.
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2018 Mar;29(1):51-69.
    PMID: 29644015 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2018.29.1.4
    A study of the bat diversity was conducted in Hulu Terengganu dipterocarp forest and Setiu Wetland Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) forest in Terengganu, to study the species diversity, composition and stratification of fruit bats from the understorey to the forest canopy. Mist nets were set up at the understorey, sub-canopy and canopy layer while harp traps were set up at the understorey layer. We recorded 170 individuals from six families' compromised 21 species from Hulu Terengganu dipterocarp forests and four species from Setiu Wetland BRIS forests throughout the sampling period. Megaerops ecaudatus and Cynopterus brachyotis were the most dominant species in Hulu Terengganu dipterocarp forest and Setiu Wetland BRIS forests. Our study also recorded two species with new distributional records for the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, namely, Rhinolophus chiewkweeae and Chaerephon johorensis in Hulu Terengganu dipterocarp forests. Potential factors that might influence the results were in terms of the canopy covers, the structural complexity of canopy, food availability and spatial characteristics. This study was able to increase the knowledge on the species diversity and composition of bats in Hulu Terengganu dipterocarp forest and Setiu Wetland BRIS forest, thus, further aid in the effort of bat conservation in both areas.
  11. Taufik M, Shahrul I, Mohd Nordin AR, Ikhwanuddin M, Abol-Munafi AB
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2020 Jul;31(2):79-105.
    PMID: 32922670 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2020.31.2.5
    Nutritional quality of the hepatopancreas and gonads of orange portunid mud crab, Scylla olivacea was evaluated for each gender under four treatment of different water velocities (0, 20, 40 and 60 cm s-1), in terms of nutrient reserve and nutrient for reproduction. About 56 crabs were used in this study in which fatty acids composition was analysed using gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). For hepatopancreas analysis, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were present in the highest fatty acids concentration, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and, saturated fatty acids (SFAs). However, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) were displayed in low concentration in the hepatopancreas. Total fatty acid (TFAs) composition was significantly higher at moderate velocity of 20 cm s-1 compared to other water velocity treatments. For gonad analysis, 20 cm s-1 showed the highest TFA concentration of 93.34 mg g-1 while, the lowest concentration of 3.90 mg g-1 occurred at 0 cm s-1. There were significant differences in male and female crab's fatty acids contents of gonads at all flow velocities challenged (p < 0.05). PUFAs and MUFAs were dominant while, SFAs were observed at low concentration. This study revealed that, concentration of PUFAs increased as gonad maturation increased. The decreasing concentration of hepatopancreas fatty acids over the culture period indicated that nutrient was shifted from the hepatopancreas, to be used as energy reserved to gonads for further growth of eggs and offspring. The linkages between water flow strength, hepatopancreas, and gonad fatty acids concentrations, is fundamental knowledge useful in establishing efficient habitat velocities selection which will improve aquaculture production of mud crabs with high quality broodstock.
  12. Win SS, Muhamad R, Ahmad ZA, Adam NA
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2011 May;22(1):25-35.
    PMID: 24575207 MyJurnal
    Survival and fertility characteristics of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens were assessed in the laboratory and field. Life tables and population parameters of the BPH were constructed in an environment with unlimited food supply and that was free of natural enemies. The highest mortality occurred in the immature stage, especially in the first and second instars. The life table analysis showed that the population density of BPH decreased gradually. The survival ratio of male to female was 0.512:0.488. The females lived for a maximum of 20 days. The trend of oviposition showed a peak at around the tenth day of the female life. The highest number of eggs produced per female per day was 9.63. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) in egg production per female per day was 0.0677 and the daily finite of increase (λ) was 1.0688 females per female per day, with a mean generation time (T) of 34.05 days. The net reproductive rate (Ro) of the population was 10.02. The population doubling time (DT) was 10.42 days.
  13. Majid AH, Ahmad AH
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2013 Dec;24(2):91-5.
    PMID: 24575252 MyJurnal
    Nine soil samples from nine buildings infested with Coptotermes gestroi in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, were tested for the type of soil texture. The soil texture analysis procedures used the hydrometer method. Four of nine buildings (44%) yielded loamy sand-type soil, whereas five of nine buildings (56%) contained sandy loam-type soil.
  14. Hamid SA, Rawi CS, Ahmad AH
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2016 Feb;27(1):43-62.
    PMID: 27019681 MyJurnal
    The life history and the influence of environmental parameters on Thalerosphyrus were investigated in two first-order rivers-the Batu Hampar River and the Teroi River of Gunung Jerai, Kedah-in northern peninsular Malaysia. Based on nymphal body length, Thalerosphyrus was found to be trivoltine in both rivers, regardless of the altitudinal difference, but its population abundance was four times higher in the Teroi River, presumably related to its better survival in the lower water temperature. At least nine instars of Thalerosphyrus were detected in the field-collected nymphs. Its life cycle was completed within 2.5-3.0 months, with overlapping cohorts and continual emergence of up to 3 months. The main driving factors of the high abundance of Thalerosphyrus were the water temperature and habitat quality.
  15. Ong SQ, Ab Majid AH, Ahmad H
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2017 Jul;28(2):45-55.
    PMID: 28890760 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.2.4
    In this study, bifenthrin (Maxxthor SC, Ensystex Australasia Pty Ltd), imidacloprid (Prothor SC, Ensystex Australasia Pty Ltd) and fipronil (Regent(®)50SC, Bayer) were applied on the natural infest manures according to the manufacturer rate during a broiler breeding cycle. Solvent direct-immersion extraction (SDIE) was used in detecting the target compound and later, quantification of the insecticide residues in field condition was investigated. The samples were prior cleaned up by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) - photodiode array (PDA) system. In the field trial, three insecticides were showed accumulation during the broiler breeding period and it is suggested that they acted as adulticides when applied on the poultry manures, this is supported by the significant correlation between the increment of insecticide residues to the reduction percentage of adult flies (<0.05). Fipronil showed significantly greater reduction on the adult fly compared to the other insecticides, in which the reduction rate compared to control population at the end of the broiler breeding period; fipronil, imidaclopril and bifenthrin reduced 51.51%, 28.30% and 30.84% of adult flies, respectively.
  16. Din HM, Rashed O, Ahmad K
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2020 Oct;31(3):29-45.
    PMID: 33214854 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2020.31.3.3
    Fusarium wilt disease is one of the most problematic and destructive disease in cucumber production. The causative agents are Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. These pathogens are soil borne and transmitted through infested soil and water. A field survey was conducted to study the disease prevalence in the major growing areas of cucumber in Peninsular Malaysia. Field study revealed that the disease was highly prevalence in the field with the disease incidence was in the range of 10%-60%. The morphological properties of F. oxysporum are microconidia (3.8-15.7 μm × 2.9-4.9 μm), macroconidia (14.8-38.5 μm × 2.4-5.7 μm) and number of septate was 1-4. While for F. solani are microconidia (3.39-14.63 μm × 2.36-4.44 μm), macroconidia (7.22-50.46 μm × 2.43-6.14 μm) and number of septate was 1-5. Based on molecular identification had confirmed that the disease is caused by F. oxysporum and F. solani with similarity index of 99%-100% based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequences. The pathogenicity test showed that the symptoms of Fusarium wilt disease was firstly appeared as yellowing of old leaves. Progressively, the infected plant will be wilted and finally died. The outputs of this study are highly important to establish an effective disease management programme to reduce disease prevalence and yield loss in the field.
  17. Shaari AL, Surif M, Latiff FA, Omar WM, Ahmad MN
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2011 May;22(1):51-69.
    PMID: 24575209
    Many reports have revealed that the abundance of microalgae in shrimp ponds vary with changes in environmental factors such as light, temperature, pH, salinity and nutrient level throughout a shrimp culture period. In this study, shrimp cultivation period was divided into three stages (initial = week 0-5, mid = week 6-10 and final = week 11-15). Physical and chemical parameters throughout the cultivation period were studied and species composition of microalgae was monitored. Physical parameters were found to fluctuate widely with light intensity ranging between 182.23-1278 μmol photon m(-2)s(-1), temperature between 29.56°C -31.59°C, dissolved oxygen (DO) between 4.56-8.21 mg/l, pH between 7.65-8.49 and salinity between 20‰-30‰. Ammonium (NH4 (+)-N), nitrite (NO2 (-)-N), nitrate (NO3 (-)-N), and orthophosphate (PO4 (3-)-P) concentrations in the pond at all cultivation stages ranged from 0.017 to 0.38 mg/l, 0.24 to 2.12 mg/l, 0.06 to 0.98 mg/l and 0.16 to 1.93 mg/l respectively. Statistical test (ANOVA) showed that there were no significant difference (p<0.05) in nutrients concentrations among the cultivation stages. All nutrients concentrations however were still in the tolerable level and safe for shrimp culture. The chlorophyll a contents were found to range from 5.03±2.17 to 32.61±0.35 μg/l throughout the cultivation period. A total of 19 microalgae species were found in the shrimp pond, with diatoms contributing up to 72% of the species followed by Chlorophyta (11%) and Cyanophyta (11%). However, weekly species abundance varied through the study period. At the initial stage, when there were no shrimps in the pond, Anabaena spp. and Oscillatoria spp. (Cyanophyta) were the dominant species, followed by Chlorella sp. and Dunaliella sp. (Chlorophyta). When shrimps were introduced into the pond, Amphora sp., Navicula sp. Gyrosigma sp. and Nitzschia sp. (diatoms) started to exist. At the middle and towards the final stage of the shrimp culture period diatoms were the dominant species. The Chlorophyta (Chlorella sp.) domination took place only twice, which was at week 2 and 13. The absence of some of the coastal water microalgae species in the shrimp pond was most likely due to the fact that they could not tolerate the physicochemical factors of harsh environment. In this study, Cylindrotheca closterium was regarded as the most tolerant species among the microalgae due to its ability to exist for 6 weeks out of the 15 weeks of cultivation.
  18. Onn CK, Grismer LL, Matsui M, Nishikawa K, Wood PL, Grismer JL, et al.
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2010 Aug;21(1):71-82.
    PMID: 24575191 MyJurnal
    A survey was carried out at Gunung Panti Forest Reserve, Johor from 3-7 August 2006, 2-5 June 2008, and 28-31 July 2008 to inventory the herpetofauna therein. An updated checklist for the area which incorporates findings from previous studies is provided. In total, 37 species of frogs, 1 turtle, 27 lizards, and 11 snakes have been recorded from Gunung Panti Forest Reserve, Johor.
  19. Chan KO, Grismer LL, Wood, PL, Grismer JL, Ahmad N
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2009;20(1):-.
    MyJurnal
    A herpetological survey was conducted at Pulau Besar, Melaka from 10 to 12 June 2008, resulting in the discovery of five species of amphibians, nine species of lizards (including one new species of the gekkonid Cyrtodactylus) and one snake species. This report constitutes the first checklist of the herpetofauna of Pulau Besar and the Water Islands Archipelago.
  20. Minhat FI, Yahya K, Talib A, Ahmad O
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2013 Aug;24(1):35-43.
    PMID: 24575240 MyJurnal
    The distribution of benthic Foraminifera throughout the coastal waters of Taman Negara Pulau Pinang (Penang National Park), Malaysia was studied to assess the impact of various anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, ecotourism and floating cage culture. Samples were obtained at 200 m intervals within the subtidal zone, extending up to 1200 m offshore at Teluk Bahang, Teluk Aling, Teluk Ketapang and Pantai Acheh. The depth within coastal waters ranged between 1.5 m and 10.0 m, with predominantly muddy substrate at most stations. Water quality analysis showed little variation in micronutrient (nitrite, NO2; nitrate, NO3; ammonia, NH4 and orthophosphate, PO4) concentrations between sampling stations. Temperature (29.6±0.48°C), salinity (29.4±0.28 ppt), dissolved oxygen content (5.4±0.95 mg/l) and pH (8.5± 0.13) also showed little fluctuation between stations. A total of nine genera of foraminifera were identified in the study (i.e., Ammonia, Elphidium, Ammobaculites, Bigenerina, Quinqueloculina, Reopax, Globigerina, Textularia and Nonion). The distribution of benthic foraminifera was dominated by opportunistic groups that have a high tolerance to anthropogenic stressors. Ammonia had the highest frequency of occurrence (84.7%), followed by Bigenerina (50%), Ammobaculites (44.2%) and Elphidium (38.9%). The Ammonia-Elphidium Index (AEI) was used to describe the hypoxic condition of benthic communities at all sites. Teluk Bahang had the highest AEI value. The foraminiferal assemblages and distribution in Teluk Bahang, Teluk Aling, Teluk Ketapang and Pantai Acheh showed no correlation with physical or chemical environmental parameters.
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