Azuan, Roslan

Mohamad, Kombi

Mohd Tajuddin, bin Abdullah

Muhamad Aidil, bin Zahidin

Wahap, Marni

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Journal of Sustainability Science and Management Volume 11 Number 1, June 2016: 53-72ISSN: 1823-8556© Penerbit UMTBIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED CHECKLIST OF FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN BAKO NATIONAL PARK, SARAWAK, MALAYSIAN BORNEO MUHAMAD AIDIL ZAHIDIN1,2*, AZUAN ROSLAN1,2, WAHAP MARNI2, MOHAMAD KOMBI3, MOHD TAJUDDIN ABDULLAH1 AND CONSORTIUM OF BAKO RESEARCHERS4 1Centre for Kenyir Ecosystems Research, Kenyir Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. 2Department of Zoology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. 3Wildlife Officer, Sarawak Forest Department, Wisma Sumber Alam, Kuching, Sarawak.*Corresponding author: aiditarsier@gmail.comIntroductionBako National Park (BNP) established in 1957, is the first national park to be established in Sarawak (Hazebroek & Abang Kashim, 2000). It is located 37 kilometers from Kuching city. With an area of 2,742 hectares (ha), it is the smallest national park in Sarawak. Beyond the smallest area, BNP contains six types of vegetation, viz., Kerangas forest, cliff vegetation, beach vegetation, mangrove forest, riverine (alluvial) forest and mixed dipterocarp forest. It lies on the Muara Tebas Peninsula (1o 41’N 110o 17’E) surrounded by South China Sea on three sides with coastline providing secluded beaches and rock formations. BNP is well known among local and foreign eco-tourists because of the rich flora and fauna including the endemic and charismatic species Nasalis larvatus and many other protected species, thus providing complete safeguard for the conservation of animals and plants. Most studies in BNP were done by focusing on selected taxon per sampling period instead of covering many other faunal taxa. Mammals were the most studied taxa in BNP since three decades ago (Start, 1972; Francis et al., 1984; Churchill & Zborowski, 1987). Other studies focused on the ecology and behaviors of endangered flying lemur and Proboscis monkey (Dzulhalmi & Abdullah, 2009; Kombi & Abdullah, 2013), biogeography and genetics of bats and primates (Hall et al., 2004; Rovie-Ryan et al., 2008; Noor-Aisyah et al., 2014) and potentially zoonotic disease (Apun et al., 2010; Thayaparan  et al., 2013; Madinah et al., 2014). Meanwhile, there are shortages of knowledge on bird diversity and herpetofauna composition (Mohd Kashfullah Zaini & Abdul Abstract: A rapid assessment was conducted in Bako National Park (BNP), Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo based on previous studies, published and unpublished reports. The habitat types in BNP can be classified into Kerangas forest, cliff vegetation, beach vegetation, mangrove forest, riverine (alluvial) forest and mixed dipterocarp forest. Up to date, a total of 224 species comprising 54 families and 18 orders of selected taxonomic groups (butterflies, amphibians, birds and mammals) in BNP were recorded throughout the study period in 2005 to presently. The highest number of species recorded was from class Insecta with relative abundance of 42.86% while class Aves showed the highest recorded number of families with relative abundance of 48.15%. The availability of good food resources, high forest structural and vegetation diversity were the major factors that could influence the density, relative abundance and diversity of faunal diversity in BNP. Periodical biodiversity monitoring of BNP is necessary in the face of potential poaching, local extinction and loss of buffer area to protect the integrity of the park. There are several gaps in our knowledge on the biodiversity of BNP that must be addressed in the near future.Keywords: Rapid assessment, faunal diversity, relative abundance, abundance, Bako National Park.5.indd   53 5/31/16   2:13 PM

Biodiversity Assessment And Updated Checklist Of Faunal Diversity In Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

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