The Macroinvertebrate Community Of The Fast Flowing Rivers In The Crocker Range National Park Sabah, Malaysia.

The macroinvertebrate community of the fast flowing rivers of the Crocker Range Park examined consists mainly of insects. All the six rivers surveyed demonstrated excellent water quality. The assemblages of taxa reported from the study sites are considered as that typical of the macroinvertebrate fauna in tropical rivers. Out of the existing ten orders of insects that contain aquatic species, a total of 7 orders of aquatic insect species were encountered in the rivers surveyed. These are Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera and Diptera. In addition to these insects, the hexapodan Collembola was also encountered. The overall macroinvertebrate density ranges from 71 to 303 individuals per lm sq and all sampling sites were found to sustain at least three groups of taxa with the exception of Sg. Tikolud, which only contains the dipteran chironomids. The dipteran chironomid fauna was dominant and found at all stations and forms the highest density of up to 250 individuals per m2 in Sg. Tandulu and Balayo

The Influence of Alien Fish Species on Native Fish Community Structure in Malaysian Waters

Introduction of alien fish species has resulted in major global change, harming native species and communities throughout the world. The main objectives of this review were to examine the species composition, ecology, and distribution of alien fish species in natural water bodies and evaluate the role and contribution of alien fish species through aquaculture to socio-economic development in Malaysia. The rate of introduction and the number of alien fish species introduced into local habitats have greatly increased since the early twentieth century. A statistical analysis of habitat differences among native fish species in Malaysia indicated that differences in fish assemblage structure in various sites was associated with differences in physical habitat. However, the occurrence of alien species has not only changed the structure of native ichthyo-fauna groups but has also caused ecological damage and economic harm to local fishermen. At present, alien fish species inhabit diverse environments including highland and isolated streams, rivers, rice fields, swamps, drainage areas, dams and reservoirs, lakes created from former mining areas, and estuaries in Malaysia. The examination of species composition, distribution and movement of alien fish in natural habitats revealed that these species have seriously spread and are now distributed in diverse aquatic habitats of Malaysia. This in turn provided evidence that there are no restrictions or limitations to the spreading of alien fish species in the natural habitats of Malaysia

The Spread Of The Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus von Martens, 1868) in Malaysia

The introduction of alien crayfish species has resulted in changes of native species communities throughout the world. The Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus were introduced in Malaysia for aquarium and aquaculture industry since 1980s. The current paper presents the distribution of the species in Malaysia through sampling trips, market surveys and focused interviews. Multiple size specimen in populations obtained from Sungai Benut (Johor) and Suai (Sarawak) confirms the establishment of the species in both west (Malaysian Peninsular) and east Malaysia (Borneo). There are no reports yet of any native species displacement or other ecological impacts in Malaysia caused by the redclaw introduction, although the potential cannot be dismissed totally. The growing redclaw culture industry could facilitate the spread of C. quadricarinatus faster and further in the near future

The Status of Tenualosa toli (Valenciennes, 1847) in the Southwest Coast of Sarawak, Malaysias

The tropical shad of genus Tenualosa (family Clupidae) or locally known as Terubok, are important estuarine fishes, both commercially and culturally in many Asian countries including Malaysia. However, Tenualosa species are subject to heavy fishing pressure and have suffered major declines. The decline of Tenualosa toli catch landing since 1980’s had urged the state government of Sarawak to view with serious concern regarding the problem and directed research and development project to be conducted for maintaining and replenish the natural stock of the species in Sarawak. Therefore, this study was designated to examine the current status on the population of Tenualosa toli within Batang Lupar, Batang Lassa and Batang Saribas in the south-west coast of Sarawak which is known as “core Terubok areas”. The informations that generated from this research will be useful for further studies not only on the ecology, distribution of Tenualosa but also on the conservation and sustainable management of this commercial fish

Notes on Hampala (Cyprininae) Distribution from Six Localities in Sabah

This study was conducted from the 9th until 16th November 2003. A total of 31 fish from six localities throughout Sabah were sampled. It was found that at least four forms of Hampala inhibit the Sabah river system. The widely spread form, H. macrolepidota and the Bornean endemic form, H. bimaculata was recorded on the west coast region of Sabah. The Sabah endemic form, H. sabana dominated the central eastern region of Sabah. The south eastern region demonstrates the existence of two forms distinctly different by their number of gill rakers: (I) Tawau population (gill raker counts: 10-11) and Kalabakan population (gill raker counts: 12-13). The Kalabakan form could possibly be a crytic species

Diversity of Freshwater Fish in Fragmented Forest of Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation, Miri, Sarawak

The study was conducted in the river system located at Wilmar oil palm plantation in Miri, Sarawak. The objective of the study is to determine the fish species diversity and composition in the streams and rivers in the oil palm plantations. Fish were sampled using a variety of fishing methods, including, scoop nets, cast net, and gill nets of different mesh sizes (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.75 and 4.0 cm) from 2 to 7 of February 2014. A total of 326 individual fish including 32 species of native fishes and one species of non-native fish from 19 genera, seven families and five orders were collected from seven locations. The cyprinid fish represented 62.20% of the total fish caught and was found in all the rivers surveyed. About six endemic species in Borneo such as Barbonymus collingwoodii, Barbodes banksi, Barbodes sealei, Hampala bimaculata Nematabramis borneensis and Nematabramis everetti were identified. However, only one species from families Bagridae, Balitoridae, Clariidae, and Hemiramphidae was sampled from the study sites. The higher fish species composition found in streams and rivers of the oil palm plantation landscapes could be attributed to the conservation of some areas of the plantation as high conservation value forest (HCVF) status, which have provided suitable habitat for fish species within the plantation aquatic environments

Optimum Diet for Survival and Development Growth of Laboratory-scale Culturing Harpacticoid Species, Stenhelia stephensoni (Greenwood and Tucker 1984)

This study aims to introduce diets that are more affordable and applicable, compared to algal diet, which is time consuming and costly in maintenance. Methodology: The present study was designed for 15 days to observe the effects of different diets on population growth of marine tropical harpacticoid copepod, Stenhelia stephensoni under laboratory condition. The constant value of salinity was at 28 PSU and temperature at 27°C. Results: The diets tested were processed into juice form and are composed of single type diets and combination diets. Single type diets were made of carrot, banana, sago, catappa leaf, goat dung and seaweed, while combination diets were made with the mixture of goat dung and seaweed and goat dung with catappa leaf. Harpacticoid copepod which were fed with combination diet of goat dung and catappa leaf recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher population growth and survival (90%) compared to the rest of the treatments tested. Conclusion: The present study suggested that Stenhelia stephensoni could be a potential copepod for being commercially cultivated by as it is highly demand as food item for marine fish larvae in aquaculture industry