New Species
A new species of blind cave crab has been made known to science from Sarawak. 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5476.1.13
New Species
A new species of intertidal barnacle has been made known to science from the waters off of Sarawak. 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5476.1.6
Orangutan
Extinct orangutans of the Pleistocene(2.58 million years to 11,000 years ago) lived in tropical rainforests. The climate changed to grasslands and then back to tropical rainforests. Here, we compare the teeth of two species of Middle Pleistocene orangutan samples found in the southern Chinese caves of Ganxian. Microwear results indicate that fossil orangutans from Zhongshan and Ganxian had similar wear. This suggests similar preferred foods and similar dietary dispersion. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103565
Birth Order Names
This study highlights the significance of birth order names within the Malay community of Telok Melano. They were influenced by the Sambas Malay culture from West Kalimantan. JURNAL TAWAK: H U N A T E C H ISSN 2830-3466 | Volume 3 | Nomor 1 | Juni 2024 | Halaman 82-89
Corals
This doctoral dissertation discusses the growing influence of El Nino on coral reefs in Miri–SibuCoral Reef National Park in Sarawak, I have a copy.
Mosquitoes and Pollination
Mosquitoes are attracted to flowers, which play a role in their pollination. Recent work demonstrates mosquitoes use sensory cues to locate flowers, including ultraviolet light, and we may underestimate mosquito pollination. This review focuses on current knowledge of how mosquitoes locate flowers, floral visitation, mosquito pollination, and implications for other technologies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2024.101230
Brunei Minorities
- The discussion focuses on two minority groups within the nation: the Christians and the ethnic Dusuns who uphold traditional faiths. I HAVE A COPY or https://www.iseas.edu.sg/category/media/page/653/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/
Pepper
The pepper industry begins with the people who grow the pepper, the man who buys the pepper from farmers and the resale of the pepper to distributors. This paper discusses the role of the “middle man” or the person who purchases the pepper from the farmer. https://doi.org/10.51967/tanesa.v24i2.3057
Birds
Different species of birds often flock together. Those of us who watch birds in Peninsular Malaysia highlands take for granted that mixed-species foraging flocks are made of both large and small birds, are of diverse species composition and are transient. Colleagues in Bornean Malaysia however have the experience of fairly ‘stable’ mixed-species foraging flocks of two varieties – the big and small groups. Why are these differences unexplained and require an evaluation? Malaysian Bird Report, p. 16
Sea Gypsies
Semporna, located in Sabah, Malaysia, is renowned for its eco-tourism attractions. It is also the dwelling place of a significant population of stateless sea gipsies, locally referred to as the Pala’u. The Pala’u are a nomadic seafaring community that has resided for generations on their traditional houseboats, known as Lepa while navigating the southeastern coastline of Borneo. Despite prevailing legal restrictions against the involvement of the stateless Pala’u in tourism activities, their mere presence in Semporna has captivated numerous tourists, attracting them to Semporna. This engagement has opened up employment opportunities and income sources for the Pala’u. Given their historical and cultural significance, the Pala’u warrant distinctive consideration within the legal framework to govern their participation in tourism to grant them essential access, means of sustenance, and protection from exploitation and criminal activities. https://doi.org/10.51200/manu.v35i1.5173
Dugong
The status of Dugongs (Manatees) in Indo, East Malaya, Philippines, Brunei and Timor is discussed. The dugong populations in Maritime Southeast Asia are fragmented and data deficient because information is largely based on local sightings. The following areas are under evaluation as Important Marine Mammal Areas with the dugong as a qualifying species: (1) ‘Brunei Bay’ bordered by Brunei, the Malaysian state of Sarawak and the Malaysian Federal Territory of Labuan; and (2) ‘Mayo and Pujada Bays’ on the Pacific coast of Mindanao in the Philippines.
Grasslands in Sunda
During the last time glaciers absorbed most of the water into ice, (110,000-12,000 years ago) the land between Malaya and Borneo was connected by a dry grassland. According to new research, the outer part of this land mass was occupied by tropical rainforests while the interior was mainly grasslands creating a corridor where animals could cross back and forth between the two land masses. This dry area was possibly caused by changes in rainfall amounts which created wet and very dry seasons. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108824
Parasites in the Canopy
- Parasitic plants, high in the canopy of the rainforest, often feed from the tubes of water (xylem) of the host plant. They often bloom. In this paper, researched from Lambir Hills in Sarawak, two types of these parasites are discussed. 10.1002/ecy.3837
Giant River Frog
Limnonectes leporinus, the giant river frog, is a stream-dwelling species that lives along streams with moderate to steep heights. The most serious threats to the species are deforestation caused by severe clear-cutting and overhunting for local consumption. The goal of this research was to project suitable habitats and to allow gene flow across the Sarawak landscape. The findings revealed that suitable habitats corresponded to species distribution in lowland areas with sustainable stream networks as breeding sites. Higher elevations were identified as unsuitable habitats. https://doi.org/10.21315/
Hobongan
Hobongan is a relatively small minority language, spoken by a couple of thousand people in Kalimatan. The language is currently stable, being spoken by the three generations of people recognized by the Hobongan (children, people with children, and people who have grandchildren). It is an Austronesian language. Here the author attempts to describe colours, parabens, sounds, texture, weights smells and other sensory words from the POV of these people. A very dense article. https://doi.org/10.33736/jbk.6453.2024
Proboscis Monkey
This study aimed to find suitable sites for the endangered Proboscis monkey. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of addressing conflicts between Proboscis monkeys and humans. This study provides valuable insights for conservation efforts and development planning in the endemic areas of the Proboscis monkey. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03101
Kuantau
Kuantau is a type of martial art imported from the Chinese by the Ibans and Sarawak Malays in the early 14th century. We find a significant similarity between Malaysia Kuntau and Wing Chun that morphed from traditional Cantonese Wing Chun to Kedah style, then Johor style, and may be further influenced by the Iban style in Sarawak. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2024.120401
Ancient Plants
The collision of the Australian tectonic plate (Sahul) into Southeast Asia (Sunda), beginning in the late Oligocene (34-23 million years ago), led to one of the largest plant and animal exchanges of the Cenozoic (the last 66 million years ago) The interchange of plants from one plate to the other is considered to be the reason for the immense diversity in Borneo today. Fossil seeds from a now-extinct plant of beans have been made known to science. The fossil seeds were collected from a coal mine in South Kalimatan. International Journal of Plant Sciences, volume 185, number 5, September 2024. q 2024 The University of Chicago.
The Hakka
An article about the history of the Hakka of Malaysia by Dr. P.K Voon is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these people. : http://doi.org/10.6993/MJCS.202406_13(1).0003
BorneoHistory.net
