Birds in the Paddy Fields
Our study has documented a comprehensive list of birds in the paddy fields of southwestern Sarawak during all three stages of paddy production including planting, harvesting and land preparation. doi:10.55730/1300-0179.3205
Tree Harvests, Soil Types and Fertilizers
The Paulowinia tree is a fast growing tree native in the Orient. It is under consideration to replace the loss of trees due to over harvesting and to revive the timber industry. The RT Paulwinia clone has under gone experimentation after the failure of the native Paulowinia. By analyzing the species’ growth response to specific soils and varying fertilizer treatments at three different sites, it was revealed the utisolIt is a reddish, clay-rich, acidic soil that supports a mixed forest vegetation prior to cultivation at Sabal Forest Reserve was the best soil type while chemical fertilizer were the best across all three sites for growth for growth. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science 2024 Vol. 28: 437-446 437
Climate Change in Borneo
Research has indicated a clear warming trend particularly in the eastern regions of Borneo with an increase of 0.5 C to 2.5 C compared to the 1950-1980 period. There has been a shift from light consecutive rainfall days to heavy and short duration rains in the south but a drying trend in the north especially Brunei. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8682
Bat Viruses
The study and discovery of bat viruses is still in its early stages . In Sabah and Sarawak, research on bat-borne viruses remains relatively limited. Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that bats in Malaysia do carry medically significant viruses, such as paramyxovirus(diseases associated are measles mumps and most lung related infections) and coronaviruses (common cold and the corona virus which caused the pandemic) which have tragically claimed Malaysian lives. doi.org/10.1038/srep21722
Islamic Law
The findings of the study indicate that Brunei Sultanate’s governance had a significant impact on the development of Islamic law in Sarawak. This suggests that Sarawak had a strong foundation and background in Islamic law prior to the arrival of colonial powers. The History Of Islamic Legislation In Sarawak During The Era Of The Brunei Sultanate Al-Qanatir: International Journal of Islamic Studies, 33(6), 121–134.
Bridal Snake
In Borneo there are two species of “Bridal Snake” banded and stripped. They occur in the same areas. Researchers determined the banded and stripped species were actually one species just with different patterns on their bodies. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12705
Sea Snail
The Periwinkle(see photo above) shell can be affected by the acid in the oceans. Shells from acid sites were more rounded and had smaller openings from where the body of the snail emerges. doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07623-2
New Moon
The sighting of the new moon, especially awaiting the month of Haj, is an important event in the Islamic religion. This essay discusses the modern telescopes used to sight the moon in Sarawak. 10.24996/ijs.2024.65.10(SI).21
Helmeted Hornbill
In this study we used species distribution models to assess the extent of suitable habitat for helmeted hornbillacross Borneo. Our results suggest that a quarter of Borneo’s landmass is currently suitable. However, there is a steep decline in the predicted suitable habitat due to climate change and human involvement. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03206
New Species
A new species of Pitcher Plant has been made known to science. Nepenthes pongoides was found in Sabah and is known for its large size. Australian Journal of Botany Bt24050
New Species
A new species of long horn beetle has been made known to science and is only found on the slopes of Mt Bawang in West Kalimatan. 10.57800/faunitaxys-12(62)
Orchids
Three orchids from Sumatra(Eria compressoclavata, Oxystophyllum cuneatipetalum, and Plocoglottis quadrifolia,) are reported for the first time from Kalimantan have now been found in Borneo. doi.org/10.15517/lank.v24i3.59237
Dayak Origin
The Dayak tribes of Borneo originated around the Yunan, China area from nomads and travelled southwards to Borneo. They would be austroasiatic and not austronesian. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2020.100064
New Book
“In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors: Following Homo Sapiens from Africa to Oceania” is a volume which consists of several essays by scholars in the field. The cost is RM140 or US35.
Ilang Machete
This article informs of the function and cultural importance of the machete in Iban life. In Malay. Sains Insani eISSN: [0127-7871
Agriculture Origins
The Bananna came from New Guinea, Java, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. Citrus fruits from Southeast Asia, the mango from north India, the coconut from the Pacific and Indian islands and rice from South China. At least that is what I think it says in this very difficult article to read. doi.org/10.1016/j.agrcom.2024.100032
Sabah Parks Nature Journal
The latest issue has articles on fungi, flowering plants, rhododendrons, orchids, ferns, mosses, butterflies and beetles plus other articles.
Sunda Leopard Cats
Our study investigates the space use of leopard cats (Prionailurus javanensis) within oil palm plantations adjacent to degraded forest fragments in the Kinabatangan floodplain, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. DOI: 10.22541/au.173295620.00227114/v1
More on Climate Change and Rice
We examine the impact of shifts in seasonal rainfall and characteristics of the rainy season on rice production across Southeast Asia. Our findings reveal a trend towards drier conditions during the dry season across the region. A decrease in rainfall is observed during December-January-February in mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines, with rainfall reductions reach up to 33% and 15% in certain areas, respectively. In Indonesia, a decrease in rainfall during the June-July-August period was observed across the majority of the region, with some areas experiencing a decrease of up to 48%. This trend is also accompanied by delays in the onset of the rainy season and a reduction in its duration across most of the region. I: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5061545/v1
Borneo History.net
