Diversity of mammals

Barcoding Workshop : Barcoding : Methods and Application, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, 12th November 200

Mencari Akar-akar Persamaan Fungsi Kompleks Menggunakan Algoritma Genetika Paralel

Penelitian ini menyajikan pencarian akar-akar persamaan fungsi kompleks menggunakan algoritma genetika paralel berbasis Message Passing Interface (MPI), penelitian dibuat pada suatu permasalahan teknis untuk kemudian direalisasikan. Kami menjelaskan desain dan implementasi algoritma genetika paralel untuk mencari akar-akar persamaan fungsi kompleks

Ethogram of the free ranging Nasalis larvatus in Bako National Park, Sarawak

An ethogram on the behaviour and daily activities of the Nasalis larvatus (Proboscis Monkey) provided, based on the field observation conducted in Bako National Park, Sarawak, from December 2011 until December 2012. There were seven categories of behavior successfully described, comprising various activities and movement patterns. They are feeding, resting, agonistic, grooming, solicitation, copulation and locomotion. These categories are then break down in several characteristic activities and actions, such as, jumping, leaping, quadrupedal walking, chasing, slapping, biting, facial threats, postural threats, grooming, solicitation, copulation and others miscellaneous behavior. The most frequently observed behavior recorded during the observation are feeding, travelling and resting. The ethogram and behavioural data provided have improved ourstanding on the behavioural patterns of the N. larvatus in Bako National Park

Serological prevalence of Leptospiral infection in wildlife in Sarawak, Malaysia

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic leptospiral bacteria, which are transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans or animal to animal. The first phase of this proposed study was carried out to determine the extent of exposure to leptospirosis in wild mammals surrounded by human settlements around wildlife or tourism area (Wind Cave, Fairy Cave, Bako National Park and Matang Wildlife Center). This study reports an incident of leptospirosis among primates (three captive and two free ranging), rats, bats, squirrels and mongoose around Kuching, Sarawak area, which has been screened for Leptospirosis. Blood samples were obtained to determine the presence of antibodies through the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using eighteen serovars of Leptospira commonly found in Malaysia as antigens. It was observed that four out of the five monkeys (80%), rats (9/4) (44%), bats (20/5) (20.8%), squirrels 4/4 (100%) and mongoose (1) (100%) reacted against one or more serovars of Leptospira. In this study antibody of five serovars of Leptospira interrrogans Copenheni, Leptospira interrrogans Lai, Leptospira interrrogans Pomona, Leptospira interrrogans Pyrogenes, Lepto 175* were detected. Serovars Copenhegeni, Lai, Pomona and Pyrogenes were considered pathogenic for different mammals including human beings. No information about serovars lepto 175 and further studies going on. This is providing information on the possible zoonotic importance of mammalian species in maintaining this disease in Sarawak. The transmission of leptospires in rats reported several incidents and between primates, bats, squirrels, mongoose and human is not reported elsewhere but this could create new reservoir and transmission routes and may affect the tourism, conservation effort and public health

A Review of the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) in Borneo, with Reference to the Population in Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

The Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is endemic to the Island of Borneo. It dominates from the coastal areas to the headwaters of some major rivers. In Sarawak, its distribution occurred in coastal and swamp areas based on previous studies. The population in the Bako National Park, Sarawak is fluctuating when compared to previous studies. The total population of the proboscis monkeys is estimated about 306 individuals compared to the lowest of 111 individuals in 2005. The fluctuating numbers of N. larvatus population is assumed to be at the optimum carrying capacity Bako National Park. There are still large areas of habitat outside the Bako National Park that can support the increasing population size that must be secured to protect a viable population in the long term

Population Genetics of the Cave-dwelling Dusky Fruit Bat, Penthetor lucasi, Based on Four Populations in Malaysia

The population genetics of P. lucasi was inferred using 1,061 base pairs (bp) of the Cytochrome b mitochondrial gene. A total of 77 individuals were classified a priori according to their localities, namely, Miri, Kuching, Sri Aman and Kelantan. Results showed that the populations of P. lucasi were separated into two haplogroups, namely, Haplogroup 1 (found in Miri and Kuching populations) and Haplogroup 2 (Miri, Kuching, Sri Aman and Kelantan populations). This separation was supported by bootstrap values in the phylogenetics analyses (94.9% in the maximum likelihood and 100% in Bayesian). A high level of genetic divergence was detected between two haplogroups (3.88%) and this separation could be related to historical events which include multiple colonisation and Pleistocene refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum ice age period. High genetic divergence within Miri (4.93%) and Kuching (4.72%) populations could be due to the presence of a species complex within the P. lucasi populations. The presence of haplotypes from both the populations in Haplogroup 1 and Haplogroup 2 might be due to the ability of this particular species of bats to perform long-distance flight for foraging. A high gene flow between these populations suggests a widespread female gene flow of P. lucasi, judging from the distance of both localities. Meanwhile, the absence of a deep structure from the haplotype trees further proves that P. lucasi may have had wide dispersal ability since the Pleistocene has allowed for genetic exchange to occur between the regions in Malaysia

Serological and molecular detection of Leptospira spp. from small wild mammals captured in Sarawak, Malaysia

Aims: Leptospirosis is endemic to tropical regions of the world and is re-emerging as a new danger to public health in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. The purpose of this particular study was to determine the common leptospiral serovars present in small wild mammals living around wildlife reserves and disturbed forest habitats and human communities. Methodology and results: The samples of blood and kidneys of small rodents, bats and squirrels were analyzed. Antibodies to different serovars of leptospires were detected in 73 of 155 wild small mammals captured (47.0%: 95% CI 39.0-55.3%). The seroprevalence for rats (57.9%; 95% CI 44.1-70.9) was slightly higher than that for squirrels (42.9%; 95% CI 24.5-62.8) and bats (40%; 95% CI 28.5-52.4). Seropositive animals were detected in all 5 localities sampled. Antibodies to serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak were detected in 30 (24.7%) rats, 11 (9.0%) squirrels and 27 (52.9%) bats. Of 155 kidney samples from individual animals only 17 were positive for Leptospira on a molecular study (10.97%, 95% CI 6.5-17). The majority of the positive results were from plantain squirrels (53%; 95% CI 27.8, 77), Müller's rat (35%; 95% CI 14.2, 61.7) and brown spiny rats (12%; 95% CI 1.5, 36.4). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This particular study should generate concerns and lead to the health authorities expanding disease control measures in the region as there are significant levels of human activity at all five locations where the animals were sampled. The pathogenesis of serovar Lepto 175 Sarawak also needs to be monitored closely, considering its similarities to the pathogenic Leptospira wolffii

Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Aethalops from Sundaland using Mitochondrial 12S rRNA Gene

One of the smallest fruit bats in Pteropodidae is Aethalops. This genus is known to be confined in montane forest, which is generally above 1000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Bornean Aethalops is generally known as Aethalops alecto in most previous literature. This study aimed at constructing the phylogenetic relationship of A. alecto and A. aequalis in Sundaland and determining gene flow within Bornean A. aequalis using partial mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Seven populations of A. aequalis, representing Sabah and Sarawak and a single population from Kalimantan were observed, whereas A. alecto were represented by four populations from Indonesian islands. From the phylogenetic analyses and minimum spanning network, there were two major clusters within the genus, with Aethalops. A. aequalis in Borneo were clearly distinguished from A. alecto from the islands of Indonesia. However, phylogenetic analyses within A. aequalis were unresolved at the population levels in Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore, it can be concluded that A. aequalis is the species found only in Borneo. High genetic similarities were detected among the populations of A. aequalis in Sabah and Sarawak. Hypothetically, the Kalimantan harbors ancestral populations of A. aequalis in Borneo, with high genetic divergence from Sabah and Sarawak populations