The effects of disturbance on the abundance and foraging behaviour of shorebirds and waterbirds in the tropical mudflat areas

A study was conducted in the mudflats of Jeram and Remis Beaches, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia from November 2013 until July 2014 to determine the effects of disturbance on shorebird and waterbird abundance and foraging behavior. Direct observation was used in this study. Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in abundance of bird in Jeram and Remis Beaches (t=2.96, p=0.05). A significant difference were detected between the sampling plots in Jeram Beach (S=16.67, p<0.001) and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test shows a significant difference between the sampling plots in Remis Beach (W=78, p=0.003). Spearman’s rank correlation shows significant association between the abundance of bird with the abundance of humans, dogs and vehicles (p<0.05) in both Jeram and Remis Beaches. Humans contribute to a higher percentage in disruptions towards the species studied (47.5%), followed by dogs (32.1%) and vehicles (20.4%). Thirty-six percent of birds stopped feeding and flew away upon disruption, 23% stopped feeding and run away, 22% stopped feeding but stay alert and 19% continue feeding (habituated). Analysis on the responses of birds toward the disturbance show significant difference between species (χ2 = 98.77, p<0.05). This study concluded that anthropogenic disturbance caused a major impact on shorebird and waterbird abundance and influenced their foraging behavior. Response of bird towards disturbance was varied according to the species and types of disturbance. By understanding how the bird species response toward disturbance, the conservation efforts can be implemented more effectively in the future

Systematics of Skuas (Aves: Stercorariidae) with Particular Reference to Evidence from Their Feather Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)

Skuas (Aves: Stercorariidae) are large and aggressive seabirds which possess a combination of the features of birds of prey and seabirds. These birds may show two phases (dark and light) of polymorphism in their plumage pattern. They can be found breeding mainly in Arctic and subArctic, or Antarctic and subAntarctic regions. Based on a morphological study, skuas have been separated into two groups; small (genus Sfercorarins) and large (genus Catharacta) skuas. Small skuas are Arctic (S. parasificus). Long-tailed (S. longicaudus) and Pomarine (S. pomarinus) skuas while large skuas are Great (C. skua), Falkland (C. antarctica antarctica), Tristan (C. a. hamiltoni). Brown (T. a. lonnbergi), Chilean (C chilensis), and South Polar (C maccormicki) skuas. However, evidence from other sources (such as behaviour and molecular analyses) suggests a slightly different classification; they can either be clustered together into one group or separated into two groups with a different composition. The fact that a single taxon of large skuas (i.e. Great skua) is geographically separated from others raises issues regarding the evolutionary process. Two possibilities have been suggested: first, some Great skuas migrated to the Southern hemisphere and gave rise to other large skuas. Alternatively, some large skuas from a specific taxon arrived in the Northern hemisphere and gave rise to the Great skua. This study examined both possibilities and tried to determine which hypothesis seemed more likely. Four methods were employed to infer systematic relationships among skuas. These were morphometric analysis, cladistic analysis, a study of the coevolution of skuas and their parasitic lice and examination of mitochondrial DNA. Morphometric and cladistic analyses of seventy two museum specimens and morphometric analyses of eighteen skeletal specimens indicated that skuas should be separated into two groups; small and large skuas. The degree of separation among large skuas was difficult to determine and morphological evidence failed to resolve clear relationship among large skuas. Skuas harbour four genera of feather lice: Haffneria grandis, Austronienopon fuscofascialum, Onadraceps normifer, Saemundssonia stresemamii, S. inexspectata, and S. cephulus. S. iiicxspectata is specific to Long-tailed skua and S. cephahis is specific to Arctic skuas. S. stresemanni is widespread on all skuas, H. grandis only occurs on large skuas and O. normifer and A. fuscofasciatum are scattered on various skua taxa. The lice do not appear to correspond to any specific morphological features on their skua hosts. It was intended to compare mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of lice with that of the skua hosts in order to ascertain the coevolutionary relationship between the two but this study failed to extract mtDNA from lice. This failure may be due to sample quality or condition (dried lice instead of fresh or frozen) or quantity of samples. The main conclusions of this study are as follows; first, there are major differences between small and large skuas and skuas should be separated into two groups, small skuas (which consist of Arctic, Long tailed and Pomarine skuas) and large skuas (composed by Great, Tristan, Falkland, South polar, and Brown skuas). Second, there is no indication from morphology and parasitological data that Pomarine skuas arose due to hybridization between members of small and large skuas as suggested by mtDNA data. Third, the evolutionary problems among large skuas are very hard to clarify since evidence relating to this phenomenon is very vague and is difficult to resolve. Therefore, more information from molecular or other approaches is required before this problem can be solved. Finally, while there may be coevolution between skuas and feather lice, there is no evidence for a strict relationship between the two. This may be because skua feather lice possess less host-specific characters or the hosts may have separated from each other too recently to allow time for lice to modify their morphology

Ciri-ciri penting seorang usahawan bagi menangani cabaran memulakan perniagaan

Kajian kes ini ialah berkenaan dengan pengalaman dan perjalanan dalam kehidupan seorang usahawan bernama Tuan Haji Zambri bin Ahmad.Selepas menamatkan pengajian Hj.Zambri telah memulakan kerjayanya dalam beberapa buah syarikat swasta. Beliau seterusnya bergiat dalam bidang perniagaan dengan menubuhkan beberapa syarikat seperti Memo Baru Sdn Bhd. dan kemudiannya Best Bothworld Sdn Bhd. Kajian kes ini memaparkan ciri-ciri utama yang perlu dimiliki seseorang usahawan bagi menangani cabaran untuk memulakan perniagaan.Selain dari itu kajian kes ini membolehkan pelajar mengenalpasti cabarancabaran yang sering dihadapi oleh usahawan dalam dunia perniagaan

The foraging tactics of chestnut-winged Babbler (Stachyris erythroptera) and Abbott’s Babbler (Malacocincla abbotti) in a Lowland Rainforest, Malaysia

Foraging pattern of Chestnut-winged Babbler (Stachyris erythroptera) and Abbott’s Babbler (Malacocincla abbotti) was studied in Lenggong Valley, Perak from July 2010 until July 2011. The study examines the patterns of foraging height, foraging substrates and attack manoeuvres of two babbler species (Family: Timaliidae), to explain how these trophically similar species can coexist in the same habitat; a central question in ecology. Information on the foraging height, foraging substrate and attack manoeuvres was collected independently for each foraging bird. Principal component analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that these two species used similar proportion of foraging height (>0-2 m above the ground) and foraging substrate (dead leaves), but differed in the use of attack manoeuvres. The Chestnut-winged babbler used primarily stretching manoeuvre, whereas the Abbott’s babbler used primarily gleaning manoeuvre. This niche separation allowed these species to coexist in the same area, thus follows the Gause’ Law of competitive exclusion, that states two species occupying the same niches will not coexist forever

An Investigation of Microwave Tomography Technique to Detect Brain Tumour Through Cross-Section Imaging at Frequency 0.5 GHz to 1.5 GHz

The growing significance of cancerous tissue including brain tumour requires a fast and efficient technology detection. The most current technologies being applied for brain imaging system are Computed Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Whilst these two detection applications are very well established, both systems are expensive, time and space consuming, and raise safety issues to patients due to the radiation and strong magnetic effects. This research aims to assess the feasibility and potential performance of microwave tomography (MWT) for brain imaging with a particular focus on brain tumour detection. The study was conducted using Finite Element Model software, COMSOL Multiphysics to develop a 2D modelling of an antenna array and measure the scattered electric field by solving forward problem. MATLAB software will be used as an inverse problem solver to reconstruct 2D images of the tumour by using Linear Back Projection (LBP) algorithm

Parking demand analysis of rest and service area along expressway in southern region, Johor Malaysia

Rest and Service Area (RSA) is an important aspect in highway operation in terms of safety and comfort for highway users. Stopping and resting at these facilities will help reducing users fatigue and thus avoiding possible accidents. Existing guidelines for RSA planning apparently provides insufficient information on the design capacity for estimating parking requirements for RSA. The objectives of this study were to determine the parking demand trend on RSA, and to evaluate significant parameters related to parking demand. This study was conducted on six RSA located in southern region of Peninsular Malaysia, Johor. Variations of traffic volume on major road and the size of the facilities on RSA were observed on two days for 10 hours for each site. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine the relationship of these two parameters as related to parking demand on RSA. It was found that the parking demand varies with time of the day and day of week. The analysis showed that there is a significant correlation between vehicular volume on major road and gross floor area to parking demand on RSA. Linear regression models were developed to predict parking demand on the RSA land use type. The developed models equations are recommended to be used for RSA land use type

Linking Intrapreneurial Risk-Taking to Academic Leaders’ Performance

Although significant relationships have been recorded between the variables of individual-level risk-taking propensity and performance in many sectors, the effect of this relationship remains less studied particularly as it relates to the individual performance of academic leaders operating in public universities. Hence, this study is aimed to determine the significant effect of intrapreneurial risk-taking on its relationship to academic leaders’ performance in Malaysian public universities. A quantitative research design based on the questionnaire survey was used to collect data. A total of 246 usable responses were received from middle-level academic leaders of twenty public universities throughout the country. They mostly comprised of faculty deans, academic heads of department, directors of academic centre of excellence, and programme chairpersons. The findings revealed a significant and positive relationship between intrapreneurial risk-taking behaviour andperformance

Enhancement of isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol production yields in saccharomyces cerevisiae without genetic modification

Bio-based fuel produced from the renewable resources is efficiently overcome the shortcomings of fossil fuels. Several factors such as the increasing awareness on environmental problems, fossil fuel prices and the sustainability of energy has encouraged the initiative in finding another source of transportation fuels. Higher alcohols have proved to be a better candidate to replace gasoline as vehicle fuel due to characteristics of higher energy content, low solubility in water, lower vapor pressure and higher blending ability with gasoline. Biologically, isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol are produced through the fermentation of renewable feedstock with microorganism. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is known to be able to produce isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol titers naturally without heterologous pathways. However, the production of these alcohols by Saccharomyces cerevisiae is only in a small quantity, thus several efforts in enhancing the isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol yields have been conducted. In this study, the amino acids (valine and leucine) and amino acid precursor (2-ketoisovalerate) were added into the fermentation medium prior to the fermentation. The results obtained show that the supplementation of 2-ketoisovalerate and leucine individually into the fermentation broth leads to the increased in isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol titers by 3.3 folds and 1.9 folds, respectively. The combination of 2-ketoisovalerate and valine increased the isobutanol yield by 4.3 folds while the 3-methyl-1-butanol was increased by 2.5 folds when supplemented with 2-ketoisovalerate and leucine. These results portray that the isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol titers can be improved by manipulating several factors which is important for future production of higher alcohols

A checklist of the bats of Peninsular Malaysia and progress towards a DNA barcode reference library

Several published checklists of bat species have covered Peninsular Malaysia as part of a broader region and/or in combination with other mammal groups. Other researchers have produced comprehensive checklists for specific localities within the peninsula. To our knowledge, a comprehensive checklist of bats specifically for the entire geopolitical region of Peninsular Malaysia has never been published, yet knowing which species are present in Peninsular Malaysia and their distributions across the region are crucial in developing suitable conservation plans. Our literature search revealed that 110 bat species have been documented in Peninsular Malaysia; 105 species have precise locality records while five species lack recent and/or precise locality records. We retrieved 18 species from records dated before the year 2000 and seven species have only ever been recorded once. Our search of Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) found that 86 (of the 110) species have public records of which 48 species have public DNA barcodes available from bats sampled in Peninsular Malaysia. Based on Neighbour-Joining tree analyses and the allocation of DNA barcodes to Barcode Index Number system (BINs) by BOLD, several DNA barcodes recorded under the same species name are likely to represent distinct taxa. We discuss these cases in detail and highlight the importance of further surveys to determine the occurences and resolve the taxonomy of particular bat species in Peninsular Malaysia, with implications for conservation priorities