Invited Speakers

 

 

 

Asmida Ismail, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia

Asmida Ismail (Dr.) is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, with 24 years of academic leadership and teaching experience. She currently serves as Deputy Dean of Student Affairs and previously served as Head of the School of Biology. Dr. Asmida obtained her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s Degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Biology at Imperial College London, UK, supported by a scholarship from UiTM and the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. Her primary expertise is in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial microalgae/macroalgae, lichen ecology, and the impact of atmospheric pollution on epiphytic algae. Her research interests encompass the taxonomy and ecology of phytoplankton and seaweed, as well as terrestrial microalgae and lichens. Her doctoral work specifically examined the impact of atmospheric pollutants on epiphytic terrestrial microalgae, particularly the effect of atmospheric gaseous across pollutant-gradient ecosystem. Dr. Asmida has spearheaded multiple government and university-funded projects on biodiversity and conservation. Her findings are featured in top-tier journals and presented across international platforms. She has delivered invited talks in Pakistan, France, and Japan, and continues to welcome collaborative opportunities with international research teams to drive in-depth study in environmental biology.

Speech title "Spatial Variation and Bio-indicative Responses of Epiphytic Lichens to Air Quality and Microclimate in Peninsular Malaysia"

Abstract-Epiphytic lichens serve as sensitive bioindicators of atmospheric pollution and microclimatic shifts, yet comprehensive evaluations across tropical land-use gradients and altitudinal zones remain limited. This study synthesized biomonitoring data across five sites in Peninsular Malaysia representing urban, suburban, rural and high-altitude montane environments to evaluate the combined influence of atmospheric pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, NH3) and microclimatic factors (altitude, temperature, relative humidity, bark pH) on lichen community structure. Standardized quadrat sampling revealed distinct community filtering along pollution and elevation gradients. Crustose lichens dominated lowland and urban habitats (comprising 72%–83% of species), exhibiting high tolerance to elevated temperatures, fine particulates, and atmospheric ammonia. Conversely, sensitive macrolichens (foliose and fruticose forms) increased significantly in cleaner suburban environments and higher altitudes, with fruticose species (Usnea ceratina) entirely absent from polluted lowlands. The suburban site exhibited the highest species diversity (H'=1.863) and Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP=37.83, Level D—low pollution), whereas urban areas recorded the lowest IAP (24.53, Level B—high pollution) due to heavy vehicular and industrial emissions. Rural sites displayed reduced diversity (H'=1.060) dominated by tolerant taxa (Buellia erubescens at 70.88%). High-altitude environments (1,428–1,503 m above sea level) fostered complex macrolichen communities under cool, humid microclimates despite lower overall mean species coverage compared to lowlands (46.56±3.08% vs. 63.47±5.59%). These results demonstrate that airborne particulates and ammonia act as primary environmental filters in tropical ecosystems, highlighting the efficacy of integrating lichen community metrics with abiotic data for long-term air quality monitoring.