Monday, December 29, 2008

6 Unusual High-Paying Careers

1. Eco Tourism Director
2.Professional Hacker
3. Pet Psychologist
4. Conservation Consultant
5. Fashion Consultant/Personal Shopper
6. Mobile Experience Architect

The International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May 2009

Invasive Alien Species
The theme for the International Day on Biological Diversity (IBD) in 2009 is invasive alien species (IAS) - one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and to the ecological and economic well-being of society and the planet.
Designation of IBD 2009 on the theme of invasive alien species provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and those dealing with IAS, opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action to tackle the problem.

Friday, December 26, 2008

List of Post-Graduate Students

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)




Student

Title

Year
1
Shahrizad Yusof
Studies on effects of endocrine destruptors on ealy development of Tilapia and java medaka


2007-
2
Parvaneh Hajeb 16755
( Iran )
(Co-Supervisor)
Mercury contamination in commonly consumed fish and fish products in Peninsular Malaysia.

2006-2009
3
Tooraj Sohrabi ( Iran )
Heavy metals in zebra mussel in south of Caspian sea , Iran

2006-


4
Romeo M. Lomoljo
(Phillipines)
Studies on Migratory Shore birds in Kuala Gula Perak and its relation to feeding habitat and food quality.


2006-2009


5
Bintal Amin
( Indonesia )
Heavy metals uptake in intertidal mollusc along Riau-Dumai Coastline, Sumatera , Indonesia .


2003-2009

6

Ali Reza Shahafeh
( Iran )

Ecotoxicological effect of heavy metals in shrimps from Lukut River , Negeri Sembilan coastline.


2001-2006

7

Khalid Marol Riak
( Sudan )


Ecological Impact the on The Habitat Quality of Migratory and Resident Shore Birds in Kuala Selangor and Kapar, Selangor.


2000-2004

8

Yap Chee Kong
( Malaysia )
The assessment of Green-lipped Mussels, Perna viridis Linnaeus as biomonitoring agent for heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg and Zn in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

1999-2003

9

Ali Dodolahi Sohrab
( Iran )
(co-supervisor)


Heavy metals pollution and its effects on macroalgae of Kish Island , Iran .


1999-2003


10


Katayon Saed
( Iran )

Ecotoxicology of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd) in flat tree Oyster (Isognomon alatus (Gmelin)) from Sepang River , Malaysia .


1998 -2001


11

Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria
(Ronpaku program as home supervisor)


Molecular marker for hydrocarbon in sediment and green mussels (Perna viridis)


1997-2002

12

Zaleha Kasim
( Malaysia )

Taxonomy and some ecological aspects of meiobenthic harpaticoid copepodes in coastal water of Peninsular Malaysia.


1996-2000

13


Mohamad Irsyad Arshad ( Pakistan )
(co-supervisor)


Some ecological studies on red jungle fowls Gallus gallus spadiceus in agricultural area


1995-1999


14

Ibrahim Jaafar
( Malaysia )

Some Life History , Population and Feeding Aspects of Two Paddy Field Frogs, Rana cancrivora Gravenhorst and Rana limnocharis Boie


1990-1995

15

ABOL
(Iran)

2008-

16

Daryoust
(IRAN)

2007-

17

Tjjani Rafai'e Buhari
(NIGERIA)

2007-

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 medeka (Oryzias javanicus) and tilapia, sex changes in Thais, and the quality of feeding habitat for migratory shore birds and other coastal wildlife.

Ecotoxicology

Research focuses primarily on the evaluation of pollutant-induced effects on aquatic animals. This involves the detection and understanding the fundamental mechanisms by which pollutants cause’s biological effects. In general Ecotoxicology research group works on the areas of ecophysiology, biomarkers, mechanistic studies, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption at different levels of biological organisation including invertebrates and wildlife.
Among the specific works are; trace element metabolism in aquatic invertebrates, especially the effect of physiological and biochemical parameters (the sex, the reproductive status and, in crustaceans/molluscs, the moult stage, detoxify trace metals) on trace element distribution and toxicity, endocrine disruption in fish - with emphasis on the oestrogenic (and other endocrine disruptors) effects on gonads development and histology of java medaka (Oryzias javanicus), tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and rock snail (Thais sp.), arsenic and mercury in aquatic ecosystems and seafood, examines the absorption of metals (copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury, tin – including tributyl tin) and metalloids (arsenic and selenium) from water, sediments, and food, and investigates their subsequent distribution, metabolism, and excretion, identifying the mechanisms (including the forms of chemicals occurred in the environment – sediment, water, algae, and their bioavailability) by which non-essential metals and excess amounts of essential metals adversely affect the animals.
These researches are carried out in collaboration with other research groups within the Department of Biology, other institutes/universities in Malaysia and other academic and governmental organisations both national and international.

Research Group;
Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Ismail
Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Rahim Ismail
Dr. Hishamuddin Omar
Dr. Nor Azwady Abdul Aziz
Dr. Yap Chee Kong
Miss Shahrizad Yusof
Mr Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli
Miss Ferdaus Mat Yusof

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. These involve the development of marine plants as indicators of water quality, the influence of nutrient enrichment on seagrasses, the roles of nitrogen fixation and sulfate reduction in seagrass growth, carbohydrate and fluorescent responses of sea grasses to changes in light and nutrient regimes and the effects of nutrient enrichment on tropical marine systems, systematic and dynamic of benthic and planktonic organisms in sea grasses ecosystem, toxicological studies on the coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and sea grasses, marine aquaculture, marine parasitology and techniques in marine and freshwater aquaculture, and marine conservation.
Research Group;
Prof Dr. Fatimah Mohd Yusof
Prof Dr. Tan Soon Guan
Associate Professor Dr. Siti Shapor Siraj
Associate Professor Dr. Siti Khatijah Daud
Associate Professor Dr. Japar Sidek Bujang
Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Ismail
Associate Professor Dr. Aziz Arshad

Public Monitoring on Pollution

1. Public knowledge and awareness on pollution
2. Schools involvement as their curriculum and co-curriculum activities
3. Local NGO involvement
4. Supportted by government and corporates agencies
5. Always refer to the experts

Alumni

Dear All Alumni of Department of Biology, UPM.Since 1976 Department of Biology has produced thousands of graduates. They are now contributing to the country's development in various fields and activties from teachers in schools, lecturers in university, managers in government and private sectors, bussiness, consultants and politicians. After more than 30 years leaving UPM it is about time to come back to UPM and helping to grow together with UPM and Malaysia through Alumni.Please contact me through Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti utra Malaysia. aismail@science.upm.edu.my or 0389466617.