14
1.10.6.5 Systematic Studies
The literature reveals that only a few groups of
freshwater organisms have been studied from a
taxonomic angle. Prowse ( 1957 , 1958 , 1962 )
studied the desmids, fl agellates and diatom fl ora
in Malaysian freshwaters. A few genera of
freshwater red algae such as Batrachospermum
and Ballia have been described (Kumano and
Ratnasabapathy 1984 ). Our knowledge of the
taxonomy and biology of freshwater crabs and
prawns is due mainly to the efforts of Ng ( 1988 ,
1990 ), Ng and Choy ( 1989 ) and Ng and Steubing
( 1989 ). The cyclopoids Copepoda and Cladocera
have been studied by Fernando and Pony ( 1981 )
and Idris and Fernando ( 1981 ).
The rotifer has also been described by Fernando
and Zankai ( 1981 ) and also Karunakaran and
Johnson ( 1978 ). As for fi shes, Tweedie ( 1952 ,
1953a , b ), Soong ( 1948 , 1949 , 1950 ), Alfred
( 1964 , 1969 , 1971 ), Mohsin and Ambak ( 1982a ,
b ), Chin ( 1989 ), Zakaria-Ismail ( 1989 ) and Lim
et al. ( 1989 ) contributed signifi cantly to our
knowledge on the taxonomy of fi sh species inhabiting the rivers, streams and freshwater swamps of
Peninsular Malaysia. Jones and Leong ( 1986 )
described the parasitic trematodes (amphistomes)
found in freshwater fi shes.
1.10.7 Training in Limnology
1.10.7.1 Role of Local Universities
Educational Role
Malaysian universities form the main repository of
a pool of trained limnologists and other aquatic
biologists. The teaching curricula too have
evolved and expanded in scope to meet the
demands of a rapidly developing nation. Of the
seven established universities in Malaysia, four
have both basic and applied biology programmes at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels. The four are Universiti Malaya
(UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) and
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Research Role
Over the years, universities in Malaysia have
evolved from a largely teaching institute to one
with increasing emphasis on research.
This pool of expertise is often used by various
government and quasi-government authorities
and also the private sector in various ways.
Further, Malaysian universities are frequent initiators and hosts to many national and international scientifi c seminars and symposia.
1.10.7.2 Role of Freshwater Fish
Research Centre
The Freshwater Fish Research Centre (FFRC) at
Batu Berendam, Malacca, was established in
1957. It is a branch of the research division of the
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture,
Malaysia. The centre is charged with the function
of carrying out research in the fi eld of aquaculture and inland fi sheries.
The current research programme of the FFRC
includes the experimental breeding of indigenous
and exotic fi sh in captivity, studies of fi sh nutrition, fi sh diseases, live feed culture, experimental
culture of fi sh and prawn in ponds and in suspended cages, water quality in aquaculture and
reservoir limnology. Besides research activities,
the centre also provides technical advice to fi sh
farmers, carries out training facilities to university students and supplies fi sh fry to farmers.
In 1989 the FFRC established bilateral linkage
with the Department of Fish Culture and Fisheries
(DFCF) of the Wageningen Agricultural University
in the Netherlands, under the framework of the
ASEAN-EEC Aquaculture Development and
Coordination Programme (AADCP 1990 ). The
work plan of the AADCP component-2 also
includes an exchange programme for the staff of
the FFRC and DFCF, three training courses for
ASEAN participants, two workshops and two
M.Sc. fellowships for FFRC staff. The proposed
themes of the training courses are as follows:
Modeling and Management of Reservoir Fisheries,
Fish Ecology in ASEAN Lakes and Reservoirs,
Dynamic Simulation Modelling in Aquatic
Production, etc.
1 Introduction
1.10.6.5 Systematic Studies
The literature reveals that only a few groups of
freshwater organisms have been studied from a
taxonomic angle. Prowse ( 1957 , 1958 , 1962 )
studied the desmids, fl agellates and diatom fl ora
in Malaysian freshwaters. A few genera of
freshwater red algae such as Batrachospermum
and Ballia have been described (Kumano and
Ratnasabapathy 1984 ). Our knowledge of the
taxonomy and biology of freshwater crabs and
prawns is due mainly to the efforts of Ng ( 1988 ,
1990 ), Ng and Choy ( 1989 ) and Ng and Steubing
( 1989 ). The cyclopoids Copepoda and Cladocera
have been studied by Fernando and Pony ( 1981 )
and Idris and Fernando ( 1981 ).
The rotifer has also been described by Fernando
and Zankai ( 1981 ) and also Karunakaran and
Johnson ( 1978 ). As for fi shes, Tweedie ( 1952 ,
1953a , b ), Soong ( 1948 , 1949 , 1950 ), Alfred
( 1964 , 1969 , 1971 ), Mohsin and Ambak ( 1982a ,
b ), Chin ( 1989 ), Zakaria-Ismail ( 1989 ) and Lim
et al. ( 1989 ) contributed signifi cantly to our
knowledge on the taxonomy of fi sh species inhabiting the rivers, streams and freshwater swamps of
Peninsular Malaysia. Jones and Leong ( 1986 )
described the parasitic trematodes (amphistomes)
found in freshwater fi shes.
1.10.7 Training in Limnology
1.10.7.1 Role of Local Universities
Educational Role
Malaysian universities form the main repository of
a pool of trained limnologists and other aquatic
biologists. The teaching curricula too have
evolved and expanded in scope to meet the
demands of a rapidly developing nation. Of the
seven established universities in Malaysia, four
have both basic and applied biology programmes at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels. The four are Universiti Malaya
(UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) and
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Research Role
Over the years, universities in Malaysia have
evolved from a largely teaching institute to one
with increasing emphasis on research.
This pool of expertise is often used by various
government and quasi-government authorities
and also the private sector in various ways.
Further, Malaysian universities are frequent initiators and hosts to many national and international scientifi c seminars and symposia.
1.10.7.2 Role of Freshwater Fish
Research Centre
The Freshwater Fish Research Centre (FFRC) at
Batu Berendam, Malacca, was established in
1957. It is a branch of the research division of the
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture,
Malaysia. The centre is charged with the function
of carrying out research in the fi eld of aquaculture and inland fi sheries.
The current research programme of the FFRC
includes the experimental breeding of indigenous
and exotic fi sh in captivity, studies of fi sh nutrition, fi sh diseases, live feed culture, experimental
culture of fi sh and prawn in ponds and in suspended cages, water quality in aquaculture and
reservoir limnology. Besides research activities,
the centre also provides technical advice to fi sh
farmers, carries out training facilities to university students and supplies fi sh fry to farmers.
In 1989 the FFRC established bilateral linkage
with the Department of Fish Culture and Fisheries
(DFCF) of the Wageningen Agricultural University
in the Netherlands, under the framework of the
ASEAN-EEC Aquaculture Development and
Coordination Programme (AADCP 1990 ). The
work plan of the AADCP component-2 also
includes an exchange programme for the staff of
the FFRC and DFCF, three training courses for
ASEAN participants, two workshops and two
M.Sc. fellowships for FFRC staff. The proposed
themes of the training courses are as follows:
Modeling and Management of Reservoir Fisheries,
Fish Ecology in ASEAN Lakes and Reservoirs,
Dynamic Simulation Modelling in Aquatic
Production, etc.
1 Introduction