Habitat Monitoring

Dr Tan Chun Hong

My research interest revolved around coral reefs. I started my work on corals since 2002 and has particular interest in the biological aspects of coral and coral reefs. I studied the demographic traits (e.g., growth, mortality and reproduction) of coral population in the tropical reefs. Currently, I focus on the reproduction of hard corals especially the understanding of spawning season in tropical region. The reproduction of hard corals vary with species, location and could be affected by the environmental parameters. In order to examine the reproductive aspects, I have established multiple sites at reefs along the east and west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Also, I examine the natural and anthropogenic threats on coral reefs. In particular, I investigate the variation in coral response towards the effects (e.g., elevated seawater temperature and ocean acidification) of climate change. My ultimate aim is to understand the resilience of coral community in tropical region under the synergistic pressures. On the other hand, I believed that scientific knowledge need to be shared with public. Therefore, I actively participate in giving open lecture and work closely with marine resource stakeholders to ensure science is being used effectively in decision making process. To date, I have successfully secured long term research grants from local and international agencies.

Dr Roswati Md Amin

My research interests concern zooplankton physiology mainly copepods in marine ecosystem involving a combination of experimental lab work and field studies. Much of my current work focuses on composition and distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton in Southern South China Sea and using calanoid copepods such as Acartia sp. and Centropages sp. to elucidate their physiology (reproduction activity, fecal pellet production, ingestion and respiration rate) and its relation to food availability and quality such as fatty acid composition in different food variation. I am also committed in investigating the microplastic ingestion in major zooplankton group using digestion method and experimentally study the effect of synthetic and biodegradable microplastic on the life cycle and physiology of cultured harpacticoid copepod in the laboratory.

Dr Mohd Safuan Che Din

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Dr Siti NurTahirah Jaafar

My research interest is focused on the oxidative stress response in marine organism. Environmental (changing temperature, pH, hypoxic, osmotic) and anthropogenic pollutants (endocrine disruptor, pharmaceutical waste, heavy metals, nanomaterial) could trigger the imbalance of cellular redox and increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). I use various methods to reveal redox lesions in proteins (carbonylation, thiol oxidation etc) in response to exposure to different stressors. This advance knowledge need essential biochemistry and omics understanding to uncover the pathways behind these cellular processes. Redox proteomics used as tools to explore the abundance of protein and their post-translational modification and these will lead to characterization of the biological/ cellular effects of different stressors and identified the changes protein especially protein that involved during post-translational modifications. My current research interest is investigating redox proteomics and ROS changes in the corals tissues and its symbiont. These involved enzymatic cocktails measurement such as GST, GR, SOD and Catalase. These experimental methods (proteomics and enzymatic measurement) provide details understanding and emphasize the importance of signaling events during environmental change

Dr Muhammad Hafiz Borkhanuddin

I am broadly interested on parasitic and associated organisms of marine and freshwater vertebrates. Accordingly, my research has focused on Phylum Myxozoa, the microscopic, spore-forming, endoparasitic metazoans. Specifically I am interested in discovering and describing novel species, taxonomy (morphological & molecular characterization), and discovering life cycles by the aids of molecular diagnoses. Habitat of interest for field research are primarily in marine and wetlands biotopes, where the ecology and distribution of parasitic Myxozoan still less investigated. Together with research collaborators, we have found several novel myxozoan species and completed the life cycles of five myxozoan species. In addition, I also conducted research on epibiotic organisms of sea turtle where the symbiotic relationship of the epibiotic organisms towards the sea turtle, and their attachment mechanisms were investigated. Recently, an aid of phylogenetic analysis on the epibiotic organisms has help us in determining the possible foraging ground of Malaysian sea turtle species.

Dr Poh Seng Chee

My research focuses mainly on the South China Sea, where I am working to determine the SGD and its associated chemical loading from a single subcatchment to basin and reef scales. I believe that improved knowledge on SGD transport mechanisms and its influence on the biogeochemical processes in oceans will help to protect the quality of the marine ecosystem. Tropical coral reefs in SCS are vital building blocks in the marine ecosystem by offer habitats for a wide array of marine organisms. More important coral reefs also support the livelihoods of over billion peoples in this region, particularly for ASEAN countries, where coastal fishing activities remain as important revenue to those countries. My research on climate change mainly focus to assess marine acidification and eutrophication effects on the coastal ecosystem in the SCS. The Ultimate outcomes from this research is to identify the external pressures of the coral reefs in the SCS, to evaluate the health status of coral reefs and resilience toward natural and humaninduced variability, and put forward the conservation and management countermeasures

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