All Creatures Great and Small #28
Fish
Information on fisheries in Sarawak is scarce and poorly known. This review completes a checklist of fishes in Sarawak waters and tells of the status of the resource. https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4651.2022
Visitors will pay to see orangutans.
This study states the visitors to the Sepilok Orangutan centre were willing to pay a maximum of approx $5.00 USD or an average of $1.00 USD per person. This translates to approx $24 million per year to support the centre. For a math explanation, see the article under supporting information. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4655
Monkey Food
Faecal samples were taken from Colobine monkeys at Bako National Park here in Sarawak. The results will provide a baseline for the nutritional values for other areas. DOI: https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4418.2022
Where did the name” Dusun” come from?
Outsiders and not the people themselves used the term Dusun. The authors trace the origins through the literature of the times. Journal of Borneo-Kalimatan vol 8(1) 2022
Bats
Bats were studied in the non-protected Mount Silabur in Sarawak. A total of 27 species were collected over a 12-night period. The results provide a baseline for Mt. Silabur. The area is a haven for both cave and forest-dependent bats. DOI: https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4235.2022
Black Pepper
Black Pepper has suffered from various fungal diseases, including yellowing, blackberry and foot rot. This study highlights the potential of using native Trichoderma fungi as biocontrol. The study was conducted on five black pepper farms in Belaga Sarawak. DOI: https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4358.2022
Proboscis Monkey
This pioneering research of over 15 years by Japanese researchers has resulted in a comprehensive collection about the monkey in regards to feeding, ranging and the unique function of its nose. Well worth reading! DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12343
New Species of Hoya
Nine new species and one subspecies of the plant Hoya from Borneo have been made known to the western world. doi: 10.26492/gbs74(1).2022-08
Crab Spider
A new crab spider (GENUS BORBOROPACTUS) has been found in Sabah. It is a relatively rare “odd-looking” individual within 16 nominal species. https://doi.org/10.25221/fee.459
Civets and Mongooses
A chapter in a new book, “Small Carnivores”, at the insane price of US100.00, has information about civets and mongooses on Buton Island in Sulawesi. A summary appears in Chapter 19 of the book. Small Carnivores: Evolution, Ecology, Behavior and Conservation ISBN 9781118943281
Wood Crickets
A second known species of the genus, Monseremus Ingrisch, 2018, has been found in Mount Silam in east Sabah. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5165.1.5
Sleeper Gobies
Currently, only one species has been found in the central rivers of Sarawak. A second one has been found in the Kapuas river in Borneo, Indonesia. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1036/1/012074
Marine Parasites
A parasite has turned up off the coast of Sarawak. The worm, which attaches itself to the side of coral fish, has been found in specimens of Japanese Goatfish. doi: 10.47665/tb.39.2.014.
Sago Palm
The genetics of the sago palm, a vital flour here in Sarawak, is beginning to be unravelled. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-022-00315-1
Climate Change
This comprehensive article tells the tale of climate change in Malaysia. In regards to Sarawak, temps to increase by 3.11 degrees C. by 2090; rainfall is expected to increase; flooding is expected to increase; sea level rise of 0.4 m-to 0.7 m with much higher in Sabah and Sarawak. doi: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.3.1
Railroads
A comparative study between North Borneo and the Bengal delta railroads from 1850-1963. https://fass.ubd.edu.bn/SEA/index.html
Journal
The journal “Southeast Asia: a multidisciplinary journal” from the University of Brunei is out.
Failure of landslide protection
Gabion (a wall built to prevent landslides) and geotextiles (sheets used to hold the land on a slope) have failed near an electrical substation in Balikpapan. Wet soil conditions caused the failure of the combined construction of gabion reinforcement and geotextiles. CERUCUK Volume 6 No. 1 2022 (67-82)
Female Advertising
This study is a discussion on the perception of Malaysian female consumers on advertising aimed at females. Jurnal Komunikasi Borneo 2022 Vol. 10 Jun eISSN: 2289-859X
New Genome Unravelled
Early modern human in East China, which dates to14,000 years ago, links to early Americans. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.016
Mammals
The results indicated agroforestry and logged forests provide usable habitat for some, though not all, rainforest mammals. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13134
Rocks
Rocks deposited 66-61 million years ago have been found in western Sarawak. The indicator is the pollen mixed in with these stones. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2022.104728
Oil Palm Rip Off
This new book, Land Tenure Security and Sustainable Development, contains a series of articles about how the land is being ripped off by oil palm companies and away from the local people who have owned it for many thousands of years. Chapter one is devoted to Borneo. (I have a copy if needed) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81881-4
Pantuns
An analysis of foreshadowing in the Malay Pantun is described here. I happen to love Pantuns https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/63499/1/63499.pdf.
Iban Longhouse Temperature
Iban longhouses are 7.3-7.6 C warmer during the day than outside temperature while 2.5-2.7 C cooler at night. This shows building materials may affect the temperature, and more modern materials may help with daytime cooling. https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/rtcebe/article/view/3245
Burrowing Frog Diet
These frogs are usually found in Sarawak at the edge or in burrows, probably dug by small mammals. Their diet consists mainly of ants. Herpetology Notes, volume 15: 499-505 (2022)
Refugia Areas in the South China Sea
A refugia area is expected to be adopted to preserve the tiger prawn near Miri, one in west Kalimatan for white prawns and in the Banka region for squid. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/6983
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