All Creatures Great and Small #31
Great Argus
There are currently two subspecies of the Great Argus. One species is in Sumatra and Malaya, while the other is in Borneo. The differences between the two include the Borneo Argus has a lighter orange on the chest, darker upper backs and white spotted eye-like features. The genetic makeup is also different, as the Sumatran and Borneo species were separated by water and neither of them can fly. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d230933
Bearded Pig
A three-year study in Sarawak informs we need to take into consideration human needs and sustain the pig population. The results state the bearded pig population should be managed. file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Kurz_et_al_npj_biodivers_revision_June62022.pdf
Barn Owls
Because of the rat problem in oil palm plantations, Barn Owls were imported from Peninsular Malaya to Sabah. During this four-year study, sixteen nest boxes were established for every 25 ha. producing 555 eggs, whereby 60% of the small ones fledged. Diets of the Barn Owls, from regurgitated pellets, consisted of 99% small mammals. https://doi.org/10.3356/JRR-21-08
New Coral Parasite
A new parasite, which attaches itself to the gills of the coral Cat Shark, is described in this article. file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/diversity-14-00759-v3.pdf
Babesi
In this study, Babesi, a tiny parasite that infects your red blood cells and is usually transmitted by a tick bite. The screening was conducted in 55 rodents and 160 tick samples collected from 28 primary forests and an oil palm plantation in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The genetic results were then compared to the Eastern Gray Kangaroo in Australia, Babesi. There was a 98.6% correlation. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jvms/advpub/0/advpub_22-0304/_pdf
Lice
A new species of lice has been discovered in Sarawak, named P. sarawakensis. As a result of the present study, 17 species of Psyllipsocus are now known from the Oriental Region, eight of them from Southeast Asia (Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and east Malaysia in Sarawak http://hdl.handle.net/2115/8676.5
Cows-Banteng
Bos Javanicus are cattle found in Southeast Asia. They are divided into three subspecies; mainland Southeast Asia, Java and Borneo. However, this research shows that there is no difference between the Borneo and Java subspecies. 22:110 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02062-1
Electricity
Many remote areas in Sarawak do not have access to electricity despite three dams and their power plants. This study covers 155 locations for an additional power plant plus how to connect their power lines. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10638
Pumpkins
The goal of the present study was to improve yield and fruit quality in pumpkins. Sweetness, total carotenoid (orange color) and antioxidant(prevent your cells from developing into disease) content of pumpkin were studied. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that such hybrids and parental lines of pumpkins would make great prospects for commercial application. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100863
Durian
Durio oxleyanus (Griff) of Malvaceae is considered a natural heritage by the countries that produce it, including Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. However, the fruit is rarely cultivated and available only in the wild. Conservation needs to protect this species. In this study, the complete DNA of the chloroplast was unravelled. : https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2022.2123256
Comparison of two sites in East Borneo
We compare two major archaeological sites in East Borneo: the Liang Abu rock shelter and the Kimanis cave. A new chronology of human settlement and the mainland–coastal interactions in East Borneo was presented, focusing on three major changes: “transitional periods” associated with responses to the dramatic environmental changes of the Early Holocene, earliest traces of coastal contact, and the introduction of pottery. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2022.2108947
White Winged Bat
A very rare white-winged bat (Hypsugo vordermann) was caught in the Crocker Range of Sabah. This bat is a record for the national park and the second record for Sabah. .https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e87860
Babblers
Babblers primarily refer to two insectivorous families, namely Timaliidae (54 extant species) and Pellornidae (64 species), the majority of which rely on forest or wooded habitats. As a middle or understory bird in the tropical rain forest, this study examined the diet and foraging strata, of 15 babbler species found in the same area of Sarawak, Borneo. 10.11609/jott.2022.14.9.21751-21902 scroll to find it.
Dung Beetle Atlas
A dung beetle atlas has been compiled from the Sungai Wain Protection Forest near Balikpapen. sixty eight different species of dung beetle were collected using human excrement. This is the only known dung beetle atlas. 「森林総合研究所研究報告 Bulletin of FFPRI）Vol.21-No.2（No.462）165–192 June 2022
Weather
During early 2021 (January to February), high rainfall intensity resulted in flooding over several locations over the western part of the Maritime Continent (East Aceh, South Borneo, Aceh Tamiang, and Jakarta). There was a pattern of strong northeasterly winds during these flooding events except in Borneo where the wind direction was from the Southwest due to a vortex forming over Java. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-0308-3_57
Elephants
The genetic relationship of Sumatran elephants to Borneo elephants was studied. Sumatran elephants had a close relationship with Borneo elephants. https://doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v51i3.2238
More Bats
Horseshoe bats, leaf nosed bats and trident bats are found exclusively in the Old World. Horseshoe bats originated in the Orient, while leaf-nosed bats diversified from Eurasia and the Afro-Arabian climes. Trident bats came from Africa, splitting from a common ancestor with the leaf-nosed bat. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-02066-x
Tree Shrews
The Lesser Tree shrew is a small mammal from Southeast Asia, We find no support for the recognition of T. m. caedis as a separate subspecies on Borneo. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyac080
Ants
The queen of the recently discovered ant species HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE has been found. DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2022.31.1.74
Oil Rigs and Fishing
As the oil company Petronas begins to decommission oil rigs because they are running out of oil, platforms with high commercial fish value are selected for reefing and will serve multi-purposes and benefit the locals as well as the country. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47853/FAS.2022.e43
Stingless Bee Honey
Honey produced by stingless bees is better for you than that produced by other bees. Hives produced by stingless bees near industrial areas are subject to producing tainted honey. Beekeepers must be mindful to keep hives away from city and industrial areas. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4478082
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