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This study presents the first record of Lychnorhiza malayensis Stiasny, 1920, in Malaysian waters since its first discovery in the Java Sea of Indonesia nearly a century ago. Better representation of the species was achieved by the collection of more specimens than previous studies. Thirteen specimens were collected from the midwestern and northeastern coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and their morphology was examined in detail. Morphological descriptions of L. malayensis from outside Malaysia and our collection in Malaysia were compared, reviewed and updated. All Lychnorhiza species were also compared and differences highlighted. Lychnorhiza malayensis can be distinguished from its congeners primarily by the presence of subumbrellar papillae, higher counts of the centripetal canal which tends to anastomose, and the distinctive colour patterns and markings of the umbrella. Intraspecific variations were observed among specimens in terms of different papillae and centripetal canal forms, inter-rhopaliar canals that extend beyond or terminating at the circular canal, various colour patterns and markings, the number of velar lappets and size (length and width) of oral arms that were also different from previous descriptions. The morphological redescription of this species will facilitate the identification of this bloom-forming species and contribute to the inventories of marine biological resources in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity of macrofungi in remaining lowland dipterocarp forest in highly urbanization pressures is infrequently studied, even though their significant impact on the ecosystem of forested and non-forested habitats. Therefore, this research endeavours to unravel the diversity of macrofungi from different substrates in the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve located in Selangor, Malaysia. Through a combination of field surveys, the study seeks to contribute valuable insights into the complex relationships between macrofungi and the surrounding habitats where macrofungal community structure was mainly influenced by substrate richness and microclimates. Sporocarps of macrofungi were collected from selected sites using opportunistic sampling methods. A total of 333 sporocarps were obtained and identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. Basidiomycota prevailed in the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve where 27 species belonging to 14 families were successfully identified. Saprophytic fungi (22 species, 81.5%) dominated the areas, and a small number of mycorrhizal (1 species, 3.7%) and parasitic (4 species, 14.8%) fungi were found. Based on species diversity, order Polyporales is the highest occurrence species in the sampling areas with a Shannon-Weiner Index value of 2.103 and Simpson Index value of 0.954, Evenness Index value of 0.601, making it the most abundant order containing Microporus species, The findings are expected to enhance our knowledge of the biodiversity of macrofungi from different substrates in Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, which can lead to conservation efforts and promote the ecological significance of macrofungi in tropical forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society relies on intact marine ecosystems for ecosystem services such as nutrition, livelihoods, health and well‐being. Yet, to obtain these benefits, we carry out activities, introducing pressures to ecosystems, damaging and degrading habitats and reducing their capacity to optimally provide ecosystem services. Biodiversity and ecosystem services are consequently being lost globally but impact chains from these activities are poorly understood, especially in tropical marine ecosystems.We identified for the first time impact chains linking activities with pressures they introduce in five tropical coastal and marine habitats, specifically through application in four Southeast Asian case study sites. Using expert elicitation based on existing evidence, we weighted each impact chain according to pressure extent, frequency and persistence, and habitat resistance and resilience. Assigning each impact chain an impact risk score allowed identification of activities and pressures introducing most risk, and habitats most under threat.Of 26 activities we considered, we found fishing activities, specifically trawling, gill nets and seine nets introduce most risk, along with tourism and recreation. Litter and pollution were among the greatest pressures on habitats, with coral reefs being most vulnerable overall. Destructive fishing practices were associated with physical pressures like abrasion, smothering and siltation and total habitat loss, while tourism activities were associated with organic enrichment, litter and pollution. The risk levels depended on the habitat and on local case study context.Synthesis and applications: A contextualised risk‐based approach can help to prioritise sustainability issues for management in data‐poor regions by making use of a range of knowledge types from local experts to broader scientific knowledge. A multisectoral, and ecosystem‐based risk assessment can help decision makers to consider trade‐offs in marine resource management and highlight priorities transparently, where coordination of multiple administrative organisations, sectors and local actors is required to meet multiple sustainability objectives. Physical pressures from fishing activities combined with pollution from tourism indicate effective management requires a multi‐use zoning approach that not only considers impacts at the site of activities but also integrates regional coordination to tackle dispersive pressures from pollution or sediment disturbance that occur at a distance from the source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing concern of scyphozoan jellyfish blooms and their associated threats, there is an acute lack of baseline knowledge regarding the trophic ecology of scyphozoans in tropical waters where blooms of several species sometimes occur at once or successively. Therefore, this study was conducted from June 2010 to December 2011 in the Klang Strait (Malaysia) to elucidate the trophic ecology of eight sympatric species of scyphozoan that occurred in a conjoint mangrove-mudflat habitat. The species diet, trophic position and the relative contribution of primary producers to their nutrition were determined by integrating stomach content examination with stable isotope analysis. Scyphozoans in the Klang Strait are principally carnivores and can be grouped into three major trophic guilds: specialized copepod feeder, copepod and macrozooplankton feeder, and mixed plankton feeder. Bayesian mixing model of δ13C isotope values indicates that the scyphozoans mainly derived their basal carbon source from microphytobenthos and phytoplankton. Analysis of δ15N isotope values reveals that all species are positioned at the third trophic level after mixed zooplankton groups (second) and primary producers (first) in the food web. Scyphozoans thus represent an important trophic link coupling benthic and pelagic primary production to higher-level predators and humans, and are important carbon exporters from nearshore to neritic and offshore waters. • Conjoint mangrove-mudflat habitat serves as a feeding area for tropical scyphozoans. • Eight species which are zooplanktivores can be classed into three trophic guilds. • Microphytobenthos and phytoplankton are the main basal food sources. • Scyphozoans occupy the third trophic level in the tropical coastal food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the present study are: 1), to determine the concentrations of Zn in Ipomoea aquatica collected from ten distinct sampling sites located in Peninsular Malaysia; and 2) to assess the potential human health risks associated with Zn exposure from the collected Ipomoea aquatica in Peninsular Malaysia, across different age groups of the Malaysian population. It was found that the root of I. aquatica accumulated a significantly higher amount of this element compared to the stem and the leaf. It was also observed that all physiological parts (Leaf, Stem, and Root) of I. aquatica sampled from Market KLIA accumulated a greater amount of Zn compared to the other sites. The THQ (Target Hazard Quotient) values for element Zn in the I. aquatica species collected from 10 different sites in the Negeri Sembilan and Selangor states of Malaysia were consistently below 1.00. This observation suggests that there is no significant risk of non-carcinogenic effects associated with the consumption of water spinach by Malaysian consumers. The consistent Zn accumulation over time suggests that despite economic development in the region, Zn levels remained within safe concentrations, minimizing the risk associated with Zn accumulation in the plant biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]