A major concern among ecologists in and outside the ASEAN region is the degradation of the environment, and the overexploitation of freshwater and marine resources. There is as yet no indication that freshwater and marine resources are being managed on a sustainable basis, and loss of wetlands, whether freshwater swamps or mangrove swamps, is a major problem in the ASEAN region. Reclamation of mangrove swamps for aquaculture and agriculture seems to be a continuous activity here and the status of marine parks should also be examined in the light of recent resort development acitivities on small islands.
This volume contains numerous recommendations for the promotion of ecological studies and regional cooperation in marine, freshwater ecology and conservation, with special emphasis on the common water masses like the Strait of Malacca, Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea.

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Preface. Ecology of Marine and Freshwaters Including Wetlands. Monitoring of the sea surface temperature in the South China Sea; K.L. Tuen, J.K. Lim. Neap-spring tidal effects on dissolved oxygen in two Malaysian estuaries; B.W. Nelson, A. Sasekumar, Z.Z. Ibrahim. The role of bacteria in nutrient recycling in tropical mangrove and other coastal benthic ecosystems; D. Alongi. Studies on the production of useful chemicals, especially fatty acids in the marine diatom Nitzchia conspicua Grunow; W.L. Chu, S.M. Phang, S.H. Goh. Zoogeographic and biodiversity of the freshwater fishes on Southeast Asia; M. Zakaria-Ismail. The damselfishes (Pisces: Osteichthyes: pomocentridae) of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: Systematics, ecology and conservation; T.M. Sin, M.M. Teo, P.K.L. Ng, L.M. Chou, H.W. Khoo. The systematics and ecology of snake heads (Pisces: Channidae) of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore; P.G. Lee, P.K.L. Ng. An annotated checklist of mangrove brachyuran crabs from Malysia and Singapore; C.G.S. Tan, P.K.L. Ng. The ecology and biology of Southeast Asian false spider crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae); C.T.N. Chuang, P.K.L. Ng. Male courtship cycles in three species of tropical Ilyoplax crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura, Ocypodidae); T. Kosuge, S. Poovachiranon, M. Murai. Distribution and biodiversity of Singapore Gorgonians (sub-class Octocorallia) -- a preliminary survey; N.K.C. Goh, L.M. Chou. Distribution and abundance of marine wood borers on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia; H.R. Singh, A. Sasekumar. New records of Malaysian marine algae; S.M. Phang. The community structure of macroalgae in a low shore mangrove forest in Selangor, Malaysia; S. Aikanathan, A. Sasekumar. Conservation and Pollution. Marine environmental issues of Southeast Asia: state and development; L.M. Chou. A review of otters (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae) in Malaysia and Singapore; N. Sivasothi. Hatch rates of green turtle eggs in Sarawak; C.M.U. Leh. The use of artificial reefs in enhancing fish communities in Singapore; C.Y.Y. Chua, L.M. Chou. Threats to the indigenous freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka and remarks on their conservation; R. Pethiyagoda. Diversity and conservation of blackwater fishes in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest; P.K.L. Ng, J.B. Tay, K.K.P. Lim. Red tide phenomena in Brunei Darussalam -- some implications for fisheries; S. Subramaniam, S.M. Mahali, S.H.M. Taha. Water quality of Inam River estuary and the Ko-Nelayan tiger prawn aquaculture ponds in Sabah, Malaysia; M. Mokhtar, A. Awaluddin, Y.G. Low. Prolonged inundation and ecological changes in an Avicennia mangrove: implications for conservation and management; S.C. Choy, W.E. Booth. The remnant mangroves of Sei Kecil, Simpang Hilir, West Kalimantan, Indonesia; R. Abdulhadi, Suhardjono. Management Issues, Ecological Economics and Other Topics. Marine living resources management in the ASEAN Region: lessons learned and the integrated management approach; T.E. Chua, L.R. Garces. Degradation of mangrove forests in South Sulawesi, Indonesia; B. Nurkin. Value of mangroves in coastal protection; M.A. Othman. A historical perspective of the resources and issues of Pak Phanag Bay, southern Thailand; N. Srichai. Management of coastal ecosystems in eastern Sumatra: the case of Berbak Wildlife Reserve, Jambi Province; G. Claridge. Mangrove conservation in relation to overall environmental considerat