Biodiversity In Borneo Research Papers (original) (raw)

The Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi is a medium sized (15–25 kg) cat, found only on the Sundaic islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In recent years intensive camera-trapping surveys in Borneo have begun to shed light on the habitat associations and basic ecology of this elusive wild cat, but its distribution on an island-wide scale remains very poorly known. Such information is an essential element in the assessment of the Sunda clouded leopard’s conservation status and in the development of conservation action. In this paper we use MaxEnt niche distribution modelling to make predictions regarding the current distribution of this cat on Borneo. We collected a total of 259 occurrence records for the Sunda clouded leopard, stemming from all Bornean regions apart from Brunei and South Kalimantan, of which 48 (Balanced Model) or 94 (Spatial Filtering Model) were used in our modelling. Our habitat suitability model suggests that this species has a widespread distribution over a large co...

- by
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- Geography, Conservation Biology, Biology, Ecology

The Bornean Spotted Barb is endemic fish species and widely distributed throughout Borneo in various freshwater bodies and can be considered as a potential aquaculture candidate for food security and the ornamental trade. However there has yet to be scientific studies on the early life history and developmental stages of this species. Thus the present study reveals the embryonic development of Puntius sealei embryo, from fertilization to post-hatching using the induced breeding method. The induced spawning on P. sealei using Ovaprim hormone at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg for females and 0.25ml/kg for males respectively was successfully conducted and the embryonic development of the fertilized eggs were observed. The zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, and larval phases were the six major stages of embryogenesis that investigated in this experiment. This study contributed major knowledge to the early developmental biology of this particular species. The information will be useful for accessing the potentiality of this species for aquaculture as well as the management, and production of the species.

- by Abdulla- Al-Asif and +1
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- Ornamental Fish, Segmentation, Induced Breeding, Biodiversity In Borneo

"I journey through Sarawak and Sabah to discuss how oil palm groves are displacing jungle biodiversity and chasing people from their ancestral lands. (A powerpoint presentation on this paper and the topic of palm oil is found in the... more

"I journey through Sarawak and Sabah to discuss how oil palm groves are displacing jungle biodiversity and chasing people from their ancestral lands.
(A powerpoint presentation on this paper and the topic of palm oil is found in the Teaching Documents folder.)"

- by Ian Browne
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- Sarawak, Biodiversity In Borneo, Forest Clearing In Borneo

Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guinensis Jack) berasal dari Nigeria Afrika Barat, telah di masuk di Indonesia sejak tahun 1848, dan ditanam pertama kali di Kebun Raya Bogor yang selanjutnya disebarkan ke Deli Sumatra Utara. Hingga saat ini tanaman Kelapa Sawit berkembang sangat pesat, perkebunan kelapa sawit telah menjadi sumber pendapatan bagi Pemerintah Indonesia, ketika biofuel menjadi pilihan energi alternatif pada tahun 2000. Pemerintah Indonesia memperluas ekspansi perkebunan kelapa sawit hingga 3 juta hektar di berbagai wilayah seperti Jawa Barat, Jambi, Sumatera Selatan, Aceh, dan empat provinsi di Kalimantan dan Papua.

- by sarah agustio
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- Biodiversity In Borneo

As part of an effort to develop a comprehensive management plan for the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area in central Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, we conducted a rapid but extensive mammal survey using camera-trapping techniques. We gathered baseline data on mammal species richness and community composition, as well as information on activity patterns for some mammal species. Eighty motion-triggered digital camera-traps were set in the primary and logged forests in and around the Imbak Canyon. The total accumulated camera-trapping effort of 1,436 camera trap-nights yielded 1,641 digital photographs of mammals represented by 27 species in 14 families and fi ve orders. The species photo-captured included common species, as well as rare and elusive species and species that are of high conservation value, such as the Sunda clouded leopard, Neofelis diardi and orang utan, Pongo pygmaeus. Our results indicated that the primary forest of the Imbak Canyon and its surrounding disturbed forests are important habitats for mammal conservation. Of particular importance are the carnivores, with 13 species recorded. Game animals, such as bearded pig, Sus barbatus, muntjac, Muntiacus spp., and mousedeer, Tragulus spp., were found to be among the most frequently photo-captured and the most widespread species. The activity patterns of mammals investigated did not show that they were affected by human activities. Even so, we found substantial evidence of poaching and illegal collection of the aromatic gaharu tree resin (Aquilaria spp.) in the surveyed areas, raising management concerns and highlighting the urgent need for law enforcement activities in the area.

- by Abdul Hamid Ahmad
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- Zoology, Protected areas, Mammals, Heart Of Borneo project

- by Anthony J Giordano
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- Protected areas, Mammals, Heart Of Borneo project, Orangutans

Abstract. To date, there is lack of baseline information of the status of vegetation in Mantanani Island. We have conducted a preliminary survey of coastal vegetation in Mantanani Besar with the aim to gather information about plant species that grow around the coast of the island. A three days survey was conducted from 11 November to 13 November 2013. The main method used was collecting sample derived from plants and
trees following the existing trails around the coastal area and plant identification using pocket checklist. The trail traveled in the island is estimated about 4 km long started from the Mari-Mari backpackers lodges to west side of the island are Kampung Siring Bukit until the Mantanani Proboscis lodges at the edge. While on the east side of Mari-Mari backpacker lodges are Kampung Padang until the Bembaran Mantanani Beach Resort at the northwest of the island. A total number of 28 species of plants were identified. With 8 shrubs species and 20 species of trees were recorded. The majority of the vegetation
species collected are from the family of Leguminosae. The result of this preliminary survey provides a general view of the coastal vegetation of plants in Mantanani Island.

- by Jephte Sompud and +1
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- Forestry, Island Studies, Forest Ecology, Borneo

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- by Naruemon Tantipisanuh
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- Geography, Macroecology, Biodiversity, Carnivora

This paper is the second part of a continuing series, with the main objective of compiling and recording the spider species that can be found in Sabah, Malaysia. Based on the specimens collected during this field trip, a total of 50 new records of spider species from 11 families and 37 genera have been found. This includes one newly discovered spider species, the Leucauge sabahan sp. nov which is described based on a female specimen. It is hoped that this inventory can be used to assist in the knowledge about the spider species for this stage. In summary, an increment of 18% from the total number of spider species has contributed to a total of 272 recognized spider species recorded in Sabah, Malaysia.

- by Chun Xing Wong Claveria and +1
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- Biodiversity, Arachnology, Spiders, Biodiversity In Borneo

- by Rahimatsah Amat
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- Zoology, Geography, Protected areas, Mammals

Despite being heavily exploited, pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae) have been subject to limited research, resulting in a lack of reliable population estimates and standardised survey methods for the eight extant species. Camera trapping represents a unique opportunity for broad-scale collaborative species monitoring due to its largely non-discriminatory nature, which creates considerable volumes of data on a relatively wide range of species. This has the potential to shed light on the ecology of rare, cryptic and understudied taxa, with implications for conservation decision-making. We undertook a global analysis of available pangolin data from camera trapping studies across their range in Africa and Asia. Our aims were (1) to assess the utility of existing camera trapping efforts as a method for monitoring pangolin populations, and (2) to gain insights into the distribution and ecology of pangolins. We analysed data collated from 103 camera trap surveys undertaken across 22 countries that fell within the range of seven of the eight pangolin species, which yielded more than half a million trap nights and 888 pangolin encounters. We ran occupancy analyses on three species (Sunda pangolin Manis javanica, white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis and giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea). Detection probabilities varied with forest cover and levels of human influence for P. tricuspis, but were low (<0.05) for all species. Occupancy was associated with distance from rivers for M. javanica and S. gigantea, elevation for P. tricuspis and S. gigantea, forest cover for P. tricuspis and protected area status for M. javanica and P. tricuspis. We conclude that camera traps are suitable for the detection of pangolins and large-scale assessment of their distributions. However, the trapping effort required to monitor populations at any given study site using existing methods appears prohibitively high. This may change in the future should anticipated technological and methodological advances in camera trapping facilitate greater sampling efforts and/or higher probabilities of detection. In particular, targeted camera placement for pangolins is likely to make pangolin monitoring more feasible with moderate sampling efforts.

- by Anthony J Giordano
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- Macroecology, Biodiversity, Carnivora, Pholidota

Short-tailed mongoose Herpestes brachyurus is known to inhabit Borneo, Sumatra and peninsular Malaysia. Locality records show that it is widespread and probably common in at least the northern half of Borneo. Records are much sparser south of 2°N. It occurs in forest and, to a poorly clarified extent, non-forest habitats. Eighty-six spatially precise records were used to model its Bornean distribution. This modelling is complicated by several factors: difficulties of field separation from collared mongoose H. semitorquatus (reducing the number of available records); limited interest in, and thus familiarity with, the species (perhaps reducing the reliability of the respondents' opinions on habitat use); and strong evidence that altitudinal range and perhaps other aspects of habitat use differ between major landmasses (also potentially confounding opinions on habitat use). Within Borneo it is important to (1) clarify the extent of the specie's use of degraded and non-forest habitats, and (2) assess whether the paucity of records in Borneo from south of 2°N reflects a rarity of animals or simply low survey effort. Irrespective of short-tailed mongoose's precise habitat-use patterns in Borneo, it seems unlikely to be under major threat there. Its extent of occurrence encompasses all, or nearly all, the island; it has a large potential range outside the lowlands where large-scale forest clearance has been concentrated; there is no evidence of any association with any particularly threatened microhabitat; and it is highly unlikely to be subject to targeted or intensive hunting except locally as a livestock predator. Abstrak (Bahasa Indonesia). Garangan Ekor-Pendek Herpestes brachyurus dapat dijumpai di wilayah Borneo. Sumatera dan Semenanjung Malaysia. Catatan setempat menunjukkan satwa ini tersebar luas, tampaknya sangat umum untuk sebagian wilayah utara Borneo. Catatan menunjukkan keberadaanya semakin jarang ke arah selatan pada 2°LU. Dijumpai di hutan, serta pada informasi terbatas, di habitat bukan hutan. Sebanyak 86 catatan perjumpaan digunakan dalam pemodelan persebaran di Borneo. Pemodelan ini cukup rumit karena beberapa hal: keterbatasn kemampuan membedakan dari Garangan Ekor-Panjang H. semitorquatus (menurunkan jumlah data akurat), rendahnya perhatian pada satwa ini, sehingga menurunkan pemahaman jenis (menurunkan kemampuan pemamahan reponden terhadap habitat sesungguhnya) dan adanya bukti kuat bahwa ketinggian wilayah dan mungkin aspek lain dari penggunaan habitat berbeda untuk setiap bentang alam (menyebabkan adanya kesalahan tafsir dari perkiraan penggunaan habitat). Untuk wilayah Borneo, sangat penting untuk (1) memperjelas dalam hal penggunaan wilayah oleh satwa pada wilayah habitat terganggu dan bukan hutan dan (2) mengkaji apakah rendahnya catatan di Borneo pada wilayah selatan dari 2°LU karena jarangnya satwa ini atau karena rendahnya data survey. Terlepas dari tepatnya pendugaan penggunaan habitat oleh Garangan Ekor-Pendek di Borneo, tampaknya jenis ini tidak dalam tingkat terancam. Luasnya persebaran membuktikan hal: persebaran yang sangat luas hingga di luar kawasan dataran rendah dimana pembalakan hutan terpusat; tidak ada bukti nyata akan hubungan dengan ancaman mikroklimat dan tampaknya tidak pernah menjadi target buruan terkecuali diburu karena menganggu hewan ternak. Abstrak (Bahasa Malaysia). Bambun Ekor Pendek Herpestes brachyurus diketahui berada di Borneo, Sumatra dan Semenanjung Malaysia. Rekod-rekod menunjukkan ianya bertaburan luas dan mungkin biasa ditemui di sebelah utara Borneo. Rekod-rekod menjadi berkurangan di sebelah selatan 2°N. Ia dijumpai di hutan dan kurang jelas setakat mana ia menggunakan kawasan bukan hutan. Lapan puluh enam rekod tepat digunakan untuk meramalkan taburannya di Borneo. Proses pemodelan dirumitkan oleh beberapa faktor: kesukaran mengasingkan spesis ini dari Bambun Ekor Panjang H. semitorquatus (ini seterusnya mengurangkan jumlah rekod yang ada); minat dan kebiasaan yang terhad terhadap spesis ini (mungkin mengurangkan kebolehpercayaan pendapat para pakar tentang penggunaan habitat oleh spesis ini); dan cukup bukti yang menunjukkan julat penggunaan ketinggian atas paras laut dan mungkin ciri-ciri penggunaan habitat yang lain, biasanya tidak sama di antara wilayah-wilayah besar (ini juga mengakibatkan pertentangan pendapat tentang penggunaan habitat oleh spesis ini). Di dalam Borneo, ianya penting untuk (1) menjelaskan tahap penggunaan habitat yang bukan hutan dan hutan yang sudah didegradasi oleh spesis ini, dan (2) menjelsakan sama ada kekurangan rekod dari sebelah selatan 2°N menunjukkan spesis ini memang jarang didapati di sana atau ianya hanya kerana kurang usaha pemantauan dan kajian di sana. Tidak kira apa jenis RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY Supplement

Understanding foraging strategies of birds is essential to understanding mechanisms of their community assembly. To provide such information on a key Southeast Asian rainforest family, the babblers (Timaliidae), we evaluated foraging behavior and abundance in 7 morphologically and behaviorally similar sympatric species (Cyanoderma erythropterum, C. rufifrons, Stachyris maculata, S. nigricollis, S. poliocephala, Macronus ptilosus, and Mixornis gularis) in 5 habitats defined by structural complexity: (1) continuous native rainforest, (2) logged native rainforest fragments, (3) mature industrial tree plantation, (4) young industrial plantation, and (5) oil palm plantation. Enough data were obtained to compare abundance in all 7 species and foraging behavior in 5. All species were common in forest fragments and mature industrial tree plantations and less so in continuous rainforest and young industrial plantations; only M. gularis occurred in oil palm. In terms of foraging, M. gularis was the greatest generalist; C. rufifrons foraged mainly on live leaves in the forest midstory; and S. maculata, C. eryth-ropterum, and M. ptilosus foraged mainly on dead leaves suspended in understory vegetation at significantly different heights. The dead-leaf substrate depends on a rich supply of falling leaves and extensive understory structure, conditions most common in native forest and old industrial plantations, and less so in mature forest, young plantations, and oil palm. Because of the importance of foraging data to understanding and managing biodiversity, we encourage the development of foraging fields in eBird (ebird.org), so that birdwatchers may help collect these relatively rare data.

- by Fred Sheldon and +1
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- Birds (Ecology), Foraging, Rainforests, Peninsular Malaysia

Selective logging is one of the most widespread disturbances to tropical forests worldwide, yet its impacts on large mammals remain poorly understood. We used camera trapping and hierarchical models to compare local abundance of a variety of terrestrial mammal species in Borneo between selectively logged and unlogged forest, and to assess the impacts of edge effects. Our methods circumvent confounding factors that have plagued previous assessments of logging impacts by explicitly accounting for differential detection probability among habitats, separating the effects of hunting from those of logging-induced habitat disturbance, and explicitly measuring the distances over which edge effects occur. We found that mam-malian carnivore species were either largely or completely confined to primary forest, although habitat use for the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) increased toward the ecotone. Several large ungulates, however, were either completely (elephant Elephas maximus and banteng Bos javanicus) or mostly (sam-bar Rusa unicolor) found in logged forest. This suggests that, in the absence of hunting, disturbed habitats can be important for the conservation of certain endangered and vulnerable species. Sambar and munt-jac (Muntiacus spp.) both strongly avoided habitat edge in logged forest and primary forest, respectively. Lower habitat use by these species persisted 2-4 km from the habitat boundary-farther than has been observed for the infiltration of other edge effects such as canopy desiccation. Such avoidance of ecotones implies that 20-40% of the intact primary forest habitat in our study area is actually degraded "edge habitat" from the point of view of primary forest specialists. Our results suggest that, while selectively logged forests retain conservation value for certain large mammal species, it is critical that thresholds in logging intensity be identified so as to avoid declines in habitat use by taxa, such as carnivores, which appear intolerant of intensive logging pressure.

The rainforest avifauna of Borneo consists of an eclectic mixture, raising many questions about its origins. Why does Borneo have more species of frogmouths, trogons, hornbills, barbets, broadbills, pittas, flowerpeckers, and spiderhunters than of any place in the world? Why does it have more endemic species than other Sunda islands? Why are most of these endemics montane? Why do they represent both ancient forms, such as the Crimson-headed Partridge and Hose's and Whitehead's broadbills, and more recently evolved species, such as the Mountain Black-eye and Pygmy White-eye? And why are many of the lowland species in Sabah different from close relatives in other parts of Borneo, especially when rainforest is continuous across the whole island? The simple answer to these questions is that patches of rainforest persisted continuously in NE Borneo throughout the Cenozoic, even during the Oligocene (34-23 Ma), Pliocene (5.3-2.6 Ma), and Pleistocene (2.6-0.01 Ma), when much of the rest of Sundaland was covered with dry habitat. These rainforest refugia preserved ancient taxa, and they helped foment newer lineages by being isolated from other rainforest refugia (e.g., on Sumatra and Java). Borneo's rainforest refugia also are responsible for the common pattern we see today of population differences across the island and up mountains, in which distinct but closely related taxa meet one another in " parapatric " distributions. NE Borneo (i.e., Sabah) played a paramount role in the development of all these biogeographic patterns because its large, long-lasting mountains, which lie relatively close to the sea, were the most important factor in maintaining Borneo's rainforest refugia during harsh climatic times.

- by Fred Sheldon
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- Biogeography, Birds, Borneo, Sabah

The unique biodiversity in Malaysia makes this country a global hotspot for different aspects of research. Many European and non-native research activities are conducting by different research groups, whereas local institutions also collaborate with them to explore the pristine nature of west (peninsular Malaysia) and East Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah province). East Malaysia is located in Borneo Island, and the biodiversity of this area are huge. The current review work scrutinized the information about the research activities on aquatic bivalve species and their different aspects of the investigation. This investigation revealed, to date 28 research publications were published on aquatic bivalves from eastern Malaysia, where biodiversity, conservation and ecology was the major aspect of research. The other aspects were aquaculture, natural history and taxonomy, nutritional study, reproduction of bivalve, morphology, and pollution can be mentionable. The major portion of this easter...

- by Hadi Hamli
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- Fisheries, Bivalves, Bivalvia, Mollusca

Graphical Abstract Highlights d Land-cover and climate change risk sizeable habitat loss for 49% of Borneo mammals d These environmental changes could threaten 23 more species than in the recent past d Better forestry management for conservation in upland areas would curb this loss d Less land is needed for conservation in the future compared to the present day Summary *Correspondence: m.j.struebig@kent.ac.uk (M.J.S.), wilting@izw-berlin.de (A.W.)

- by Ramesh Boonratana and +1
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- Forestry, Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Biology

The Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi is a medium sized (15–25 kg) cat, found only on the Sundaic islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In recent years intensive camera-trapping surveys in Borneo have begun to shed light on the habitat associations and basic ecology of this elusive wild cat, but its distribution on an island-wide scale remains very poorly known. Such information is an essential element in the assessment of the Sunda clouded leopard's conservation status and in the development of conservation action. In this paper we use MaxEnt niche distribution modelling to make predictions regarding the current distribution of this cat on Borneo. We collected a total of 259 occurrence records for the Sunda clouded leopard, stemming from all Bornean regions apart from Brunei and South Kalimantan, of which 48 (Balanced Model) or 94 (Spatial Filtering Model) were used in our modelling. Our habitat suitability model suggests that this species has a widespread distribution over a larg...

- by Dave Augeri
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- Geography, Conservation Biology, Biology, Ecology

- by Abdulla- Al-Asif
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- Bivalves, Bivalvia, Mollusca, Borneo

The survey area's scopes are Agison, Sibuda, Apaan, and Tampilon sub-water catchment areas in 34 (5 x 5 km 2) grids with a total of 850 km 2. The occupancy method with perpendicular line transect was used in this study. In the survey, the number of traces was 52 finding points with a total of 241 traces. The elephant dung identified in the dung piles (one-time defecation) was in 29 finding points with a total of 38 dung piles (0.22 dung piles per km). Based on Distance 6.0 and involved the formula of the elephant population's density with standard defecation and dung decay ratio, the elephant population density in the Tulin Onsoi is between 4.8-5.7 individuals/100 km 2. Minimum convex polygon (MCP)-qHull showed that the area of the elephant habitat is 253.12 km 2 in Tulin Onsoi sub-district. Generally, the habitat conditions for the location are old secondary forests (37 %). Meanwhile, other habitats included in the survey area are primary forest, shrubs, and plantations, including community agriculture and roads. In the strategy of managing the Bornean elephant, efforts to stabilize or increase population are important things to do. Conservation-based spatial planning and close monitoring for the protection of small populations of this species and its threats, are options that can be selected for present and future in North Kalimantan.

Topographically complex regions often contain the close juxtaposition of closely related species along elevational gradients. The evolutionary causes of these elevational replacements, and thus the origin and maintenance of a large portion of species diversity along elevational gradients, are usually unclear because ecological differentiation along a gradient or secondary contact following allopatric diversification can produce the same pattern. We used reduced representation genomic sequencing to assess genetic relationships and gene flow between three parapatric pairs of closely related songbird taxa (Arachnothera spiderhunters, Chloropsis leafbirds, and Enicurus forktails) along an elevational gradient in Borneo. Each taxon pair presents a different elevational range distribution across the island, yet results were uniform: little or no gene flow was detected in any pairwise comparisons. These results are congruent with an allopatric " species-pump " model for generation of species diversity and elevational parapatry of congeners on Borneo, rather than in situ generation of species by " ecological speciation " along an elevational gradient.

- by Fred Sheldon
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- Ornithology, Phylogeography, Birds, Borneo
- by Imam Ardhianto
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- Climate Change, Indonesia, Rural livelihoods and economy, Community Forestry

A total of 70 species and five varieties of mosses in 31 genera and 18 families were recorded from the Meliau Range, Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve. Six species are new records for Sabah: Cladopodanthus heterophyllus, Mitthyridium wallisii, Chaetomitrium poecilophyllum, Acroporium downii, Acroporium strepsiphyllum var. strepsiplryllum and Papillidiopsis bruchii. The largest family in terms of number of collected species was Sematophyllaceae, followed by
Calymperaceae and Leucobryaceae.

- by Andi M A R Y A N I A Mustapeng and +1
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- Systematics (Taxonomy), Bryology (Mosses), Sabah, Floral diversity

A synopsis of the leeches of Brunei and Borneo. The land leeches Haemadipsa are proposed as being potentially useful for studying their behavior in a natural setting (ethology)

- by Roy T Sawyer
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- Hirudinea, Brunei, Borneo, Leeches
- by Yunci Cai
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- Indigenous Studies, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Environmental Studies

The first camera-trapping study in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area of Malaysian Borneo, an area containing some of the last intact
rainforest in Southeast Asia, detected 13 small mammalian carnivore species over 2,915 camera-trap-nights, including three newly recorded
for the area: Banded Linsang Prionodon linsang, Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata and Hose’s Civet Diplogale hosei. Hose’s
Civet, endemic to Borneo, is one of the least known carnivore species in Southeast Asia and possibly the world. Maliau is only the fifth
site where the species has been confirmed in Sabah. Camera-traps—deployed in three habitats: primary (unlogged) dipterocarp forest,
logged dipterocarp forest and tropical heath (kerangas) forest—detected more small carnivore species in primary dipterocarp forest than
in logged forest, despite similar sampling effort; data were too few to allow the estimation of meaningful habitat-specific detection probabilities.
The Malay Civet Viverra tangalunga was the small carnivore species detected most often overall, followed by Leopard Cat
Prionailurus bengalensis and Banded Palm Civet Hemigalus derbyanus. We did not detect Malay Civet or Leopard Cat in logged forest,
yet other studies suggest that they are common in disturbed areas. The paucity of records (only one) of the generally abundant Common
Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus is unusual. Ongoing monitoring at this and other sites across Borneo should help elucidate
patterns of small carnivore distribution and richness with respect to natural and anthropogenic variation in forest characteristics.

- by Anthony J Giordano
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- Mustelidae, Viverridae, Borneo, Camera Traps

Bats are a remarkably successful group of animal and it constitutes the second largest mammalian order. There are approximately 178 genera and 962 species of known living bats. They usually live or inhabitant in an area that are temperate and tropical like. The aim of this study is to document the population of bats in Arboretum, UMS campus. The method used in this study was mist netting. Five mist nets were used for this study and they were established in a perpendicular orientation to the existing trail. Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) method was used to calculate the abundance of bats. CMR was conducted by applying a dot of paint at the back of the bats. The result shows that there was only one family of bats found in the arboretum that consists of three species. The family was from Pteropodidae consisting of the species of Cynopterus brachyotis, Cynopterus horsfieldi and Cynopterus sphinx. The most prominent species was the Cynopterus brachyotis with the total number of 11 species ...

- by Jephte Sompud
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- Natural History, Wildlife, Borneo Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Birds are amongst the important agent of maintaining the forest ecological balance. They are known to be a potential bioindicator of forest ecosystem health. This study focuses to document the diversity of understory birds at the proposed arboretum (about 3.1 hectare) of UMS Campus. It elapsed from the 19 February to 14 March 2014 for the period of 24 days of survey. Vegetation survey and bird surveys were conducted during this study. The vegetation survey was conducted using sampling plot that enumerates trees with DHB 10cm and above. Trees were identified up to species level. Mist netting was employed the bird survey to capture diurnal and
nocturnal birds. Captured birds were identified, measured according to standard methods and ring banded. The results of this study show that the vegetation at the proposed arboretum is naturally regenerated acacia forest. The results of the study shows nine families of birds occurring in the arboretum, of which seven families were diurnal birds and two families were
nocturnal birds. The family Alcedinidae was the most abundance (48%), was followed by Rhipiduridae (16%), Pycnonotiidae (12%) and Timaliidae (12%). There were 10 species of birds recorded and 28 individuals were captured. Nocturnal birds documented were the Reddish Scoop Owl (Otus rufescens) and Savannah nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) Studies of birds diversity in naturally regenerated acacia forest in Sabah is still lacking. The proposed Arboretum plays a significant role as a green corridor habitat for birds in providing food and shelter by the displayed high biodiversity of birds. This small forest island should be conserved for biodiversity
conservation as well as an educational ground for students and tourist.

- by Jephte Sompud and +2
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- History of Natural History, Birds, Borneo, Acacia Mangium

Banded linsang Prionodon linsang is restricted to Sundaic Southeast Asia and inhabits a wide altitudinal range. It occurs widely in Borneo, including all political units except perhaps South Kalimantan, with many recent records. It has never been studied in the field. Usually, it is recorded only once or a few times on any given camera-trap or spotlighting survey within its range. Only rarely is it among the most commonly found small carnivores. It probably occurs at lower densities than do many small carnivores and conventional survey methods are probably suboptimal at finding it. Its popular reputation for rarity and thus conservation priority has no compelling foundation and seems unlikely to be valid. It is not known or likely to be targeted by human hunters and it has been suggested to be associated with edge and degraded areas. Seventy spatially precise records were used to model its distribution. Habitat reclassification scores for use in the model showed wide variation across respondents: few people have seen banded linsang many times. It is tied to forest, including highly degraded and, perhaps, fragmented areas. The predicted suitable habitat map suggests large overlap between the protected area system and the species's range, and a large predicted area outside protected areas. Identification of priority areas for the species is thus impracticable. If population densities are typically low, banded linsang might need relatively large landscapes for long-term viability. Without understanding this, and the extent, if any, to which it uses plantation landscapes, it is difficult to speculate how well protected areas and other mechanisms to retain native forest on Borneo will secure representative populations of this species. Another uncertainty important to resolve is the difficulty of interpreting the species's status through camera-trapping. Abstrak (Bahasa Indonesia). Linsang Prionodon linsang hanya terdapat pada Dataran Sunda-Asia Tenggara dan menyebar pada daerah yang tinggi. Dari beberapa catatan terakhir kehadirannya, jenis ini menyebar luas di Pulau Borneo, di seluruh batas administrasi kecuali Kalimantan Selatan. Jenis ini secara khusus belum pernah diteliti di lapangan. Sebenarnya, tercatat kehadirannya hanya sesekali atau beberapa kali dengan menggunakan kamera trap atau beberapa catatan temuan di daerah sebarannya. Merupakan jenis yang jarang ditemukan di antara jenis karnivora kecil yang umum. Kemungkinan hal ini terjadi karena kepadatan jenis ini rendah dibandingkan karnivora kecil yang lain, dan metoda survey yang digunakan adalah metoda konvensional sehingga tidak optimal menemukan jenis ini. Oleh karena itu untuk kelangkaan dan prioritas konservasinya tidak dapat dijadikan dasar karena tidak diketahui atau sepertinya merupakan satwa target bagi pemburu dan tampaknya jenis ini juga berasosiasi dengan daerah tepi hutan dan kawasan terdegradasi. Tujuh puluh catatan spasial yang tepat telah digunakan untuk pemodelan sebaran. Skoring reklasifikasi habitat yang digunakan pada modeling menunjukkan variasi yang berbeda antar responden, yang juga mencerminkan bahwa ada beberapa orang yang telah menemukan jenis ini berkali-kali. Hal ini terkait juga dengan kawasan hutan, termasuk yang sangat terdegradasi dan mungkin kawasan yang terfragmentasi. Peta prediksi kesesuaian habitat menunjukkan overlaping antara kawasan lindung dengan sebaran habitat, tetapi sebagian besar habitat berada di luar kawasan lindung sehingga hasil identifikasi kawasan prioritas tampak berlebihan. Jika kepadatan populasi rendah, dalam jangka panjang Linsang mungkin memerlukan landsekap yang relative luas untuk kelestariannya. Tanpa pemahaman yang jelas dan sejauh ini, sebagian landsekap digunakan untuk perkebunan, sehingga sulit berspekulasi bagaimana melindungi kawasan lindung secara baik dan membuat mekanisme lain untuk mempertahankan hutan asli Borneo yang akan mengamankan populasi jenis ini. Hal lain yang juga penting untuk menambah pemahaman namun juga tidak pasti adalah kesulitan menafsirkan status jenis ini melalui studi kamera trap. Abstrak (Bahasa Malaysia). Linsang Prionodon linsang terhad taburannya di Kepulauan Sunda Asia Tenggara dan menghuni jurang ketinggian yang lebar. Di Borneo, ia tersebar secara meluas di mana terdapatnya rekod terkini, termasuk kesemua daerah politik kecuali Kalimantan Selatan. Ia tidak pernah dikaji di lapangan. Kebiasannya, di mana ia dijumpai, ia direkodkan hanya sekali atau beberapa kali sahaja dalam kajian menggunakan perangkap kamera atau suluhan lampu. Di antara karnivor berbadan kecil yang lain, spesis ini jarang ditemui, kerana berkemungkinan mempunyai densiti taburan yang lebih rendah dan kaedah kajian konventional mungkin tidak memadai untuk menemukan spesis ini. Reputasinya sebagai spesis yang jarang sebagai alasan kepentingan pemuliharaannya tidak mempunyai asas yang kukuh, kerana tidak diketahui tetapi berkemungkinan bahawa spesis ini menjadi

- by Anthony J Giordano and +1
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- Species Distribution Models, Carnivora, Heart Of Borneo project, Animal Ecology, Terrestrial Mammals, Conservation

We photo-captured three of the five species of Bornean felids in and around the
Imbak Canyon Conservation Area in central Sabah, Malaysian Borneo - the Sunda
clouded leopard Neofelis diardi, marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata and leopard
cat Prionailurus bengalensis. The Sunda clouded leopard was the most frequently
photographed felid (11 photos), followed by marbled cat and leopard cat (2 photos
each). The Sunda clouded leopard and marbled cat are classified as Vulnerable on
the IUCN/SSC Red List of Threatened Species, whereas the leopard cat is a species
of Least Concern (IUCN 2012). All three species were detected within primary and
logged forest habitats. These findings may indicate that, in addition to primary forests,
regenerating secondary forests are important to felids conservation

- by Anthony J Giordano and +1
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- Malaysia, Carnivora, Protected areas, Felidae

Knowledge of the distribution and habitat preferences of a species is of paramount importance when assessing its conservation status. We used accurately recorded occurrence records and ecological niche modelling to predict the distribution of two threatened and poorly known small carnivore species that occur in Southeast Asia, the banded civet (Hemigalus derbyanus) and Hose’s civet (Diplogale hosei), and analysed their spatial niche differentiation for habitat and elevation. We then identified possible anthropogenic threats, and used our modelling predictions to recommend surveying priorities. The predicted distribution of the banded civet was principally in lowland evergreen forest in southern Myanmar/Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and three Mentawai Islands (Siberut, Sipora and South Pagai), and for Hose’s civet in evergreen forest across the higher elevation regions of Borneo. Our niche analyses suggested that there is a tendency for these two species to separate spatially along an elevation gradient: the banded civet is mainly found in lowland areas, whereas Hose’s civet primarily occurs at higher elevations. Our study strongly indicated that these two viverrids are forest-dependent species that may be threatened by forest loss, degradation and fragmentation. Field surveys should be prioritised in areas where each species is predicted to occur and no records currently exist.

- by Anthony J Giordano
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- Zoology, Malaysia, Carnivora, Heart Of Borneo project

The mountains of Borneo are well known for their high endemicity and historical role in preserving Southeast Asian rainforest biodiversity, but the diversification of populations inhabiting these mountains is poorly studied. Here we examine the genetic structure of 12 Bornean montane passerines by comparing complete mtDNA ND2 gene sequences of populations spanning the island. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees and haplotype networks are examined for common patterns that might signal important historical events or boundaries to dispersal. Morphological and ecological characteristics of each species are also examined using phylogenetic generalized least-squares (PGLS) for correlation with population structure. Populations in only four of the 12 species are subdivided into distinct clades or hap-lotype groups. Although this subdivision occurred at about the same time in each species (ca. 0.6– 0.7 Ma), the spatial positioning of the genetic break differs among the species. In two species, northeastern populations are genetically divergent from populations elsewhere on the island. In the other two species , populations in the main Bornean mountain chain, including the northeast, are distinct from those on two isolated peaks in northwestern Borneo. We suggest different historical forces played a role in shaping these two distributions, despite commonality in timing. PGLS analysis showed that only a single characteristic—hand-wing index—is correlated with population structure. Birds with longer wings, and hence potentially more dispersal power, have less population structure. To understand historical forces influencing montane population structure on Borneo, future studies must compare populations across the entirety of Sundaland.

- by Fred Sheldon
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- Biogeography, Birds, Biodiversity In Borneo

Highlights d Land-cover and climate change risk sizeable habitat loss for 49% of Borneo mammals d These environmental changes could threaten 23 more species than in the recent past d Better forestry management for conservation in upland... more

- by Nicole Duplaix
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- Forestry, Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Climate Change Adaptation
- by Matthew J Heydon
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- Forestry, Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Climate Change Adaptation

Decomposition is a key process for rain forest nutrient cycling, and this may be altered by the increasing rate of deposition of reactive nitrogen on rain forests. Tropical heath forests are characterised by slow litter decom- position rates due to low quality litter, along with acidic soil pH and low availability of soil nitrogen (N). To investigate whether soil N or pH is most important in regulating tropical heath forest organic matter decom- position, we used a factorial N and CaCO3 addition experiment, and measured wood and leaf litter decom- position rates and mesofaunal activity (using bait-lamina sticks and numbers of worm casts). Our heath forest site in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve (Sabah, Malaysia) had a decomposition rate (calculated using standard tea material) comparable to that of temperate forest soils. Overall, the experimental modification of both soil pH and available N had weak effects on decomposition rates, although different materials responded differently to the experimental treatments. There was a clear, but transient, increase in number of worm casts in the CaCO3 and N + CaCO3 treatment. Although we obtained some evidence that low soil acidity reduced decomposer activity, it may take longer than one year for the decomposer community, and associated processes, to be influenced by the experimentally altered edaphic conditions.

- by Giacomo Sellan
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- Soil Science, Decomposition, Soil Chemistry, Earthworms

The distribution of macrobenthos in the intertidal area of Buntal Bay, Sarawak was studied based on systematic sampling conducted in 2014. This study aimed to determine the intertidal macrobenthic horizontal distribution and their relationship with environmental parameters. An analysis of the intertidal flat marobenthos community suggested that polychaetes dominated the community in terms of the number of individuals and species followed by crustaceans and molluscs. Polychaetes of families Nephtyidae, Spionidae, Capitellidae, and Magelonidae contributed to the high densities of macrobenthos. Multivariate analysis performed by the Biotic and Environmental linking analysis indicated that communities in Transect 1 and Transect 2 were best correlated with food availability (sediment chlorophyll a), and heterogeneity of sediment type (percentage of fine sand and very fine sand). Heterogeneity of sediment characteristic and food availability were identified as potentially playing a key role in the shaping of the intertidal macrobenthic distribution in Buntal Bay.

- by Zakirah Mohd Taufek and +1
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- Intertidal ecology, Marine benthos ecology, Marine Benthos, Sarawak

Little is known about the ecology of the rare marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata on Borneo. In addition, the little information that is available on the species often comes from incidental sightings. Here we use the MaxEnt algorithm to produce a habitat suitability map for this species based on a compilation of existing data. We collected 105 marbled cat occurrence records for Borneo, of which 27 (Balanced Model) or 69 (Spatial Filtering Model) were used to estimate potential habitat suitability. The resulting relative habitat suitability map showed key conservation areas in Borneo. According to these results it appears that the most suitable habitats for marbled cat are lowland forests, but these forests are most threatened by deforestation and other anthropogenic activities. It is imperative to develop appropriate conservation strategies for the marbled cat on Borneo, including long-term research and monitoring, reduction of human disturbances in lowland forests, increased data-sharing and research networking, and stakeholder involvement for conservation planning and activities. Abstrak (Bahasa Indonesia). Sangat sedikit informasi tentang ekologi Kucing Batu Pardofelis marmorata di Borneo. Informasi Kucing Batu sering diperoleh dari pengamatan yang tidak disengaja. Pada paper ini kami menggunakan pemodelan MaxEnt untuk membuat peta sebaran Kucing Batu berdasarkan data yang telah terkumpul. Kami mengumpulkan 105 catatan keberadaan Kucing Batu di Borneo, dimana 27 (Model Penyeimbang) atau 69 (Model Spasial Tersaring) catatan tersebut digunakan untuk membuat peta kesesuaian habitat. Hasil dari peta prediksi kesesuaian habitat diperoleh beberapa kawasan konservasi kunci di Borneo. Berdasarkan hasil ini tampak bahwa habitat terbaik untuk Kucing Batu adalah hutan dataran rendah, tetapi kawasan hutan ini adalah kawasan yang paling terancam oleh kegiatan deforestasi dan gangguan aktivitas manusia. Sangat penting untuk mengembangkan strategi yang tepat untuk pelestarian Kucing Batu di Borneo termasuk di antaranya penelitian dan pemantauan jangka panjang, pengendalian gangguan manusia terhadap hutan dataran rendah, peningkatan kegiatan berbagi data dan jaringan kerjasama penelitian, serta keterlibatan pemangku kepentingan untuk perencanaan kegiatan konservasi. Abstrak (Bahasa Malaysia). Sangat sedikit yang diketahui berkenaan ekologi Kucing Dahan Pardofelis marmorata di Borneo. Selain itu, maklumat yang sedikit yang terdapat berkenaan spesis ini selalu diperolehi melalui pemerhatian yang secara kebetulan. Dalam kajian ini, kami menggunakan MaxEnt untuk menghasilkan peta kesesuaian habitat untuk spesis ini berdasarkan kompilasi rekod yang sedia ada. Kami mengumpul sejumlah 105 rekod Kucing Dahan di Borneo, yang mana 27 rekod (Model Seimbang) dan 69 rekod (Model yang ditapis secara spasial) telah diguna untuk meramal kesesuaian habitat. Hasil daripada peta ramalan kesesuaian habitat menunjukkan beberapa kawasan pemuliharaan yang penting di Borneo. Berdasarkan ramalan ini , didapati bahawa habitat yang paling sesuai untuk Kucing Dahan adalah kawasan hutan tanah pamah, tetapi kawasan hutan ini juga adalah yang paling terancam dengan kegiatan penebangan hutan dan aktiviti-aktiviti antropogenik yang lain. Oleh itu, adalah penting untuk menghasilkan strategi pemuliharaan yang sesuai untuk Kucing Dahan di Borneo, termasuk penyelidikan dan pemantauan jangka panjang, mengurangkan gangguan manusia di hutan tanah pamah, meningkatkan perkongsian data dan rangkaian penyelidikan, dan penglibatan pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan dalam perancangan dan aktiviti pemuliharaan.

- by Anthony J Giordano
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- Species Distribution Models, Southeast Asia, Carnivora, Felidae

The banded civet Hemigalus derbyanus is a small, little-known civet with a geographical range comprising Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra and some associated islands), Malaysia, Brunei, peninsular Myanmar and peninsular Thailand. Habitat loss and degradation are the main threats to the species leading to its classification as globally Vulnerable by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The banded civet uses degraded habitat to some extent, but its exact ecological requirements and the extent of its dependence on primary forest are unknown. We analysed 65 (Balanced Model) and 104 (Spatial Filtering Model) location records of the banded civet to predict habitat suitability on Borneo. The resulting model predicted the majority of Borneo to be suitable habitat; although in general, the low-lying coastal areas, swamp forests and high-altitude areas were predicted to be unsuitable. Given this large area of predicted suitable habitat and the high overlap of habitat suitability and protect...

- by Ramesh Boonratana
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- Conservation Biology, Southeast Asia, Biology, Ecology

The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is one of the smallest cat species found on Borneo and is the most widely distributed wild cat species in Asia. It is listed on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern. The leopard cat is known to tolerate habitat disturbance and to occur in a range of vegetation types including primary and secondary forests, plantations and orchards. However, the extent to which the leopard cat can tolerate habitat disturbance and utilise non-forest areas is still unknown. In this paper, we collected 373 leopard cat location records across Borneo; of these, 228 records were obtained between 2001 and 2011. We analysed 63 (Balanced Model) and 102 (Spatial Filtering Model) records to model habitat suitability. The models predicted more than two-thirds of Borneo to be suitable habitat for the leopard cat. Almost the entire area of Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and East Kalimantan were predicted to be suitable. The south of Central Kalimantan and the ma...

- by Dave Augeri
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- Algebra, Instructional Design, Architecture, Conservation Biology