SOME ASPECTS OF ECOLOGY AND GENETICS OF CHIRONOMIDAE (DIPTERA) IN RICE FIELD AND THE EFFECT OF SELECTED HERBICIDES ON ITS POPULATION By SALMAN ABDO ALI AL-SHAMI Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master August 2006 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, Allah will help me to finish this study. My sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Che Salmah Md. Rawi and my co- supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Siti Azizah Mohd. Nor for their support, encouragement, guidance, suggestions and patience in providing invaluable ideas. To them, I express my heartfelt thanks. I would like to thank Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, for giving me the opportunity and providing me with all the necessary facilities that made my study possible. Special thanks to Ms. Madiziatul, Ms. Ruzainah, Ms. Emi, Ms. Kamila, Mr. Adnan, Ms. Yeap Beng-keok and Ms. Manorenjitha for their valuable help. I am also grateful to our entomology laboratory assistants Mr. Hadzr