Foong Swee Yeok

List of Zooplankton Taxa in the Caspian Sea Waters of Iran

A total of 61 zooplankton taxa were found in the southwestern Caspian Sea between 1996 and 2010. Thirteen of them were meroplankton taxa and forty-eight were holoplankton taxa. The occurrence of 14 freshwater taxa indicated the influence of the Anzali wetland and river inflows. The decrease in zooplankton taxa was detected since 1996-1997 and continued till 2010. Pleopis polyphemoides, the only one out of the nine recorded Cladocera species in 1996-1997, was found after 2001. Similarly, of the five Copepoda species recorded in 1996-1997, only one, Acartia tonsa, was found abundant during the 2001–2010 sampling period. It was striking that many species which were abundant in the Caspian Sea in 1996-1997 were not found after 2000. Many reasons could have contributed to the changes in the zooplankton composition of the southern Caspian Sea, notably the serious environmental degradation since the early 1990s. It is also possible that invasive species might play a role in wiping out some sensitive endemic species.

Trends in the air temperature of transitional spaces of a high-rise office building: The effects of season and location

Recent increases in the awareness of sustainable green design have resulted in the creation of transitional spaces in high-rise buildings. Incorporating green design in high-rise buildings has been associated with the reduction of energy consumption in buildings and the provision of open spaces for occupants. Achieving thermal comfort in the outdoor environment is crucial, particularly in tropical climate settings where it is highly affected by microclimatic conditions such as the air temperature, wind, humidity and solar radiation. This paper examines the air temperature at three different transitional spaces of a high-rise office building in Penang, Malaysia. The field measurements were conducted in both dry and wet seasons, and the trend in the air temperature was assessed during these two seasons. Air temperature was measured using a temperature sensor and recorded with a data logger, BABUC-A. The findings indicated that there are significant differences among the three transitional spaces in both seasons. It was found that the different locations and the different seasons had substantial effects on the pattern of air temperature over time. Thus, designing transitional spaces specifically requires an understanding of the local microclimate of the area to achieve thermal comfort.