13
and Fatimah and Sharr ( 1982 , 1987 ). In recent
years, some interests have been directed towards
the development of the aquaculture potential of
oxbow lakes. An economic feasibility study has
been carried on one such lake, isolated from Sg.
Perak at Tasik Intun that has been carried out by
Yap et al. ( 1989 ).
1.10.6.3 Reservoir and Disused
Mining Pools
Although there are at least 50 reservoirs of various sizes in Malaysia, yet the amount of published work on the limnology of these reservoirs
is scarce. Scarcer still is the work on the discussed tin-mining pools (Jothy 1968 ). The work
of Ho ( 1976a ) on the Ampang Reservoir, Lai and
Chua ( 1976 ) on the Pedu and Muda Reservoirs
and that of Arumugam and Furtado ( 1980a , b ) on
the Subang Reservoir are three examples of earlier attempts. An attempt at establishing water
quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life
in tropical Asian reservoirs has been made by
Yap ( 1988a ).
The fi shery and aquaculture potential of reservoirs in Malaysia has not been fully exploited to
date. Studies carried out on the fi sh species
composition in reservoirs like the Muda and
Pedu Reservoirs (Lai and Chua 1976 ), Temengor
Reservoir (Khoo et al . 1982 ), Bukit Merah
Reservoir (Yap 1988b ) and Cenderuh Reservoir
(Lee 1989 ; Lee and Ahyaudin 1989 ) indicate that
these water bodies can with proper planning and
management be developed to increase fi sh production in the country. Such fi ndings have been
reaffi rmed by feasibility studies carried out by
the Freshwater Fish Research Centre (FFRC) at
Batu Berendam, Malacca. During the period
1984–1987, feasibility studies involving determination of the physico-chemical characteristics
and plankton composition were conducted by
FFRC on six reservoirs in Peninsular Malaysia.
These are the Bukit Merah Reservoir (Taiping,
Perak); Ringlet Reservoir, Jor Reservoir and
Mahang Reservoir (all three are in Cameron
Highlands, Pahang); Sambrong Reservoir (Batu
Pahat, Johor) and Macap Reservoir (Kluang,
Johor) (FFRC Report 1987 ). Further, cageculture techniques had probably been tried using
both indigenous lacustrine types and by food
resource utilisation partitioning of selected species of fi sh in reservoirs (Yap 1987 , 1988b ).
Leong et al. ( 1987 ) reported the parasitic fauna of
the fi shes at Temengor Dam.
1.10.6.4 Ricefi elds and Irrigation
Canals
Limnological interest on the ricefi eld ecosystem
had been focused mainly on aspects like water
quality, phyto- and zooplankton composition
and fi sh culture potential. Fernando et al. ( 1980 )
discussed the ecological importance of aquatic
fauna in ricefi elds. Niryati studied the diversity of
algal communities in the ricefi elds of Balik
Pulau, Penang. Ali and Ahmed ( 1988 ) studied
the water quality in the ricefi elds and swamp
ponds and its relationship to phytoplankton
growth in ricefi eld fi sh culture system. Yunus and
Lim ( 1971 ) and Lim et al. ( 1984 ) studied the
problem of insecticide usage in ricefi elds in West
Malaysia. The freshwater molluscs have been
studied by Berry ( 1963 , 1974a , b ) with reference
to their parasitological signifi cance. Lim ( 1980b )
studied the changes in aquatic invertebrate populations, while Mohamad ( 1982 ) surveyed the
freshwater protozoa in ricefi elds. Studies on ricefi eld fi sh populations (Ali 1988 , 1990a ) and
micro-crustaceans and rotifers (Ali 1990b ) have
also been reported. Zaman and Leong ( 1987 ,
1988 ) studied the seasonal occurrence of cestode
and nematode parasites in the common catfi shes
( Clarias batrachus and C. macrocephalus) in the
Krian rice-growing district. The problem of
aquatic weed infestation was also studied in the
same district. The aquaculture potential of ricefi elds and swamp ponds for integrated rice–fi sh
farming has long been recognised (Tan 1973 ).
Today, the Malaysian government has renewed
its efforts to develop this potential using modern
technology.
On irrigation canals, Ho ( 1980b ) studied the
chemistry and algal growth potential of the surface water in the Muda rice irrigation system.
Leong ( 1986 ) studied the seasonal occurrence
of metazoan parasites of Puntius binotatus in
the irrigation canal system of Sungai Pinang,
west in Penang.
1.10 Limnology in a Typical Developing Country
and Fatimah and Sharr ( 1982 , 1987 ). In recent
years, some interests have been directed towards
the development of the aquaculture potential of
oxbow lakes. An economic feasibility study has
been carried on one such lake, isolated from Sg.
Perak at Tasik Intun that has been carried out by
Yap et al. ( 1989 ).
1.10.6.3 Reservoir and Disused
Mining Pools
Although there are at least 50 reservoirs of various sizes in Malaysia, yet the amount of published work on the limnology of these reservoirs
is scarce. Scarcer still is the work on the discussed tin-mining pools (Jothy 1968 ). The work
of Ho ( 1976a ) on the Ampang Reservoir, Lai and
Chua ( 1976 ) on the Pedu and Muda Reservoirs
and that of Arumugam and Furtado ( 1980a , b ) on
the Subang Reservoir are three examples of earlier attempts. An attempt at establishing water
quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life
in tropical Asian reservoirs has been made by
Yap ( 1988a ).
The fi shery and aquaculture potential of reservoirs in Malaysia has not been fully exploited to
date. Studies carried out on the fi sh species
composition in reservoirs like the Muda and
Pedu Reservoirs (Lai and Chua 1976 ), Temengor
Reservoir (Khoo et al . 1982 ), Bukit Merah
Reservoir (Yap 1988b ) and Cenderuh Reservoir
(Lee 1989 ; Lee and Ahyaudin 1989 ) indicate that
these water bodies can with proper planning and
management be developed to increase fi sh production in the country. Such fi ndings have been
reaffi rmed by feasibility studies carried out by
the Freshwater Fish Research Centre (FFRC) at
Batu Berendam, Malacca. During the period
1984–1987, feasibility studies involving determination of the physico-chemical characteristics
and plankton composition were conducted by
FFRC on six reservoirs in Peninsular Malaysia.
These are the Bukit Merah Reservoir (Taiping,
Perak); Ringlet Reservoir, Jor Reservoir and
Mahang Reservoir (all three are in Cameron
Highlands, Pahang); Sambrong Reservoir (Batu
Pahat, Johor) and Macap Reservoir (Kluang,
Johor) (FFRC Report 1987 ). Further, cageculture techniques had probably been tried using
both indigenous lacustrine types and by food
resource utilisation partitioning of selected species of fi sh in reservoirs (Yap 1987 , 1988b ).
Leong et al. ( 1987 ) reported the parasitic fauna of
the fi shes at Temengor Dam.
1.10.6.4 Ricefi elds and Irrigation
Canals
Limnological interest on the ricefi eld ecosystem
had been focused mainly on aspects like water
quality, phyto- and zooplankton composition
and fi sh culture potential. Fernando et al. ( 1980 )
discussed the ecological importance of aquatic
fauna in ricefi elds. Niryati studied the diversity of
algal communities in the ricefi elds of Balik
Pulau, Penang. Ali and Ahmed ( 1988 ) studied
the water quality in the ricefi elds and swamp
ponds and its relationship to phytoplankton
growth in ricefi eld fi sh culture system. Yunus and
Lim ( 1971 ) and Lim et al. ( 1984 ) studied the
problem of insecticide usage in ricefi elds in West
Malaysia. The freshwater molluscs have been
studied by Berry ( 1963 , 1974a , b ) with reference
to their parasitological signifi cance. Lim ( 1980b )
studied the changes in aquatic invertebrate populations, while Mohamad ( 1982 ) surveyed the
freshwater protozoa in ricefi elds. Studies on ricefi eld fi sh populations (Ali 1988 , 1990a ) and
micro-crustaceans and rotifers (Ali 1990b ) have
also been reported. Zaman and Leong ( 1987 ,
1988 ) studied the seasonal occurrence of cestode
and nematode parasites in the common catfi shes
( Clarias batrachus and C. macrocephalus) in the
Krian rice-growing district. The problem of
aquatic weed infestation was also studied in the
same district. The aquaculture potential of ricefi elds and swamp ponds for integrated rice–fi sh
farming has long been recognised (Tan 1973 ).
Today, the Malaysian government has renewed
its efforts to develop this potential using modern
technology.
On irrigation canals, Ho ( 1980b ) studied the
chemistry and algal growth potential of the surface water in the Muda rice irrigation system.
Leong ( 1986 ) studied the seasonal occurrence
of metazoan parasites of Puntius binotatus in
the irrigation canal system of Sungai Pinang,
west in Penang.
1.10 Limnology in a Typical Developing Country