Seasonal variation of zooplankton community in the coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca

The seasonal and annual variation of zooplankton community was investigated at a fixed station in the coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca. Sampling was carried out monthly by vertical hauls of a 140μm plankton net from June 2002 to May 2004. Zooplankton were identified and grouped into respective taxonomic groups and 23 genera of copepods were identified. Copepods dominated the zooplankton community and among them, the genera Acartia, Acrocalanus, Paracalanus, Euterpina, Corycaeus and Oithona were dominant. They accounted for approximately 90% of the total copepod population throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of small species in tropical zooplankton communities. Zooplankton biomass generally peaked at the beginning of each monsoon and gradually decreased toward the intermonsoon periods. Biomass seemed to increase with increasing ambient chlorophyll-a concentration. Cluster analysis of zooplankton abundance showed two distinct groups relative to the SW and NE monsoons. The population of Acartia pacifica and A. spinicauda, the two most abundant species in the genus Acartia (>90%), showed alternating peaks throughout the year, with A. pacifica appearing primarily during the NE monsoon and A. spinicauda, during the SW monsoon. The presence of the effect of monsoon on zooplankton community in tropical waters is suggested

Seasonal changes in abundance of four Acartia species (Copepoda, Calanoida) in the coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia; relationship with monsoon transition

The seasonal variation of Acartia copepods from the waters of Peninsular Malaysia was studied via monthly observations at 2 fixed stations on the west coast (Pulau Pinang and Port Dickson) and 2 fixed stations on the east coast (Kijal and Penyabong) from October 2012 to March 2014. In situ temperatures recorded during this period were relatively constant (mean 29.6±0.7°C) at all stations. Salinitymeasurements were also fairly constant (mean 30.3 ± 1.1 PSU) for all stations during this study except at Penyabong where the salinity during the northeast (NE) monsoon season was significantly lower (p<0.05) (mean 23.2 ± 7.9 PSU) than during the southwest (SW) monsoon season. Concentration of chlorophyll a at Pulau Pinang during the SW monsoon period was significantly higher (p<0.05) (mean 14.6±5.4μg/L) than during the NE monsoon period. Four species of Acartia were identified at all stations: A. amboinensis, A. erythraea, A. pacifica and A. spinicauda. At Kijal, Acartia erythraeapopulation was significantly higher (p<0.05) (mean 695.7 ± 618.4 inds/m3) compared with the other stations. Acartia species composition at Port Dickson was similar to Penyabong, while Kijal was similar to Pulau Pinang. Small-sized species, Acartia pacifica and A. spinicauda were dominant at Port Dickson and Penyabong, while the larger-sized species, Acartia amboinensis and A. erythraea were dominant at Kijal. Generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) were applied to abundance data to describe the environmental preference associated with population recruitment of these species, and the results identified a relative contrast in environmental envelopes occupied by the larger and smaller-sized species. The large-sized species preferred colder and more saline water while the small-sized species preferred warmer and lower salinity water. The succession and co-occurrence of similar sized species is suggested to be a result of the combined effect of species-specific preference to varying temperature–salinity regimes

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Pontellid copepods from Singapore

Fifteen species of copepods from the family Pontellidae were identified around the waters of Sister's Island, Singapore. The samples were collections of the CSK Programme deposited at Tokai University. Three species belong to the genus Calanopia, 6 from Labidocera, 2 from Pontella and 4 from Pontellopsis. All species appeared to represent new records for the area. All specimens of both sexes are illustrated and remarks on their taxonomy and distribution are given

Tinggianthura alba: a new genus and species of Anthuridae (Isopoda, Cymothoida, Anthuroidea) from Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia with an updated key to the genera of Anthuridae.

A new anthurid isopod from dead coral rubble and stones in the intertidal area of Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, is described. It is placed in a new genus and species, Tinggianthura alba. Tinggianthura is characterized by: (1) subtriangular carpus shape of pereopods 4-7, (2) pereopod 1 propodus palm without prominent tooth or steps and (3) maxillipedal palp 2-articled

Description of Orthoprotella bicornis, new species, and Paraprotella teluksuang, new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Johor, Malaysia with special reference to unusual sexual bias towards females in Paraprotella

Lim, Jacqueline Hui Chern, Othman, Bin Haji Ross, Takeuchi, Ichiro (2015): Description of Orthoprotella bicornis, new species, and Paraprotella teluksuang, new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Johor, Malaysia with special reference to unusual sexual bias towards females in Paraprotella. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63: 33-48, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.450238

Diel variation and trophic structure in coral-reef zooplankton of Peninsular Malaysia

Biomass in zooplankton (>100μm) and particulate organic matter (POM) (0.7-100μm) was investigated every 3 hours for two days at the fringing reef of Redang and Tioman Island, the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The zooplankton was size-fractionated into three fractions (100-200μm, 200-335μm, and >335μm) and POM was divided into two size-fractions (0.7-35 and 35-100μm). The POM (0.7-100μm) accounted for more than 95% of the total biomass (POM+zooplankton) in the water column. The largest size fraction (>335μm) was the most dominant in zooplankton biomass during the two days at both islands. Nocturnal vertical migration also occurred most strongly in the largest size fraction (>335μm). The biomass of the largest fraction (>335μm) may be supported by high growth rate in the smaller size zooplankton (100-200 and 200-335μm) and the large amount of POM (0.7-100μm). The contribution of phytoplankton biomass was approximately 10% of the POM (0.7-100μm). The mean C/N ratio of the POM (0.7-100μm) at Redang and Tioman Islands were 5.9 and 6.6, respectively. Most of the diet of particle-feeders in both study areas would mainly originate from mucus which was produced by corals

Seasonal variation of zooplankton community in the coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca

The seasonal and annual variation of zooplankton community was investigated at a fixed station in the coastal waters of the Straits of Malacca. Sampling was carried out monthly by vertical hauls of a 140μm plankton net from June 2002 to May 2004. Zooplankton were identified and grouped into respective taxonomic groups and 23 genera of copepods were identified. Copepods dominated the zooplankton community and among them, the genera Acartia, Acrocalanus, Paracalanus, Euterpina, Corycaeus and Oithona were dominant. They accounted for approximately 90% of the total copepod population throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of small species in tropical zooplankton communities. Zooplankton biomass generally peaked at the beginning of each monsoon and gradually decreased toward the intermonsoon periods. Biomass seemed to increase with increasing ambient chlorophyll-a concentration. Cluster analysis of zooplankton abundance showed two distinct groups relative to the SW and NE monsoons. The population of Acartia pacifica and A. spinicauda, the two most abundant species in the genus Acartia (>90%), showed alternating peaks throughout the year, with A. pacifica appearing primarily during the NE monsoon and A. spinicauda, during the SW monsoon. The presence of the effect of monsoon on zooplankton community in tropical waters is suggested