Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 49 in total

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  1. Fulltext Zooplankton species composition and diversity in the seagrass habitat of Lawas, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Ismail J, Mustafa Kamal AH, Idris MH, Amin SMN, Hamli H, Sien LS, et al.
    Biodivers Data J, 2021;9:e67449.
    PMID: 34177311 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e67449
    Seagrass habitats are considered to be some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and safeguard some ecologically and economically important fauna, amongst which are some globally threatened species, including dugong. Malaysian seagrass ecosystems are not widespread, but their existence supports some significant marine fauna. A rigorous zooplankton study was conducted from May 2016 to February 2017, in the seagrass habitat of Lawas, Sarawak, Malaysia, to examine their temporal composition and diversity, together with their ecological influences. A total of 45 zooplankton species from 13 significant groups were recorded in the seagrass habitat. The population density of zooplankton ranged between 2,482 ind/m³ and 22,670 ind/m³ over three different seasons. A single zooplankton copepod was found to be dominant (47.40%), while bivalves were the second largest (31.8%) group in terms of total abundance. It was also noticed that the average relative abundance (0.62) and important species index (62.08) of copepods were higher than for other groups that exist in the seagrass meadow, whereas copepod Parvocalanus crassirostris showed both the highest average relative abundance (0.41) and the highest important species index (41.15). The diversity (H') and richness index of the intermediate season were found to be highest due to favourable physico-chemical conditions. Within the referred seasonal cluster, the wet and dry seasons were almost similar in terms of species abundance, while the intermediate season was distinct, with high species diversity backed by ANOSIM analysis results. Copepod and bivalves formed one group with a common similarity level of 0.80. The CCA (Canonical Correspondence Analysis) model established that abiotic factors, especially turbidity, NO2, rainfall, dissolved oxygen and pH were significantly correlated with abundance of individual groups of zooplankton. Zooplankton assemblage and abundance in Lawas were found to be very rich in multiple seasons, indicating that the productivity of uninterrupted seagrass habitat might be high and the system rich in biodiversity.
  2. Fulltext World Checklist of Opiliones species (Arachnida). Part 2: Laniatores - Samooidea, Zalmoxoidea and Grassatoresincertae sedis
    Kury AB, Souza DR, Pérez-González A
    Biodivers Data J, 2015.
    PMID: 26752965 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e6482
    Including more than 6500 species, Opiliones is the third most diverse order of Arachnida, after the megadiverse Acari and Araneae. This database is part 2 of 12 of a project containing an intended worldwide checklist of species and subspecies of Opiliones, and it includes the members of the suborder Laniatores, infraorder Grassatores of the superfamilies Samooidea and Zalmoxoidea plus the genera currently not allocated to any family (i.e. Grassatores incertae sedis). In this Part 2, a total of 556 species and subspecies are listed.
  3. Fulltext Understorey bird assemblages in selected environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) of Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia
    Munian K, Mahyudin NAA, Azman SM
    Biodivers Data J, 2023;11:e95670.
    PMID: 38327332 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e95670
    Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) refer to areas that are of critical importance in terms of ecosystem services such as goods, services and life-support systems, such as water purification, pest control and erosion regulation. In addition, they also refer to areas that harbour the wealth of the nation's biodiversity. However, the classification of ESA in Malaysia is incomprehensible and lacks weightage on biological elements as the current classification is more centred on physical attributes. In order to enhance the existing classification of ESA by introducing biological elements, biological data are urgently required, especially for forest reserves and protected habitat. Hence, we conducted understorey birds surveys in three ESA rank II permanent forest reserves, located in northern Selangor as baseline information to strengthen the ESA classification. The surveys were carried out using mist-netting in three 400 m × 200 m plots. Alpha diversity indices were calculated and showed a significant difference in terms of diversity, composition and biomass of understorey birds between investigated sites. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that bird assemblages from forest reserves designated as ESA rank II in Selangor, based on disturbances levels, have weakly diverged and SIMPER analysis has identified six species that contributed to 60% of the differences amongst the bird assemblages. The finding provides the first insight into understorey birds of the study sites and the importance of conserving and preserving ESA of permanent forest reserves, especially the small and fragmented forests.
  4. Two new species and a new record of the Encarsialongifasciata-group (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from Malaysia and China
    Geng H, Li CD, Polaszek A, Liu SZ
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e91069.
    PMID: 36761528 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e91069
    BACKGROUND: The genus Encarsia Förster, 1878, which is the largest genus of the family Aphelinidae, contains 453 valid species worldwide. Most species of Encarsia with known biology are primary endoparasitoids of Aleyrodidae and Diaspididae.

    NEW INFORMATION: Species of the Encarsialongifasciata-group from Malaysia and China are reviewed. This is the first record of this group from Malaysia. Two new species, E.borneensis Geng & Li sp. n. and E.pauroseta Geng & Li sp. n., are described and illustrated. Encarsialongifasciata is newly recorded from Malaysia (Borneo). An updated key to the longifasciata-group species (females) worldwide is provided.

  5. Fulltext Three new minute leaf litter beetles discovered by citizen scientists in Maliau Basin, Malaysian Borneo (Coleoptera: Leiodidae, Chrysomelidae)
    Schilthuizen M, Seip LA, Otani S, Suhaimi J, Njunjić I
    Biodivers Data J, 2017.
    PMID: 29308046 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.5.e21947
    Background: We coin the term "taxon expeditions" for citizen scientists' field courses to carry out publishable taxonomic work in close association with trained taxonomists.

    New information: During the first-ever taxon expedition, in Maliau Basin Studies Centre, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, the participants sampled leaf litter beetles from lowland dipterocarp forest using the Winkler apparatus. The collected material proved to contain at least three undescribed species of small-bodied (ca. 1 mm long) hemispherical litter-dwelling Coleoptera. As part of the field course work, taxonomic descriptions were prepared for the chrysomelid Clavicornaltica sabahensis sp. n. and the leiodids Colenisia chungi sp. n. and Dermatohomoeus maliauensis sp. n.

  6. Fulltext The millipede family Paradoxosomatidae in the Philippines, with a description of Eustrongylosomapenevi sp.n., and notes on Anoplodesmusanthracinus Pocock, 1895, recorded in Malaysia and Sri Lanka for the first time (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)
    Golovatch S, Stoev P
    Biodivers Data J, 2013.
    PMID: 24723759 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.1.e957
    The Philippine fauna of the family Paradoxosomatidae is reviewed and shown to comprise only 12 certain species (+ one dubious), definitely only a fraction of the real diversity to be expected from such a large tropical archipelago. Two new combinations are proposed: Euphyodesmusphilippina (Nguyen Duc & Sierwald, 2010), comb. n. ex Desmoxytes Chamberlin, 1923, and Luzonomorphapolilloensis (San Juan & Lit, 2010), comb. n. ex Prionopeltis Pocock, 1895. The first representative of the large, basically Papuan genus Eustrongylosoma Silvestri, 1896 is described from Luzon, Philippines: Eustrongylosomapenevi sp. n. It differs from the other congeners in certain details of gonopod structure, as well as by the particularly long legs. Based on a restudy of the types of Strongylosomaluzoniense Peters, 1864, from Luzon, the species is shown to be a new senior subjective synonym of Helicorthomorphaorthogona (Silvestri, 1898), syn. n. This formally results also in Helicorthomorphaluzoniensis (Peters, 1864), comb. n. Anoplodesmusanthracinus Pocock, 1895 is illustrated and briefly redescribed, based on material from State Pulau Penang, Malaysia, which represents the first formal record of the species in that country. This species is also new to the fauna of Sri Lanka. A review of the Anoplodesmus species reported from Sri Lanka, nearly all of them dubious, is presented.
  7. Fulltext The land snail fauna of Batu Kudik, isolated limestone outcrop near Simunjan, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (Mollusca, Gastropoda)
    Lee JY, Nasir NS, Marzuki ME, Vermeulen JJ, Khalik MZ
    Biodivers Data J, 2024;12:e115556.
    PMID: 38405381 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e115556
    BACKGROUND: The present study provides a checklist of land snails collected from Batu Kudik, a small and isolated limestone outcrop in Simunjan, Sarawak. A total of 24 species of land snails, representing 18 genera and 14 families were recorded, including one newly-described subspecies. The most species-rich of the families in Batu Kudik are Diplommatinidae (17%) and Chronidae (17%) with four recorded species from each of the families. Based on our analysis, Plectostomawallaceikudikense subsp. nov., Opisthostomajavanica and Georissapyrrhoderma were identified as the most abundant land snails at this isolated outcrop, whereas Diplommatinaonyx and Everettiaminuta were recorded as the least abundant. All of the land snails at Batu Kudik were exclusively found sheltered between limestone boulders, underscoring the critical role of this outcrop as their refuge for survival. Consequently, conserving this biodiversity-rich limestone area becomes paramount to prevent the local extinction of these land snail species and possibly other organisms that depend on the unique attributes of the limestone for their survival. We also provide detailed descriptions of Plectostomawallaceikudikense, a new subspecies of the genus Plectostoma which is endemic to Batu Kudik.

    NEW INFORMATION: A description of a new subspecies Plectostomawallaceikudikense subsp. nov.

  8. The first record of the thomisid genus Ibana Benjamin, 2014 (Araneae, Thomisidae) from China, with the description of a new species
    Liu K, Li W, Yao Y, Li C, Li S
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e93637.
    PMID: 36761648 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e93637
    BACKGROUND: The genus Ibana Benjamin, 2014 was established, based on the type species Ibanasenagang Benjamin, 2014 from Borneo, Malaysia. No species of this genus has been recorded from China.

    NEW INFORMATION: A new species of Ibana is described and illustrated, representing the first record of the genus for China. Ibanagan sp. n. differs from its congener by the yellowishbrown longitudinal band on the abdomen and the round, contiguous spermathecae. The distribution of the new species in Jiangxi Province is mapped.

  9. The first record of the parasitic myrmecophilous caterpillar Liphyrabrassolis (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) inside Asian weaver ant (Oecophyllasmaragdina) nests in oil palm plantations
    Dwi Advento A, Yusah KM, Salim H, Naim M, Caliman JP, Fayle TM
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e83842.
    PMID: 36761604 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e83842
    Asian weaver ants (Oecophyllasmaragdina) are an important biocontrol agent in agricultural habitats. We conducted surveys in oil palm plantations in Riau, Indonesia for an obligate myrmecophilous butterfly larvae, Liphyrabrassolis (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), that is known to consume weaver ant larvae in other habitat types. We found L.brassolis larvae in five of the twenty nests surveyed, with larval presence not being related to weaver ant nest size. We also observed L.brassolis larvae in a weaver ant mass rearing facility. This is the first report of L.brassolis from oil palm plantations and may have implications for the use of weaver ants as biological control agents.
  10. Fulltext The first record of a fly of the family Milichiidae (Diptera) interacting with an ant of the genus Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
    Yusah KM, Fayle TM
    Biodivers Data J, 2014.
    PMID: 25425942 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4168
    Flies in the family Milichiidae are often myrmecophilic. We document the first record of a fly from this family interacting with an ant of the genus Polyrhachis. In lowland riparian rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia, we observed a female of the genus Milichia following an ant of the species of P.illaudata, and repeatedly attempting to make close contact. Our observation suggests that the dipteran may have been attempting to feed kleptoparasitically from the Polyrhachis worker, since members of this ant genus often feed on liquid carbohydrate-rich food resources. This is the first time an interaction has been observed between a fly of this family and an ant of this widespread old world tropical genus.
  11. Taxonomic notes on eleven species of the subfamily Cteninae (Araneae, Ctenidae) from Asia
    Chu C, Lu Y, Li S, Yao Z
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e96003.
    PMID: 36761640 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e96003
    BACKGROUND: The spider family Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877 has a worldwide distribution with 584 species belonging to 49 genera. Amongst these, 141 species are from Asia, including 130 species assigned to Cteninae Keyserling, 1877.

    NEW INFORMATION: Nine new species belonging to three genera of Cteninae are reported from Asia: Amauropelmakrabi sp. n. (female; Krabi, Thailand), Am.phangnga sp. n. (male; Phang Nga, Thailand), Am.saraburi sp. n. (male and female; Saraburi, Thailand); Anahitamedog sp. n. (male and female; Tibet, China); Bowieninhbinh sp. n. (male; Ninh Binh, Vietnam) and B.vinhphuc sp. n. (male and female; Vinh Phuc, Vietnam) from the robustus-species group; B.borneo sp. n. (male; Sabah, Malaysia) from the chinagirl-species group; B.engkilili sp. n. (female; Engkilili, Malaysia); B.sabah sp. n. (male and female; Sabah, Malaysia) from the scarymonsters-species group. The male of An.popa Jäger & Minn, 2015 and the female of B.fascination Jäger, 2022 (robustus-species group) are described for the first time. B.fascination Jäger, 2022 is reported from China for the first time. In addition, the DNA barcodes of all the species in this study were obtained, except for B.vinhphuc sp. n.

  12. Spatial and temporal distribution dataset of benthic macroalgae during the 2015-2016 tropical monsoonal cycle in Malaysia
    Zainee NFA, Rozaimi M
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e85676.
    PMID: 36761545 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e85676
    BACKGROUND: The effects of small-scale disturbances, such as monsoon, are understudied in tropical regions. The storms associated with monsoon events not only modify the local macroalgal community structure, but also reveal the continuation of short-term recolonisation. Thus, this study aims to determine the variation in species, assemblage and cover of macroalgae during the monsoonal cycle from 2015 to 2016. This paper presents data on the spatial and temporal distribution of benthic macroalgae along the coastline of Johor, Malaysia. The information is presented as raw and partially-processed data, which summarises the cover and frequency of macroalgae at the respective study sites. This paper describes an important set of data that can be used further for in-situ experiments on the effects of environmental disturbances towards pioneer and climax species in tropical areas.

    NEW INFORMATION: This study provides a description of the east coast shore of Peninsular Malaysia, specifically in Johor coast in 2015-2016. The spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of a total of 41 taxa were assessed at four monsoon-exposed locations. These data provide a comprehensive baseline against disturbance and recolonisation of macroalgal community can be effectively and objectively evaluated.

  13. Fulltext Redescription of the little-known grasshopper Willemsella (Acrididae, Hemiacridinae) from Peninsular Malaysia
    Tan MK, Kamaruddin KN
    Biodivers Data J, 2016.
    PMID: 27099555 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e7775
    Catantopinae is a huge subfamily and is in need of a major revision. We contribute to the taxonomy of the subfamily by reviewing one poorly known genus, Willemsella Miller, 1934. This is a monotypic genus so far found only in Peninsular Malaysia.
  14. Fulltext Note on the genus Serendib Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, with the description of a new species (Araneae, Corinnidae, Castianeirinae)
    Zhang L, Zhang F
    Biodivers Data J, 2023;11:e99980.
    PMID: 38327341 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e99980
    BACKGROUND: Prior to this study, the genus Serendib Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 has been discovered in Indonesia, Thailand and Laos and comprises three species: S.muadai Jäger, Nophaseud & Praxaysombath, 2012, S.suthepica Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and S.volans Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001.

    NEW INFORMATION: The genus Serendib Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 is reviewed. A new species, S.hispida sp. n. (male and female), representing the first record of genus Serendib from Malaysia, is described. Descriptions and illustrations of the females of S.volans (Malaysia) and S.suthepica (China) are also provided. The latter represents the first record of the genus in China.

  15. New distribution record of the rare bat Hypsugo cf. vordermanni (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from the Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
    Hasan NH, Daud US, Amat A, Lok YC, Mohd Johar MF, Gompoyo J, et al.
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e87860.
    PMID: 36761649 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e87860
    A female Hypsugocf.vordermanni was caught at a stream near a village road in Mantailang, Crocker Range Park, Sabah, on 12 November 2018. This bat is a new record for the national park and the second record for Sabah. It was first recorded from Banggi Island, Kudat, in 1991. The species' few records throughout its range is most likely due to sampling effort bias towards forest interior and cave-dwelling species, as this species is more likely an edge-space aerial forager. It is morphologically similar to Peninsular Malaysia's Hypsugomacrotis, but the latter has never been reported from Borneo. Therefore, additional specimen collection and molecular data for H.cf.vordermanni are needed for further species confirmation. More information on H.vordermanni ecology is also crucial in aiding the management plan for this species as it is currently classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN.
  16. Metabarcoding data analysis revealed the plant dietary variation of long-tailed macaque Macacafascicularis (Cercopithecidae, Cercopithecinae) living in disturbed habitats in Peninsular Malaysia
    Osman NA, Abdul-Latiff MAB, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Yaakop S, Karuppannan KV, Md-Zain BM
    Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e89617.
    PMID: 36761533 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e89617
    The long-tailed macaque (Macacafascicularis) has a wide range in both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Although the primates are especially vulnerable to habitat alterations, this primate lives in disturbed habitats due to human-induced land-use. Thus, this study presents a faecal metabarcoding approach to clarify the plant diet of long-tailed macaques from five locations in Peninsular Malaysia to represent fragmented forest, forest edge, island and recreational park habitats. We extracted genomic DNA from 53 long-tailed macaque faecal samples. We found 47 orders, 126 families, 609 genera and 818 species across these five localities. A total of 113 plant families were consumed by long-tailed macaques in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 61 in the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute, 33 in Langkawi Island, 53 in Redang Island and 44 in the Cenderawasih Cave. Moraceae (33.24%) and Fabaceae (13.63%) were the most common families consumed by long-tailed macaques from the study localities. We found that habitat type impacted diet composition, indicating the flexibility of foraging activities. This research findings provide an understanding of plant dietary diversity and the adaptability of this macaque with the current alteration level that applies to long-tailed macaque conservation management interest in the future.
  17. Fulltext Insect community in riparian zones of Sungai Sepetang, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Chukai of Peninsular Malaysia
    Abdullah NA, Radzi SNF, Asri LN, Idris NS, Husin S, Sulaiman A, et al.
    Biodivers Data J, 2019;7:e35679.
    PMID: 31582889 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.7.e35679
    Riparian areas hold vast number of flora and fauna with exceptional contributions to the ecosystem. A study was conducted in Sungai Sepetang, Sungai Rembau and Sungai Chukai to identify the insect community in a riparian zone of Peninsular Malaysia. Sampling was conducted in six consecutive months from December 2017 to May 2018 during both day and night using sweep nets. Twenty sampling stations (S1-S20) had been assembled along the riverbanks with an average distance of 200 m between each station. The 17,530 collected insects were from 11 orders and consisted of Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Blattodea, Thysanoptera, Mantodea and Odonata. The three most abundant orders were Diptera (33.84%; 5933 individuals), Coleoptera (28.82%; 5053 individuals) and Hemiptera (25.62%: 4491 individuals). The collected insect community consisted of different guilds such as the scavenger, predator, herbivore, pollinator and parasitoid. Sungai Sepetang and Sungai Rembau were dominated by mangrove flora, Sonneratia caseolaris (Myrtales: Lythraceae), while Sungai Chukai was dominated by Barringtonia racemosa. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the composition of insects between the three rivers though clustering analysis showed that the insect communities in Sungai Sepetang and Sungai Rembau were 100% similar compared to Sungai Chukai which consisted of a totally different community. There is a significant negative correlation between abundance of insects with salinity and wind speed at Sungai Chukai and Sungai Sepetang.
  18. Fulltext High-throughput DNA metabarcoding for determining the gut microbiome of captive critically endangered Malayan tiger (Pantheratigrisjacksoni) during fasting
    Khairulmunir M, Gani M, Karuppannan KV, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Md-Zain BM
    Biodivers Data J, 2023;11:e104757.
    PMID: 37711366 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e104757
    The Malayan tiger (Pantheratigrisjacksoni) is a critically endangered species native to the Malaysian Peninsula. To imitate wild conditions where tigers do not hunt every day, numerous wildlife sanctuaries do not feed their tigers daily. However, the effects of fasting on the gut microbiota of captive Malayan tigers remains unknown. This study aimed to characterise the gut microbiota of captive Malayan tigers by comparing their microbial communities during fasting versus normal feeding conditions. This study was conducted at the Melaka Zoo, Malaysian Peninsula and involved Malayan tigers fasted every Monday. In total, ten faecal samples of Malayan tiger, two of Bengal tiger (outgroup) and four of lion (outgroup) were collected and analysed for metabarcoding targeting the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region. In total, we determined 14 phyla, 87 families, 167 genera and 53 species of gut microbiome across Malayan tiger samples. The potentially harmful bacterial genera found in this study included Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Solobacterium, Echerichiashigella, Ignatzschineria and Negativibacillus. The microbiome in the fasting phase had a higher composition and was more diverse than in the feeding phase. The present findings indicate a balanced ratio in the dominant phyla, reflecting a resetting of the imbalanced gut microbiota due to fasting. These findings can help authorities in how to best maintain and improve the husbandry and health of Malayan tigers in captivity and be used for monitoring in ex-situ veterinary care unit.
  19. Fulltext Harmonia manillana (Mulsant), a new addition to Indian Coccinellidae, with changes in synonymy
    Poorani J, Booth RG
    Biodivers Data J, 2016.
    PMID: 27099561 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e8030
    Harmonia dunlopi (Crotch), a rare lady beetle species, was originally described from 'India' by Crotch (1874). But information on subsequent sightings of this species is absent and it has not been reported by anyone from India and its neighbouring countries ever since its original description. Because of this, Indian records of H. dunlopi were suspected to be probably misidentifications of H. dimidiata (F.), a species common in northern and northeastern India and also widely distributed in the Oriental region.
  20. Fulltext Freshwater fishes (Actinopterygii) of Kenyir Reservoir, Peninsular Malaysia: Updated checklist, taxonomic concerns and alien species
    Aqmal-Naser M, Ali NA, Azmi NU, Fahmi-Ahmad M, Rizal SA, Ahmad AB
    Biodivers Data J, 2023;11:e100337.
    PMID: 38327369 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e100337
    BACKGROUND: A total of 87 freshwater fish species from 30 families were recorded from the Kenyir Reservoir, Peninsular Malaysia, where 75 are native and 12 are introduced species. Few species still have unstable taxonomy identities which urge further studies. Most of the species were categorised as Least Concern (LC) and two were threatened species; Endangered and Critically Endangered (EN and CR). One introduced species, Gambusiaaffinis is widespread in the human-associated area, while other introduced fish species can be considered low in numbers.

    NEW INFORMATION: Twenty five fish species are recorded for the first time in the Kenyir Reservoir.

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