Evaluation of growth and production of the threatened giant river catfish, Sperata seenghala (Sykes) in polyculture with indigenous major carps

The giant river catfish locally named guizza, Sperata seenghala has significant cultural and economic importance but the fish is now considered as critically endangered due to environmental and manmade interventions in aquatic ecosystem. In order to conserve and rehabilitate this species, an experiment on polyculture of guizza with indigenous major carps was conducted in earthen ponds. Three treatments differing in species ratios and combinations of fish were employed with two replicates each. Treatment-1 (T1) was stocked with catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), treatment-2 (T2) with catla, rohu and guizza (S. seenghala), while treatment-3 (T3) with catla, rohu, mrigal and guizza. Guizza of T2 was introduced instead of mrigal in T1 and 50% of mrigal was replaced with guizza in T3. The stocking density of fish fingerlings in all the treatments was 7500 individual/ha. Fishes in the experimental ponds were fed with supplementary diet comprising of rice bran (50%), mustard oil cake (30%), fish meal (19%) and vitamin-mineral premix (1%). Physicochemical parameters and plankton populations were within the appropriate levels for aquaculture. Mean growth and survival of catla and rohu were significantly higher in T2 than in T3 and T1. Guizza in T2 showed higher performances than in T3, while those for mrigal were higher in T3 than T1 (p < 0.05). The total gross and net productions of fishes were higher in T3 than in T2 and T1 (p < 0.05). This trial is a successful attempt to culture the threatened guizza with major carps in earthen ponds, the findings of which would immensely be helpful towards the development of aquaculture and conservation of this important fish in captive condition.Key words: Riverine catfish, Sperata seenghala, polyculture, earthen ponds

Chronic tension-type headache as a risk factor of myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle fibers in neck pain patients

Chronic tension type headache (CTTH) is one of the very common neurological conditions which have striking impact on daily functional activities. In tension type headaches the myofascial TrP\u27s are frequently examined .It is observed that myofascial pain syndrome is frequent determinant of chronic nonspecific neck pain

Satu Kajian Mengenai Permasalahan Penggunaan Bahan Kesusasteraan Melayu dalam Pengajaran Bahasa Malaysia di Tingkatan 4

Kajian ini bertujuan melihat permasalahan penggunaan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM di tingkatan 4. Sebanyak 26 buah sekolah menengah di Wilayah Persekutuan dan seramai 105 orang guru yang mengajar di sekolah-sekolah itu terlibat dalam kajian into Kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengenal pasti masalah-masalah penggunaan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM, terutama daripada segi tujuan penggunaan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM, penenluan objektif khusus pengajaran aspek-aspek kemahiran BM menggunakan bahan KM, pemilihan, penyesuaian dan penggunaan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM, kekerapan aktiviti pengajaran aspek-aspek kemahiran BM menggunakan bahan KM dan bentuk soalan penilaian menggunakan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM. Tesis ini juga memuatkan kajian-kajian yang berkaitan dengan penggunaan bahan kesusasteraan dalam pengajaran bahasa yang secara langsung dan tidak langsung berguna dalam kajian ini sebagai kerangka teoretis bagi menghuraikan permasalahan penggunaan bahan KM dalam pengajaran BM

Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ph and Zn) concentrations in telescopium telescopium from Dumai Coastal Waters, Indonesia

Concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the marine gastropod, Telescopium telescopium, were determined to provide background information on heavy metal levels in the Straits of Malacca in the Indonesian side. Samples ofT. telescopium were collected from intertidal Dumai coastal waters at four stations inJuly 2004. The results of the present study showed that metal concentrations in the soft tissue ofT. telescopium varied at different sampling stations: 0.33 - 0.69 )1g/g; 9.38 - 52.29 )1g/g; 1.73 - 10. 78 )1g/g; 14.69 - 69.87 )1g/g dry weight far cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. Samples from Sungai Dumai station accumulated mare heavy metals when compared to other stations. Smaller T. telescopium accumulate mare metals than larger ones. Negative carrelations between metal concentrations and size (length and weight) were obseroed (except Cd and Cu in samples from Sungai Mesjid) with some variation in the carrelation coefficients which indicated metal regulation lJy the T. telescopiurn. Sungai Dumai showed the highest Metal Pollution Index (MPl) of 12.57 and Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI) of 34.35 with Lubuk Gaung showing the lowest with 3.26 and 8.89, respectively. In general, the MPI and PU values indicate that metal pollution in Dumai coastal waters is not a serious threat yet and no drastic rectification measures are needed. However, as one of the most developing regions in Sumatera, further studies are necessary to assess temparal variation in metal accumulation and concentration for this species and other possible indicator organisms as well as in sediment from the surrounding areas in order to gain a better understanding of pollution status in Dumai coastal waters

Reproductive seasonality and maturation of the sergestid shrimp, Acetes japonicus (Decapoda: Sergestidae) in coastal waters of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia

Sex ratio, length at first maturity and spawning season of the sergestid shrimp (Acetes japonicus) were investigated between April 2006 and March 2007 in coastal waters of Klebang Besar, Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia. Klebang Besar waters are one of the main fishing grounds for A. japonicus in the Peninsular Malaysia. The overall annual sex ratio was found to be 1:1.46 (males: females). The spawning season was March to July with peak in May, however there was also some spawning in October to November. The female attained sexual maturity at a minimum size of 17.5 mm total length. The matured and near to spawn stages (II and III) occurred more than 50% in every month except in August. Therefore, it may be inferred that A. japonicus breeds continuously throughout the year in the coastal waters of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia.Key words: Spawning, sex ratio, maturity, Acetes japonicus

Composition and diversity of larval fish in the mangrove estuarine area of Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia

The composition of fish larvae and their diversity in different habitats are very important for fisheries management. Larval fishes were investigated in a mangrove estuary of Marudu Bay, Sabah, Malaysia from October 2012 to September 2013 at five different sites. Monthly samples of fish larvae were collected at five sampling sites by a plankton net with a mouth opening of 40.5 cm in diameter. In total, 3879 larval fish were caught in the investigated area. The mean density of ichthyoplankton at this area was 118 larvae/100 m(3). The fish larval assemblage comprised of 20 families whereas 13 families occurred at St1, 16 at St2, 16 at St3, 12 at St4 and 16 at St5. The top major families were Sillaginidae, Engraulidae, Mugilidae and Sparidae with Sillaginidae consisted 44% of total larval composition. St3 with 143 larvae/100 m(3) had the highest density amongst the stations which was due to higher abundance of Sillaginidae. Shannon-Wiener diversity index represented significant variation during monsoon and inter-monsoon seasons, peaking in the months December-January and May-June. However, Shannon-Wiener index, evenness and family richness showed significant differences among stations and months (p < 0.05)