Javanese Medaka (Oryzias javanicus) in Malaysia: Two Decades of Scientific Progress and Its Role in Environmental Research
Nur Amiera Kamarudin *
International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Teluk Kemang, 71050, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Ferdius Mohamat-Yusuff
International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Teluk Kemang, 71050, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia and Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Nurul Izza Ab Ghani
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Ahmad Ismail
Persatuan Ekologi Malaysia (PEM), 43400, Serdang Selangor, Malaysia and Academy of Sciences Malaysia, MATRADE Tower, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This review consolidates findings from two decades of research on Javanese medaka (Oryzias javanicus) as model organisms in scientific studies conducted in Malaysia since 1998. A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to ensure a comprehensive and transparent selection of relevant studies. The remarkable natural adaptations of Javanese medaka, including their tolerance to a broad range of salinity levels, render them ideal candidates for biological testing. The local distribution and abundance of Javanese medaka throughout the Indo-Malesia coastal water regions making them a competent organism to be used in environmental toxicology studies. The notable characteristics of Javanese medaka is their sensitivity towards changes in the environments which make them a good bio-monitoring agent in aquatic ecosystems. Previous studies have also investigated the effects of various environmental stressors, including heavy metals, herbicides, and pH variations, using O. javanicus as a model organism. The toxicological effects of diverse chemicals can now be studied through various responses including behavioral, biochemical, and molecular biological responses. More than 20 years of studies on Javanese medaka in Malaysia have attributed to the expansion of knowledge on the capability of Javanese medaka as magnificent model organism in miscellaneous discipline of scientific studies.
Keywords: Javanese medaka, model organism, tropical regions, Indo-Malesia, scientific research