Spatial variability in the phytoplankton community along a transect across the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea: A case study 2007-2008

The marine phytoplankton community was studied between October 2007 and March 2008 along a transect across the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea during the southwest and northeast monsoon seasons. Seawater was collected from 11 stations on the transect. At least 146 species belonging to 68 genera in 37 families and 11 orders of marine phytoplankton were identified by microscopic observation. Diatoms were the major group of dominant phytoplankton particularly at depths in the study. Cyanophyta, particularly Trichodesmium spp., was the dominant group but the species diversity was maximal for dinophyta and heterokontaphyta from both monsoon sampling periods. The most diverse genera of dinoflagellate were Ceratium, Dinophysis, and Protoperidinium, while a high variety of diatom genera were Rhizosolenia and Chaetoceros. The relative results between the phytoplankton group and environmental parameters revealed that phytoplankton was strongly affected by salinity and silicate concentration during the southwest monsoon, while the availability of photosynthetically active radiation was significantly correlated with seasonal succession during the northeast monsoon

Fish Visual Census Technique - an Alternative Method for the Assessment of Fish Assemblages on Artificial Reefs

The article provides useful methodology, visual census technique (VCT), which is applicable for studying fish populations or fish assemblages at artificial reefs

Marine zooplankton studies in Thailand during 2001-2010

Studies on marine zooplankton in Thailand during 2001-2010 are reviewed. Most of the studies were written in Thai, with or without English abstract. Field of studies covered ecology, taxonomy, and some in environmental assessment. The studies were mostly conducted in coastal habitats, especially estuarine and mangrove, both in the Gulf of Thailand and in the Andaman Sea. Obstacles of zooplankton studies in Thailand mainly due to lack of resource person in zooplankton taxonomy, cooperative projects are thus important in enhancing this field of study. A number of training workshops on zooplankton taxonomy supported by JSPS multilateral programs were the examples those facilitate the taxonomic work.Proceedings of the Horiba International Conference "New Direction of Ocean Research in the Western Pacific" : Past, Present and Future of UNESCO/IOC/WESTPAC Activity for 50 years and the JSPS Project "Coastal Marine Science"Section II: Historical Review of Coastal Research in Southeast Asi