Research on the Biodiversity of the Seas Surrounding Malaysia

This chapter integrates the findings of reviews of the marine biodiversity of Malaysian waters, providing a perspective on what is known and the major scientific gaps. Although Malaysia's seas are located at the world's most diverse region, the number of studies on marine biodiversity is considered relatively limited as the result of lack of funding and experts for taxonomic work. Deep-sea habitats also have not been explored, and species-rich taxonomic groups, especially of smaller organisms, remain poorly studied. In this chapter, we discuss how collaboration with international institutions is necessary to fill the knowledge gaps and improve the productivity and discovery of marine biodiversity in Malaysian waters.