WebLog Journal of Environmental Sciences

Teaching practicum enables pre-service teachers to connect educational theory with professional practice while experiencing the organisational and relational conditions of school life. The culture of the host school can therefore influence pedagogical learning, professional identity, collaboration, and confidence. This reflective commentary examines a biology teaching practicum conducted from 30 March to 31 July 2026 at a Malaysian secondary school participating in the School Transformation…

Teaching practicum provides pre-service teachers with authentic opportunities to apply pedagogical knowledge and adapt to the characteristics of particular educational settings. State sports secondary schools are distinctive because academic learning is integrated with intensive athletic training and broader student development. Teachers in these schools must balance curriculum requirements with the academic, physical, and psychological needs of student-athletes whose participation may be…

Environmental pH is a fundamental physico-chemical factor influencing organismal performance, nutrient availability, chemical behaviour and biological interactions. Although extreme pH conditions are expected to impair seed germination and plant development, different biological components may respond differently to the same environmental stress. This study evaluated the responses of red mung bean (Vigna radiata) across a broad aqueous pH gradient, with particular attention to the unexpected…

Microplastic contamination is an increasing concern in freshwater ecosystems, particularly in urban drainage systems receiving domestic inputs and surface runoff. This study investigated the occurrence and morphological characteristics of suspected microplastics in the gut contents of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) collected in December 2025 from a polluted freshwater drain near Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. Ten individual guppies were examined using light microscopy…

The coral reef ecosystem of the Sembilan Archipelago was evaluated through an integrated ecological survey across eight islands. The study integrated benthic surveys using a point intercept transect method with underwater visual census techniques to evaluate coral reef condition, reef fish diversity, and ecosystem health. Findings suggest a fair ecological state of the islands’ reefs, with live coral cover averaging 26.05% and 46 hard coral species recorded. Diversity indices varied among…

In June 2026, while clearing old papers from my office, I unexpectedly rediscovered photographs taken on 17 April 2002 during an environmental field sampling at Kampung Pasir Puteh, near Pasir Gudang in the Straits of Johore, Malaysia. The photographs showed a much younger version of myself manually deploying an Ekman grab for surface sediment sampling and participating in the collection of mussels from floating structures. My immediate reaction was humorous: Who is this stupid boy? I hardly…

Deforestation and the consequent loss of biodiversity represent two of the most pressing and interlinked environmental crises of the twenty-first century. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the global patterns of forest loss, the mechanisms through which deforestation drives species extinction, and the cascading ecological, climatic, and socioeconomic consequences that ensue. Drawing upon recent empirical data, satellite analyses, and peer reviewed literature, this study…

This reflective note explores the profound spiritual and symbolic role of Mount Fuji in shaping my academic and personal journey. From an obscured view during a professional trip in 2014 to awe inspiring full views in 2017, Mount Fuji became more than a natural landmark; it evolved into a sacred guide during moments of professional hardship. Faced with rejection, academic politics, and delayed promotion, I found renewed purpose and motivation through the recurring appearance of the mountain…

Teaching practicum constitutes one of the most important components of teacher education because it provides opportunities for pre-service teachers to translate educational theories into authentic classroom practice. Through direct engagement with students, teachers, administrators, and school communities, pre-service teachers develop pedagogical competence, classroom management skills, professional communication, and reflective thinking that cannot be fully acquired through university…

Coastal ecosystems are among the world's most productive environments, supporting fisheries, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, shoreline stabilization, and numerous ecosystem services essential for human well-being. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization, land reclamation, agricultural expansion, aquaculture, tourism development, and climate change have accelerated habitat degradation and pollution across coastal regions. These pressures have highlighted the need…