Hidden meadows, rising threats – the story of Malaysia's seagrasses

Subtidal and intertidal seagrass in the waters off Tanjung Kupang, Johor. Locating and mapping these vital but little known habitats known as the ‘lungs of the sea’ is the first step in beginning to protect them. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

WHEN Assoc Prof Dr Jillian Ooi Lean Sim and her team tested the water temperature off Mersing, Johor, recently, the reading was an astounding 41°C.

The team had been working on mapping seagrass meadows in the area and had put a temperature data logger into the water.