Curriculum Vitae for XMUM Official Website

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Teoh Hong Wooi is a dedicated marine biologist and ecologist with a PhD from the University of Malaya. His research centers on understanding macrobenthos ecology, coastal fisheries, trophodynamics, and coastal pollution—especially within crucial coastal habitats like mangroves, estuaries, and mudflats. His early work included a postdoctoral role at UM’s Institute of Biological Sciences, studying nutrient dynamics and energy flow in coastal ecosystems, with projects funded by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Today, he’s an Assistant Professor at Xiamen University Malaysia, where he continues to contribute to the field and mentor students.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Marine biodiversity

• Macrobenthos ecology

• Planktonology

• Coastal fisheries and trophodynamics

• Coastal Pollution

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• PhD in Marine Biology and Ecology  – University of Malaya, 2014

• BSc in Marine Science – Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 2008

WORKING EXPERIENCE

• Assistant Professor – China-ASEAN Marine Science School, Xiamen University Malaysia (2017 - Present)

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya (2016-2017).

• Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Malaysia (2014 to 2015).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE / GRANTS

• Principal Investigator - Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia (2019 - 2023). Project titled ‘Effects of organic matter enrichment on blood cockles through benthic pelagic coupling processes’. Grant amount: RM173,980 (Project no.: FRGS/1/2019/WAB05/XMU/02/1).

• Principal Investigator - Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF, Cycle 1/2018) (2018-2023). Project titled ‘Trophic role of benthic primary consumers and its implication on the food web’. Grant amount: RM60,000 (Project no.: XMUMRF/2018-C1/ICAM/0001).

• Principal Investigator - Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF, Cycle 11/2023) (2023-2025). Project titled ‘Assessment on temporal variations in heavy metals contaminants levels in sediment and cultured blood cockles along Selangor coast’. Grant amount: RM19,695.05 (Project no.: XMUMRF/2023-C11/ICAM/0015).

• Principal Investigator. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (2016-2017). Project titled ‘Investigating Inter-and Intra-species Competition Factors That Affect Blood Cockle Culture and Production’. (Project no.: IF012-2016)

• Postdoctoral research assistant for the nutrient and primary productivity study of intertidal mudflat in Sungai Buloh estuary, supported by a grant from (JIRCAS) Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (2014-2015) (Project no.: 57-02-03-1005) (Project PI: Prof. Dr. Chong Ving Ching).

• Postdoctoral research assistant for a food web study to determine the trophic fractionation value of carbon and nitrogen isotopes of mangrove leaves and woods fed to the Ellobium aurisjudae,  supported by University of Malaya Research Grant (UMRG) (2014-2015) (Project no.: RP004F-13SUS) (Project PI: Dr. A. Sasekumar).

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

• Zakaria, R.M., Chen, G.C., Chew, L.L., Sofawi, A.B., Moh, H.H., Chen, S.Y., Teoh, H.W. and Adibah, S.Y.S.N. (2021). Carbon stock of disturbed and undisturbed mangrove ecosystems in Klang Strait, Malaysia. Journal of Sea Research, 176: 102113.

• Saito, H. and Teoh, H.W.  (2020). Allometry and improved and improved sharpness index of shell in blood cockle, Tegillarca granosa (Linnaeus, 1758). Malaysian Fish Journal, 19, 21-46.

• Ng, W.L., Teoh, H.W., Heng, W.X., Pung, Q.E., Ng, C.Y. and Ng, P.L. (2020). Characterisation of the flowers of Indo-West Pacific Rhizophora mangroves in Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 72(4): 503-509.

• Chong, V.C., Ng, Y.P., Lee, S.L., Teoh, H.W. and Sasekumar, A. (2020). Community Structure and Trophic Ecology of Fish Assemblages in an Ephemeral Polychaete Reef on a Tropical Mudflat. Estuaries and Coasts, 1-27.

• Vaezzadeh, V., Thomes, M.W., Kunisue, T., Nguyen, M,T., Gan, Z., Zakaria, M.P., Affendi, Y.A., Yap, F.C., Chew, L.L., Teoh, H.W., Lee, C.W. and Bong, C.W. (2021). Examination of barnacles’ potential to be used as bioindicators of persistent organic pollutants in coastal ecosystem: A Malaysia case study. Chemosphere  263, 128272.

• Lai, Z.W., Teoh, H.W., Lee, C.W., Lee, S.L., Saito, H. and Chong, V.C. (2020). Macrobenthic community associated with semi-cultured blood cockles (Tegillarca granosa) in tropical mudflats. Continental Shelf Science 195 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W., Sasekumar, A., Ismail, M.H. and Chong V.C. (2018). Trophic discrimination factor and the significance of mangrove litter to benthic detritivorous gastropod, Ellobium aurisjudae  (Linnaeus). Journal of Sea Research 131: 79-84 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W. and Chong, V.C. (2016). Nutrient (N, P, Si) concentration and primary production on a perturbed tropical coastal mudflat. Environmental Earth Sciences 75: 1147 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W.  and Chong, V.C. (2015). Allometric relationships and sexual dimorphism in three ubiquitous hermit crab species (Family, Diogenidae) from a tropical mangrove estuary. Crustaceana  88(10-11): 1127-1138 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W. and Chong, V.C. (2015). Versatile hermit crabs harness multiple-source energy from coastal mudflats-implications for fish production. Aquatic Ecology 49(1): 43-55 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W. and Chong, C.V. (2014). Reproduction strategies and population dynamics of two Diogenes hermit crabs (Superfamily: Paguroidea) in a tropical mangrove estuary. Hydrobiologia  724:255-265 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W. and Chong, V.C. (2014). Shell use and partitioning of two sympatric species of hermit crabs on a tropical mudflat. Journal of Sea Research 86:13-22 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W., Syed Hussein, M.A. and Chong, V.C. (2014). Influence of habitat heterogeneity on the assemblages and shell use of hermit crabs (Anomura: Diogenidae). Zoological Studies  53:67 (ISI-cited publication).

• Teoh, H.W., Chong, V.C., Jamizan, A.R., Chai, S.Y. and Moh, H.H. (2017). Diversity and standing stocks of the fish and invertebrate fauna around Klang Islands. Proceedings of the Klang Islands Seminar: Discovering Biodiversity and Sustaining Socio-Economic Benefits.

• Ho, H.C., Teoh, H.W.  and Chong, V.C. (2011). Note on a snake eel species, Neenchelys buitendijki (Ophichthidae: Myrophinae), newly collected from Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana 41(8):949-952 (ISI-cited publication).

• Chong, V.C., Teoh, H.W.,  Ooi, A.L., Jamizan, A.R. and Tanaka, K. (2012). Ingression and feeding habits of fish in Matang coastal mudflats, Malaysia. In: Tanaka, K., Morioka, S., Watanabe, S. (Eds) (2012). Sustainable stock management and development of aquaculture technology suitable for Southeast Asia.JIRCASworking report  75:15-24 (SCOPUS-cited publication).

HONORS/AWARDS

• Royal Education Award, 2008

Prospective PhD/MSc Applications

• I am not accepting any further PhD/MSc applications.