Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 226 in total

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  1. Prevention is better than cure: Persian Gulf biodiversity vulnerability to the impacts of desalination plants
    Sharifinia M, Afshari Bahmanbeigloo Z, Smith WO, Yap CK, Keshavarzifard M
    Glob Chang Biol, 2019 Dec;25(12):4022-4033.
    PMID: 31436851 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14808
    Due to extremely high rates of evaporation and low precipitation in the Persian Gulf, discharges from desalination plants (DPs) can lead to ecological stresses by increasing water temperatures, salinities, and heavy metal concentrations, as well as decreasing dissolved oxygen levels. We discuss the potential ecological impacts of DPs on marine organisms and propose mitigating measures to reduce the problems induced by DPs discharges. The daily capacity of DPs in the Persian Gulf exceeds 11 million m3 per day, which is approximately half of global daily freshwater production; multistage flash distillation (MSF) is the dominant desalination process. Results from field and laboratory studies indicate that there are potentially serious and chronic threats to marine communities following exposure to DP discharges, especially within the zoobenthos, echinodermata, seagrasses, and coral reefs. DP discharges can lead to decreases in sensitive species, plankton abundance, hard substrate epifauna, and growth rates of seagrasses. However, the broad applicability of any one of these impacts is currently hard to scale because of the limited number of studies that have been conducted to assess the ecological impacts of DP discharge on Persian Gulf organisms. Even so, available data suggest that appropriately sited, designed, and operated DPs combined with current developments in impingement and entrainment reduction technology can mitigate many of the negative environmental impacts of DPs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  2. Ecology of marine fouling organisms at Eastern Johore Strait
    Low KL, Khoo HW, Koh LL
    Environ Monit Assess, 1991 Oct;19(1-3):319-33.
    PMID: 24233949 DOI: 10.1007/BF00401321
    Marine biofouling causes problems to marine structure and obstructs condenser tubes in cooling systems which use sea water as the coolant. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the seasonal ecology of biofouling organisms such as the green mussel, Perna viridis, the dominant fouling species in the Eastern Johore Straits at the Senoko Power Station. The spawning time and its relationship with environmental conditions were studied. The physical, chemical and biological conditions of the sea at Senoko were monitored for a year. Settling slides were used to study the fouling succession in different monsoon seasons. The study showed that there were two main spawning peaks for the green mussel and that these peaks occurred during the intermonsoon months of November and April. These peaks were also correlated with the bimodal patterns for salinity, dissolved oxyen, bivalve veliger larval density and total plankton biomass of the Eastern Johore Strait water. Succession patterns were similar during the two monsoon seasons, however, the rate of fouling was probably greater during the southwest monsoon months. It is therefore advisable that the control or reduction of biofouling in Eastern Johore Strait should take into account the seasonal fluctuations and spawning of the fouling organisms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  3. Fulltext Spatial scale changes the relationship between beta diversity, species richness and latitude
    Sreekar R, Katabuchi M, Nakamura A, Corlett RT, Slik JWF, Fletcher C, et al.
    R Soc Open Sci, 2018 Sep;5(9):181168.
    PMID: 30839691 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181168
    The relationship between β-diversity and latitude still remains to be a core question in ecology because of the lack of consensus between studies. One hypothesis for the lack of consensus between studies is that spatial scale changes the relationship between latitude and β-diversity. Here, we test this hypothesis using tree data from 15 large-scale forest plots (greater than or equal to 15 ha, diameter at breast height ≥ 1 cm) across a latitudinal gradient (3-30o) in the Asia-Pacific region. We found that the observed β-diversity decreased with increasing latitude when sampling local tree communities at small spatial scale (grain size ≤0.1 ha), but the observed β-diversity did not change with latitude when sampling at large spatial scales (greater than or equal to 0.25 ha). Differences in latitudinal β-diversity gradients across spatial scales were caused by pooled species richness (γ-diversity), which influenced observed β-diversity values at small spatial scales, but not at large spatial scales. Therefore, spatial scale changes the relationship between β-diversity, γ-diversity and latitude, and improving sample representativeness avoids the γ-dependence of β-diversity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  4. Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection
    Tsuboi M, Lim AC, Ooi BL, Yip MY, Chong VC, Ahnesjö I, et al.
    J Evol Biol, 2017 Jan;30(1):150-160.
    PMID: 27748990 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12995
    Brain size varies greatly at all taxonomic levels. Feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection have been proposed as key components in generating contemporary diversity in brain size across vertebrates. Analyses of brain size evolution have, however, been limited to lineages where males predominantly compete for mating and females choose mates. Here, we present the first original data set of brain sizes in pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae) a group in which intense female mating competition occurs in many species. After controlling for the effect of shared ancestry and overall body size, brain size was positively correlated with relative snout length. Moreover, we found that females, on average, had 4.3% heavier brains than males and that polyandrous species demonstrated more pronounced (11.7%) female-biased brain size dimorphism. Our results suggest that adaptations for feeding on mobile prey items and sexual selection in females are important factors in brain size evolution of pipefishes and seahorses. Most importantly, our study supports the idea that sexual selection plays a major role in brain size evolution, regardless of on which sex sexual selection acts stronger.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology*
  5. Fulltext Predictive modeling and mapping of Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) distribution using maximum entropy
    Nazeri M, Jusoff K, Madani N, Mahmud AR, Bahman AR, Kumar L
    PLoS One, 2012;7(10):e48104.
    PMID: 23110182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048104
    One of the available tools for mapping the geographical distribution and potential suitable habitats is species distribution models. These techniques are very helpful for finding poorly known distributions of species in poorly sampled areas, such as the tropics. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) is a recently developed modeling method that can be successfully calibrated using a relatively small number of records. In this research, the MaxEnt model was applied to describe the distribution and identify the key factors shaping the potential distribution of the vulnerable Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) in one of the main remaining habitats in Peninsular Malaysia. MaxEnt results showed that even though Malaysian sun bear habitat is tied with tropical evergreen forests, it lives in a marginal threshold of bio-climatic variables. On the other hand, current protected area networks within Peninsular Malaysia do not cover most of the sun bears potential suitable habitats. Assuming that the predicted suitability map covers sun bears actual distribution, future climate change, forest degradation and illegal hunting could potentially severely affect the sun bear's population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology/methods*; Ecology/trends
  6. Nematode parasites of Oceanica. 8. Filariids of birds, with a new genus and four new species
    Schmidt GD, Kuntz RE
    Parasitology, 1970 Apr;60(2):313-26.
    PMID: 5427102
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  7. Two new species of Leptotrombidium (Ascarina, Trombiculidae) from Malaysia
    Vercammen-Grandjean PH, Langston RL
    J Med Entomol, 1971 Oct 30;8(4):450-3.
    PMID: 5159261
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  8. Fulltext Agro-ecological variations of sheath rot disease of rice caused by Sarocladium oryzae and DNA fingerprinting of the pathogen's population structure
    Tajul Islam Chowdhury M, Salim Mian M, Taher Mia MA, Rafii MY, Latif MA
    Genet. Mol. Res., 2015 Dec 28;14(4):18140-52.
    PMID: 26782461 DOI: 10.4238/2015.December.23.1
    To examine the impact of regional and seasonal variations on the incidence and severity of sheath rot, a major seed-borne disease of rice caused by Sarocladium oryzae, data on incidence and severity were collected from 27 selected fields in the Gazipur, Rangpur, Bogra, Chittagong, Comilla, Gopalgonj, Jessore, Manikgonj, and Bhola districts of Bangladesh in rain-fed and irrigated conditions. Cultural variability of 29 pathogen isolates obtained from 8 different locations was studied on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and genetic variability was determined by DNA fingerprinting using variable number tandem repeat-polymerase chain reaction markers. Overall, disease incidence and severity were higher in irrigated rice. Disease incidence and severity were highest in the Bhola district in rain-fed rice and lowest in irrigated rice. Mycelial growth of 29 representative isolates was found to vary on PDA and the isolates were divided into 6 groups. The range of the overall size of conidia of the selected isolates was 2.40-7.20 x 1.20-2.40 μm. Analysis of the DNA fingerprint types of the 29 isolates of S. oryzae, obtained from the amplification reactions, revealed 10 fingerprinting types (FPTs) that were 80% similar. FPT-1 was the largest group and included 13 isolates (44.8%), while FPT-2 was the third largest group and included 3 isolates. Each of FPT-3, 4, 5, and 6 included only 1 isolate. We observed no relationship between cultural and genetic groupings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  9. Fulltext Three lessons for gender equity in biodiversity conservation
    Lau JD
    Conserv Biol, 2020 12;34(6):1589-1591.
    PMID: 32104932 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13487
    Amid a growing global agenda, biodiversity conservation has embraced gender equity as a pillar of equitable and effective practice. Gender equity has become enshrined in the global environment and development agenda through global commitments, policy and funding. However, for various reasons, conservation biodiversity often takes a simplistic view of gender as synonymous with women or as a dualism between women and men. This narrow view risks promoting inequitable processes and ineffective outcomes. Deeper engagement with feminist theory, and feminist political ecology in particular, could help advance biodiversity conservation's approach to how gender is understood, framed and integrated. Engaging with lessons from feminist political ecology can help advance gender equity in conservation through attention to power dynamics, intersectionality, and subjectivity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  10. The importance of population origin and reciprocal heterogeneous microhabitat on clonal propagation of Iris japonica Thunb
    Meng XF, Zhen Li, Wu XJ, Wang YJ, Li QY
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1821-1826.
    A reciprocal transplant-replant experiment was carried out to investigate the clonal plasticity and local specialization of OAFE population (O type) and BF population (U type) of a clonal rhizome herb Iris japonica in contrasting reciprocal heterogeneous habitats on Jinyun Mountain. U Population had better performance of plant size and clonal propagation (including allocation to clonal propagation, daughter ramet and fine rhizome) in different reciprocal heterogeneous habitats than O population. Both the population origin and reciprocal spatial heterogeneous habitat had effects on clonal ramets and biomass of clonal components of experimental plants. The plasticity of clonal growth had difference in clonal components to balance High light-Low soil resources (water) (HL) or Low light-High soil resources (LH) due to the ecological isolation of the two I. japonica populations. Our findings indicated that two major types of patterns of spatial covariance of resources can have different effects on the growth and local variation of clonal plants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  11. Larval trematode antagonism: principles and possible application as a control method
    Lie KJ
    Exp Parasitol, 1973 Apr;33(2):343-9.
    PMID: 4706117
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  12. A review of the land snail genus Alycaeus (Gastropoda, Alycaeidae) in Peninsular Malaysia
    Foon JK, Liew TS
    Zookeys, 2017.
    PMID: 29133987 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.692.14706
    A total of 11 species and 1 subspecies of Alycaeus were recognised in Peninsular Malaysia prior to this study. However, these taxonomic descriptions of Alycaeus taxa were based on limited numbers of examined materials, where a whole spectrum of morphological variations were not accounted for and diagnoses were often provided without sufficient comparison between congeners from across the peninsula. We reviewed Peninsular Malaysian Alycaeus through the examination of 5137 specimens in 522 collection lots from all major museum collections and literature sources. Based on these examined materials, we utilised a more comprehensive revised set of 39 shell and operculum characters, as well as living animal colour to describe all Alycaeus species in this paper. We also noted their habitat and ecology, as well as updated the distribution of each species. Of the 12 previously described taxa, 10 are reconfirmed as present on Peninsular Malaysia (Alycaeus balingensis, Alycaeus carinata, Alycaeus conformis, Alycaeus gibbosulus, Alycaeus kapayanensis, Alycaeus kelantanensis, Alycaeus liratulus, Alycaeus perakensis perakensis, Alycaeus perakensis altispirus and Alycaeus thieroti) and 2 are confirmed as absent from the peninsula (Alycaeus jagori and Alycaeus pyramidalis). A new record of Alycaeus robeleni is reported for Peninsular Malaysia. One species, Chamalycaeus jousseaumei is confirmed as present on the peninsula and is reassigned to Alycaeus. The subspecies Alycaeus perakensis altispirus Möllendorff, 1902, is elevated to species. Examined Peninsular Malaysian materials that do not fit previously recognised species are described as new species. A total of 11 new species are proposed (Alycaeus selangoriensissp. n., Alycaeus costacrassasp. n., Alycaeus ikanensissp. n., Alycaeus alticolasp. n., Alycaeus charasensissp. n., Alycaeus kurauensissp. n., Alycaeus regalissp. n., Alycaeus virgogravidasp. n., Alycaeus senyumensissp. n., Alycaeus expansussp. n., Alycaeus clementsisp. n.). Overall, 23 species of Alycaeus are now recognised in Peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  13. Mark-release and recapture studies of the tick, Dermacentor auratus, in West Malaysia
    Lim BL
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1973 Mar;4(1):122-30.
    PMID: 4718122
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  14. Occurrence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in rats around Kuching, Sarawak
    Lim BL
    Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1967 Dec;61(4):429-31.
    PMID: 5634131
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  15. Distribution, relative abundance, food habits, and parasite patterns of giant rats (Rattus) in West Malaysia
    Lim BL
    J Mammal, 1970 Nov;51(4):730-40.
    PMID: 5530310
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  16. Observations on the development of a new filaria (Breinlia booliati, Singh and Ho, 1973) of a rat Rattus sabanus in the mosquito Aedes togoi
    Ho BC, Singh M, Lim BL
    J Helminthol, 1973;47(2):135-40.
    PMID: 4724313
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  17. [3 Malayan trematodes]
    Rohde K, Lee SK, Lim HW
    Ann Parasitol Hum Comp, 1968 Jan-Feb;43(1):33-43.
    PMID: 4192885
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  18. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Jah Hut peoples in Malaysia
    Lin KW
    Indian J Med Sci, 2005 Apr;59(4):156-61.
    PMID: 15876780
    CONTEXT: An ethnobotanical study was carried out among the Jah Hut people who live in the central part of peninsular Malaysia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information on the medicinal plants was obtained from interview with a traditional medicinal man. The traditional uses and remedies were documented. The literature searches were carried out for the evaluation on the current status of investigations on these plants.

    RESULTS: In this study, we present 16 species of plants, which are commonly used among the Jah Hut people to cure some common diseases.

    DISCUSSION: This study is important to preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants used by Jah Hut people. The surveys of phytopharmacological literatures of these plants have great pharmacological and ethnobotanical significance.

    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  19. Clouded leopards, the secretive top-carnivore of South-East Asian rainforests: their distribution, status and conservation needs in Sabah, Malaysia
    Wilting A, Fischer F, Abu Bakar S, Linsenmair KE
    BMC Ecol, 2006;6:16.
    PMID: 17092347
    The continued depletion of tropical rainforests and fragmentation of natural habitats has led to significant ecological changes which place most top carnivores under heavy pressure. Various methods have been used to determine the status of top carnivore populations in rainforest habitats, most of which are costly in terms of equipment and time. In this study we utilized, for the first time, a rigorous track classification method to estimate population size and density of clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in north-eastern Borneo (Sabah). Additionally, we extrapolated our local-scale results to the regional landscape level to estimate clouded leopard population size and density in all of Sabah's reserves, taking into account the reserves' conservation status (totally protected or commercial forest reserves), their size and presence or absence of clouded leopards.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
  20. Epidemiology of endemic diseases in the plantations in Peninsular Malaysia
    Lo EKC
    Family Practitioner, 1982;5:7-11.
    The importance of epidemiology and epidemilogical knowledge of plantation health and disease in the planning of health care & effective management of a plantation is highlighted. The results of the survey of endemic diseases in the estates in Peninsular Malaysia are presented and compared with national disease patterns. The disease patterns in the plantations are similar to those for the country in general. Differences that exist are due to differences in the ecology of the plantations. The health effects of ecological changes consequent on development and progress are referred to. Most of the endemic communicable diseases encountered in the plantations can be prevented and controlled through the improvement of the micro environment of the plantations and the utilisation of simple available appropriate technologies for health care and services.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ecology
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