Larvae of the Common Penaeid Prawns of Malaysia and South-East Asia

This book describes in detail the full larval series of ten common, economically important species of penaeid prawn in five genera, including Metapenaeus, Metapenaeopsis, Parapenaeopsis, Penaeus and Trachysalambria. Four Parapenaeopsis species are documented here for the first time. A synthesis of larval development across the five genera is provided, with an advanced hypothesis of four developmental pathways. Showcasing 105 plates of accurate, non-stylized, realistic drawings of penaeid larvae cultured in the laboratory, Larvae of the Common Penaeid Prawns of Malaysia and South-East Asia describes extensive and intensive larval diagnoses and staging and taxonomic treatment for the generic and specific identification of the nauplius, protozoea, mysis and first post-larva, including those of other described species in the region.The new classification key is the first for the region to consider every larval stage. Larviculture methods of the different species in a laboratory setting are also provided as a supplementary resource. To accompany the book, the author has created a semi-automated species/genus identification app for Android smartphones based on larval morphometrics.This text is an essential buy for institutional repositories, libraries, universities and fisheries research institutes, and those interested in penaeid and crustacean biology, shrimp aquaculture, fisheries, zooplankton and larval ecology, and numerical taxonomy. It will be a useful text and guide for researchers, students, technicians, culturists and managers working in universities, fisheries and other research institutes/agencies, consultancies and the aquaculture industry.

Dr. Chong is presently Honorary Professor after his retirement from the Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB), Faculty of Science, University of Malaya (UM), having served as lecturer from 1989-2002, and full professor from 2003-2016. His expertise is in mangrove and marine fisheries ecology, coastal zooplankton ecology, and larval prawn culture and taxonomy. Taught courses in zoology, estuarine and marine science, fishery ecology and management, aquaculture, and research methodology. Supervised more than 40 PhD and Master students to completion. Served as programme head for Ecology and Biodiversity, at ISB (2007-2011); research unit head for Living Resources, Biotechnology and Ecosystems Studies (2007-9), and Marine Connectivity Research (2012-15) at Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences. Expert panel member for project evaluations in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Education, and Department of Fisheries. Member of the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, Asian Fisheries Society, Network of Tropical Fisheries Scientists, American Fisheries Society, World Aquaculture Society, etc. Received several academic and service awards including Malaysian excellent scientist award (2005) for patented fish/prawn feed and clean environment, and UM’s excellent service awards (2008-2011, 2013). International research collaborations/grants/awards included those from UNESCO-Japan, Sea Grant and USAID (USA), AIDAD and AIMS (Australia), JIRCAS (Japan), and several international university-to-university collaborative researches involving pelagic ecosystem dynamics, and mangrove fisheries and sustainable production. Awarded national and private grants in high impact, prototype, techno-fund, fundamental and applied science researches. Consultant in shoreline management plans, site selection for power stations, integrated management for mangrove forests, Malacca Straits demonstration project, and environmental impact assessments. Current H-index (WoS) 25, with more than 200 publications of which 115 publications are cited in WoS. ResearcherID : http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-4645-2009.