Advancing Marine Biodiversity Study: Unveiling Taxonomic Mysteries and Monitoring Ecosystem Changes Through Innovative Techniques

Abstract:

Marine biodiversity faces numerous challenges, ranging from species misidentification to anthropogenic threats. This presentation combines two studies focusing on marine biodiversity and conservation. The first study unravels the taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships of species from the Stichopus genus, highlighting the importance of accurate classification for their management and conservation. We present findings from a study of a Stichopusspecies harvested on Pangkor Island, revealing unexpected taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships. These findings underscore the complexities in classifying marine species, with pivotal implications for their conservation. The second study is a proposed study presented for endorsement as a UN Ocean Decade project. The pilot project will focus on the marine ecosystem around the Klang Islands, an area under increasing threat due to human activities. Through the proposed use of non-invasive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods, we intend to monitor the marine biodiversity in the region, aiming to understand the ecological consequences of urbanisation and industrialisation, with findings expected to contribute significantly to conservation planning, fisheries management, and environmental impact assessments. In conclusion, this presentation emphasises the importance of accurate species identification and the potential of innovative techniques like eDNA in monitoring and conserving marine biodiversity.

Speaker's Profile:

Dr Cheah Hong Leong is an experienced researcher in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and his master’s as well as his PhD at Universiti Sains Malaysia. His doctoral research focused on RNA-seq analysis to establish the transcription start site landscape and small RNA profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. His studies have revealed the complexities of regulatory networks and sRNAome that contribute to the survival of bacteria in hostile environments.

Dr Cheah joined Monash University Malaysia as a research fellow under the Malaysian BioGenome Project in January 2023 and has since shifted his research focus to conservation genomics. He is currently working on the establishment of reference genomes and population genomics of native marine animals in Malaysia, among other projects.