Seminar - " Chemical Pollution in Wildlife "

SPEAKER'S PROFILE

RESEARCH INTEREST:

> Research area is effect of hazardous chemicals in the environment. Focus of research includes the distribution and toxicity of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Hg), endocrine disruptor such as estrogen and tributyl tin in the aquatic environment (fresh water lakes and rivers and coastal ecosystems). Among the activities is identification of specific intertidal molluscs/crustaceans as a monitoring agent for heavy metals, effect of those hazardous chemicals on the gonad development, reproduction and histology of fish java medaka (Oryzias javanicus) and tilapia (Oreochromis sp.), sex changes in Thais, and the quality of feeding habitat for migratory shore birds and other coastal wildlife.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Ismail, A. (2006). The use of intertidal molluscs in the monitoring of heavy    metals and organotin compounds in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Coastal Marine Science 30(1):401-406. 
2. Yap, C.K., Ismail, A., W.H. Cheng and Tan, S.G. (2006). Crystalline style and tissue redistribution in Perna viridis as indicators of Cu and Pb bioavailabities and contamination in coastal waters. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 63:413-423.
3. Tetsuro Agusa, Takashi Kunito, Genta Yasunaga, Hisato Iwata, Anamalai Subramanian, Ahmad Ismail and Shinsuke Tanabe (2005). Concentration of trace elements in marine fish and its risk assessment in Malaysia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 51:896-911.
4. Katayon Saed, A. Ismail, H. Omar and M. Kusnan (2004). Heavy metal depuration in flat tree oyster Isognomon alatus under field and laboratory conditions. Toxicol. And Environ. Chem. 86 (1-4): 169-177.
5. Riak, K., A. Ismail, A. Arshad and A.R. Ismail (2003). Species composition and use mudflat of Kapar, West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia by migratory shorebirds. The Stilt, 44:44-49.

Marine Biology and Ecology

Research in Marine Biology and Ecology involves the group of scientists within Biology Department, Universiti Putra Malaysia and other local universities as well as international biologists and ecologists from marine, freshwater and terrestrial backgrounds, with research interests ranging from genetic of individual organisms to functional processes in local marine ecosystems. This broad research base provides the opportunity to address novel and topical issues related to local marine environment and contributing to the science of tropical marine ecosystem.

Research activities involves observations and experiments in both field and laboratory environment. The research including the discovery and understanding of the basic biology of marine plants and animals, environmentally-controlled laboratories such as behavioural, developmental, biochemistry and ecophysiological studies on marine life such as fishes, prawn, crabs and  other plants species such as seaweeds and sea grasses and their function and interactions within marine communities.