Country Report[Malaysia]

by Dr. Mohammed Rizman Idid, Dr. Ahmad Khaldun Ismail Mr. Sim YK, Dr. B.A. Venmathi Maran.

WESTPAC Workshop on “Harmful Jellyfish Sampling Protocol and

Data Analysis in the Western Pacific”

05 – 07 December 2017 Penang, Malaysia

Brief on harmful jellyfish situation and related concerns in the country

• Seasonal blooms- blocking power station systems.

• Biofouling of fish cages & nets.• Sporadic cases of severe jellyfish stings• Affects beach activities/ Tourisms• Unable to predict / anticipate blooms• Lack of documentation and knowledge

Brief on harmful jellyfish situation and related concerns in Malaysia

• Clinical Toxinology – Clinical Management• Still developing as subspecialty in Malaysia• Marine animals envenoming/poisoning not in

Medical curriculum• Training postgraduate on the job training not

verified/appropriate info• Public awareness • Media misinformation

Jellyfish species and distribution8 species from the order Rhizostomeae (Rhizostomatidae, Lobonematidae, Mastigiidae, Catostylidae and Cepheidae),2 species from Semaestomeae (Pelagiidae and Cyaneidae) and two species from class Cubozoa; 1 from order Carybdeida (family Carukiidae) , 1 order Chirodropida(family Chiropsalmidae).

12 jellyfish speciesRizman-Idid et al (2016): Zoological Studies 55:35

Malaysian Morbakka sp. sequences are strongly related to Carukia barnesi, suggesting it belongs to family Carukiidae.

Carybdea xaymacana (JN700978) Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (JN700970) Chiropsalmus quadrumanus (GQ120103)

Carybdea arborifera (KM200333) Alatina moseri (KJ452779)

Alatina moseri (JN642336) Carukia barnesi (JN700960)

Morbakka sp.B13 (JN202983) Morbakka sp.B15 (JN202985) Morbakka sp.B12 (JN202982) Morbakka sp.B14 (JN202984)

Tamoya haplonema (HQ824531) Tamoya ohboya (HQ824532)

100/100/100

99/100/100

99/100/100 92/-/100

0.05

-/-/100 -/-/100

Carukiidae

Partial COI (Bayesian tree)

“rabbit ear”- like rhopaliar horns

Rizman-Idid et al (2016): Zoological Studies 55:35

Outgroup (Cubozoa)

Cyanea Group I

Cyanea Group III

Rhizostomeae

Cyanea Group II

Semaestomeae +

Rhizostomeae

Cyanea sp. CCKS0110 (JN202962) Cyanea sp. CCKS012 (JN202963) Cyanea sp. CCKS016 (JN202961) Cyanea sp. CCKS03410 (JN202965) Cyanea sp. CCKS017 (JN202960) Cyanea sp. CCKS027 (JN202959) Cyanea sp. CCKS048 (JN202958) Cyanea sp. CCKS07410 (JN202966) Cyanea sp. CCKS08410 (JN202967) Cyanea sp. CCTD2 (JN202964) Pelagia noctiluca (HM358358) Chrysaora fulgida (HM348774)

Chrysaora chinensis CQTNPP26 (JN202957) Chrysaora chinensis CQTNPP27 (JN202955) Chrysaora chinensis CQTNPP28 (JN202956) Chrysaora sp. (DQ083525)

Cyanea nozakii (AB377554) Cyanea nozakii (AB377553)

Cyanea nozakii (AB377551) Cyanea rosea (AY903058)

Cyanea rosea (AY903060) Cyanea annaskala (AY903061) Cyanea annaskala (AY903065) Cyanea annaskala (AY903064) Cyanea capillata (AY903066)

Cyanea capillata (AY903054)

Lobonemoides robustus LNSPP2 (JN202968) Rhopilema esculentum (AB377587)

Rhopilema esculentum (AB377588) Rhopilema esculentum RDU (JN202972)

Rhopilema hispidum RPTNPPSP12 (JN202970) Rhopilema hispidum RPU (JN202969) Rhopilema hispidum RPKS (JN202971) Chironex fleckeri (U65477)

Chiropsoides buitendijki BTNPP02 (JN202953) Chiropsoides buitendijki BTNPP01 (JN202954)

89/100/100

95/100/98

91/100/100

92/100/100

100/100/100

99/100/100

99/100/99

93/100/100

78/99/100

93/100/100

73/94/88

100/97/100

78/-/92

80/90/100

73/-/74

78/76/99

100/100/99

0.05

Partial ITS1 (Bayesian tree)

Malaysian Cyanea sp.

Australian Cyanea

Cyanea nozaki

L.robustus

R.hispidum

R.esculentum

Chiropsoidesbuitendijki

Malaysian C.chinensis

Chrysaora chinensis

Chiropsoides buitendijki

Malaysian Cyanea sp.

Rizman-Idid et al (2016): Zoological Studies 55:35

Jellyfish Species in Penang

Phyllorhiza punctata Rhopilema sp. Chiropsoidis buitendijki Morbakka sp.

Morbakka sp. Chrysaora sp. Chrysaora sp.Chrysaora sp.

Aurelia sp.

Netrostoma dumokuroa?

Cassiopeia sp.

Mastigias sp.

Crambione mastigophora.

Country priorities for harmful jellyfish research, monitoring and management

• MST (1992 - )• RECS (2012 - )• Collaboration MOA with CEMACS (2015-2018)

Country priorities for harmful jellyfish research, monitoring and management

• IOES’s HiCOE niche area “Air-Ocean-Land Interactions” and issues of climate change.

• Jellyfish studies is relatively new and been overlooked in the country’s marine biodiversity checklists and surveys.

• Ecology of jellyfish blooms in relation to environmental changes ( what are the triggers?? Temperature ? Salinity?)

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Sep-09 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10 Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10

Zoop

lank

ton

abun

danc

e (in

d/m

3)Ph

ytop

lank

ton

abun

danc

e (c

ell/m

3)

Jelly

fish

Abun

danc

e (in

divi

dual

)

Sampling month

Jellyfish

Zooplankton

Phytoplankton

The Abundance of Jellyfish, Zooplankton & Phytoplankton at Manjung, Perak from Sept 2009 to Oct 2010

0.0050.00100.00150.00200.00250.00300.00350.00400.00450.00500.00550.00600.00

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Sep-09 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10 Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10

Med

usae

(ind

/m3)

Cyan

obac

teria

(cel

l/m3)

Jelly

fish

Abun

danc

e (in

divi

dual

)

Sampling month

JellyfishMedusaeCyanobacteria

The Jellyfish Ingression Model (JIM): Overall Version

Jellyfish

Nitrate Ammonium

Phosphate

Nitrite

Conductivity

Total Suspended Solid

Dissolved Oxygen

Temperature

Salinity

Zooplankton0.268*

0.538**

0.233*

0.416**

0.483**

0.367*

0.325**

-0.211**

0.315**0.551**

0.428**

0.229*

-0.283**

0.504**

0.083

0.771**

r value with ** shows significant correlation at p<0.01

r value with * shows significant correlation at p<0.05

Phytoplankton 0.540**

0.215*

0.492**

-0.404**

0.312**

Gaps and capacities needed for harmful jellyfish research, monitoring and

management to be addressed via WESTPAC

• Jellyfish species/taxonomy• Jellyfish species geolocation/distribution• Jellyfish ecology /bloom predictions• Role as parasite vectors/ Host-Symbionts• Training for healthcare providers• Public awareness programs• Local government involvement in efforts• Tourism/hospitality industries support

Visions/ideas on developing a joint regional harmful jellyfish research,

monitoring and management

• Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) in providing regional support for clinical management – AMSEM initiative (2012-) http://mstamsem.blogspot.my

• Toxin research via collaborative works via MST members with CEMACS etc

• Support & recognition for the training programs – AMSEM, MEP, eCME(MEP), Public outreach program (MSTSSS)

AMSEM Initiative

Visions/ideas on developing a joint regional harmful jellyfish research,

monitoring and management• Joint workshop to identify regional species• Joint publication- manuscripts,

standardized ID manuals• Early warning network of blooms• Coordination in survey efforts:

– jellyfish and the changing ocean

• Public engagement –awareness, notification, data collection ( Gov, Private sector,NGO’s??)

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RERH

AF CHPP

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BDMF

FOS

HCOS

CM

BM

POS

SCOS

BWOS CC

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-30.0 -28.0 -26.0 -24.0 -22.0 -20.0 -18.0 -16.0 -14.0 -12.0

Depl

eted

←δ15

N (‰

) →

Enr

iche

d

Depleted ← δ13C (‰) → Enriched

Preliminary Stable Isotope Analysisδ13C: •mean (±SD) = -15.97 ‰ (± 1.06), •Significantly varied between sp. (F = 11.57, p < 0.05)

δ15N:•mean (±SD) = 11.89 ‰ (± 1.04)•Significantly varied between sp. (F = 25.05, p < 0.05)

• δ13C analysis: Jellyfish assimilates carbon from benthic diatoms and seston/ phytoplankton, with no contribution from mangrove detritus:

• May explain vertical migration, but not consistent with stomach content.• Jellyfish might fed on prey that directly or indirectly consumed benthic diatom and/or

phytoplankton. Mixing of benthic diatoms with surface water.• May forage for food during horizontal migration away from the shore.

•δ15N analysis: Jellyfish rank high in the trophic level, in Klang Strait ecosystem. This is consistent with stomach content result .

Jellyfish species

Benthic diatoms

Seston (offshore)

Phytoplankton

Mangrove leaves

Participant/institute/country roles in the join regional harmful jellyfish programme

• Clinical Toxinology• Research Toxinology• Networking of experts in the field – AMSEM

initiative• Source of reference for verified information

Participant/institute/country roles in the join regional harmful jellyfish programme• IOES – morphological / molecular ID• Student exchange/ summer programs• Technical training• Collection

Sampling Methods

Towing Method

Buoy

2 m below water surface

Boat

1.524 m

1.524

T, volume of water towed, (m3) = 1.524m x 1.524m x D

The water volume towed, T, can be obtained from the towing method, by multiplying the effective mouth area of the trawl with the distance towed, D.

Scoop Nets & Observers

Boat 3m3m

HH

SS

Observer

Water volume, W, was observed using the scooping method and was calculated by multiplying the fixed distance of observation from the boat edge (3m) with the observational depth (secchi-disc reading), H; subsequently, the sampling distance of the boat, D, was calculated from the recorded coordinates. The sampling distance was determined using the start and end latitude and longitude [method modified from Doyle et al. (2007) & Purcell (2009)].

W, volume of water observed (m3) = S x H x D

Public Interest and Perception

References• MST – http://mstoxinology.blogspot.my• RECS – http://mstoxinology.blogspot.my/p/recs.html• AMSEM – http://mstamsem.blogspot.my• MEP – http://mstmep.blogspot.my