Logging, pervasive across the lowland tropics, affects millions of hectares of forest, yet its influence on nutrient cycling remains poorly understood. One hypothesis is that logging influences phosphorus (P) cycling, because this scarce nutrient is removed in extracted timber and eroded soil, leading to shifts in ecosystem functioning and community composition. However, testing this is challenging because P varies within landscapes as a function of geology, topography and climate. Superimposed upon these trends are compositional changes in logged forests, with species with more acquisitive traits, characterized by higher foliar P concentrations, more dominant. It is difficult to resolve these patterns using traditional field approaches alone. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging-guided hyperspectral imagery to map foliar nutrient (i.e. P, nitrogen [N]) concentrations, calibrated using field measured traits, over 400 km2 of northeastern Borneo, including a landscape-level disturbance gradient spanning old-growth to repeatedly logged forests. The maps reveal that canopy foliar P and N concentrations decrease with elevation. These relationships were not identified using traditional field measurements of leaf and soil nutrients. After controlling for topography, canopy foliar nutrient concentrations were lower in logged forest than in old-growth areas, reflecting decreased nutrient availability. However, foliar nutrient concentrations and specific leaf area were greatest in relatively short patches in logged areas, reflecting a shift in composition to pioneer species with acquisitive traits. N:P ratio increased in logged forest, suggesting reduced soil P availability through disturbance. Through the first landscape scale assessment of how functional leaf traits change in response to logging, we find that differences from old-growth forest become more pronounced as logged forests increase in stature over time, suggesting exacerbated phosphorus limitation as forests recover.
The enigmatic 'Spectacled Flowerpecker'-a probable new bird species from the island of Borneo-was first sighted in the Danum Valley of Sabah, Malaysia in 2009. However, the absence of a holotype specimen has prevented its formal scientific description. Since then only a handful of reports from widely disparate localities across the island have emerged, all from lowland sites and often in close association with fruiting mistletoe. Here, we report the long-awaited capture of a specimen of this putative new species and confirm its morphological and molecular distinctiveness as a novel species in the genus Dicaeum.
An integrative taxonomic analysis of Subdoluseps herberti from southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia and S. samajaya from Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo) recovers the former as paraphyletic with respect to the latter. The analyses recover the three southernmost populations of S. herberti in Peninsular Malaysia as conspecific and the sister lineage of S. samajaya, whereas S. herberti from Thailand and northern Peninsular Malaysia constitute the sister species to S. samajaya plus the southern three Peninsular Malaysian populations. As such, the southern populations are described herein as S. malayana sp. nov. and all three species are referred to as the S. herberti group. Clade boundaries and breaks within this group on the Thai-Malay Peninsula occurring at the Isthmus of Kra, across the Kangar-Pattani line, and between the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Borneo are consistent with phylogeographic patterns of other Sundaic taxa. The discovery of S. malayana sp. nov. continues to underscore the fact that, despite the well-studied nature of the lizard fauna of Peninsular Malaysia, much of it still remains unrealized and for conservation efforts to move forward, field research followed by expeditiously revised taxonomies must continue.
A review of the taxonomic status of the Smooth Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas laevis) in Borneo resulted in the discovery of two previously unrecognised species from the highlands of Sabah, East Malaysia. Asthenodipsas jamilinaisi sp. nov. and A. stuebingi sp. nov. are presumed to be closely related to A. laevis based on similarities in pholidosis and patterning but can be separated from A. laevis by their dorsal scale rows of 15/15/15 vs 15/15/13 and the presence of a sharp vertebral keel. Asthenodipsas jamilinaisi sp. nov. can be further differentiated from A. stuebingi sp. nov. by the greatly enlarged size of the vertebral scales, higher number of ventrals in males (173-175 vs 165), higher number of subcaudals (53 vs 35-47) and colour pattern (dark overall with indistinct bands vs lighter head and body with clear, distinct bands and a dark neck patch). The discovery highlights the need for more careful examination of much of the herpetofauna of Borneo that still remains underestimated and understudied. There is an urgent need for continued surveys into its diversity and the collection of genetic material for integrated taxonomic revisions.
Additions and corrections to original description of Umbrageocoris Kóbor, 2019 are provided along with the description of a new species and its two subspecies: Umbrageocoris maai maai ssp.n. from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula and Umbrageocoris maai timorensis ssp.n. from Timor. Key to known species and distribution maps included.
Three new species were described from Borneo: Itara (Bornitara) spinosa sp. nov. and Aphonoides duri sp. nov. from Brunei and Varitrella (Cantotrella) suikei sp. nov. from Sandakan in Sabah. We describe the call of Varitrella (Cantotrella) suikei sp. nov. In addition to the new species descriptions, we also report new locality records of other recently discovered species: Borneloria spinosa Gorochov, 2018 in Belait (Brunei Darussalam), species of Anemozara Gorochov, 2014 in Brunei Darussalam and Terrozacla borneo Gorochov, 2014 in Belait.
There are numerous pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae) that exhibit leaf-like appearance. Leaf-mimic species can be found mainly in the subfamily Cladonotinae (tribes Cladonotini, Xerophyllini). Two leaf-mimic pygmy grasshopper species found in India, Pakistan (Oxyphyllum pennatum Hancock, 1909) and Borneo (Paraphyllum antennatum Hancock, 1913) are the only macropterous leaf-like species of Asia and were traditionally assigned to subfamily Cladonotinae. Our study present new records of these species, as well as updated descriptions. Oxyphyllum pennatum is recorded for the first time from Chhattisgarh (Central India), and furthermore, records from Pakistan were reviewed and confirmed. Paraphyllum antennatum is reported from a few localities in the mountains of Borneo (East Malaysia). New records found in online social media (Flickr, iNaturalist) were implemented. Brachypronotal specimens of P. antennatum are reported. After comparison with Cladonotini and Xerophyllini members, we conclude that Oxyphyllum and Paraphyllum should not be regarded Cladonotinae members. Traditional assignment was based on superficial resemblance to leaf-like Cladonotinae genera (e.g. Phyllotettix, Hymenotes, Holoarcus, Xerophyllum). However, comparison of morphological characters reveals that Oxyphyllum shares morphology with Tetriginae genera, while Paraphyllum shares morphology with Asian Metrodorinae. Here, we assign the genus Oxyphyllum to Tetriginae and the genus Paraphyllum to Metrodorinae.
Megalogomphus sumatranus (Krüger, 1899) and its allies in Sundaland are reviewed. The accessory genitalia of the males of this genus, hardly considered previously, are found to be taxonomically informative. The taxon from Borneo previously treated as M. sumatranus is described from both sexes as M. buddi sp. nov. (holotype ♂ Sungai Datai, Nanga Bloh, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Kapit Division, Sarawak, Malaysia, 22 viii 2013, leg. J. anak Awan M. anak Adau; deposited at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands). Megalogomphus borneensis (Laidlaw, 1914), described as a subspecies of M. icterops (Martin, 1903) and subsequently relegated to the synonymy of that species, is considered to be a distinct species. Megalogomphus icterops is however considered to be a junior synonym of M. sumatranus. A re-description of the holotype of Megalogomphus borneensis is provided as is the first description of the female. Descriptive notes with illustrations of Megalogomphus sumatranus are given.
Critical aortic stenosis (AS) is very severe narrowing at aortic valve in newborns, causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). It is lethal if not treated soon after birth.
Coeliccia junis sp. nov. (holotype male from Borneo, Sarawak, Bintulu Division, Planted Forest Project, Bukit Mina Wildlife Corridor, "Day 4" stream near Bukit Nyegoh and Bukit Jugam, near small brown water pool, 10 viii 2018, deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands) and Coeliccia roberti sp. nov. (holotype male from Borneo, Sarawak, Miri Division, Lambir Hills National Park, small stream on Oil Well Trail, 22 iv 2011, deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands) are described from Borneo. Both new species belong to the Coeliccia membranipes-group and bring the number of named species known from the group from Borneo to nine and the total number of named species from Borneo currently placed in Coeliccia to 15. Coeliccia junis is only known from a small area in Sarawak, C. roberti is also known from Brunei. Both species are considered likely to be closely allied with C. macrostigma Laidlaw.
Soil respiration is the largest carbon efflux from the terrestrial ecosystem to the atmosphere, and selective logging influences soil respiration via changes in abiotic (temperature, moisture) and biotic (biomass, productivity, quantity and quality of necromass inputs) drivers. Logged forests are a predominant feature of the tropical forest landscape, their area exceeding that of intact forest. We quantified both total and component (root, mycorrhiza, litter, and soil organic matter, SOM) soil respiration in logged (n = 5) and old-growth (n = 6) forest plots in Malaysian Borneo, a region which is a global hotspot for emission from forest degradation. We constructed a detailed below-ground carbon budget including organic carbon inputs into the system via litterfall and root turnover. Total soil respiration was significantly higher in logged forests than in old-growth forests (14.3 ± 0.23 and 12.7 ± 0.60 Mg C ha-1 year-1 , respectively, p = 0.037). This was mainly due to the higher SOM respiration in logged forests (55 ± 3.1% of the total respiration in logged forests vs. 50 ± 3.0% in old-growth forests). In old-growth forests, annual SOM respiration was equal to the organic carbon inputs into the soil (difference between SOM respiration and inputs 0.18 Mg C ha-1 year-1 , with 90% confidence intervals of -0.41 and 0.74 Mg C ha-1 year-1 ), indicating that the system is in equilibrium, while in logged forests SOM respiration exceeded the inputs by 4.2 Mg C ha-1 year-1 (90% CI of 3.6 and 4.9 Mg C ha-1 year-1 ), indicating that the soil is losing carbon. These results contribute towards understanding the impact of logging on below-ground carbon dynamics, which is one of the key uncertainties in estimating emissions from forest degradation. This study demonstrates how significant perturbation of the below-ground carbon balance, and consequent net soil carbon emissions, can persist for decades after a logging event in tropical forests.
The effects of commercial logging on tree diversity in tropical rainforest are largely unknown. In this study, selectively logged tropical rainforest in Indonesian Borneo is shown to contain high tree species richness, despite severe structural damage. Plots logged 8 years before sampling contained fewer species of trees greater than 20 centimeters in diameter than did similar-sized unlogged plots. However, in samples of the same numbers of trees (requiring a 50 percent larger area), logged forest contained as many tree species as unlogged forest. These findings warrant reassessment of the conservation potential of large tracts of commercially logged tropical rainforest.
The sarawakensis species group of the termitophilous carabid genus Orthogonius MacLeay, 1825 is defined and reviewed. Members of this species group are distributed in Southeast Asia and represented by four species, including two new species: Orthogonius sabahicus sp. n. (Sabah, northern Borneo, Malaysia) and Orthogonius morvanianus sp. n. (southern Thailand). A key to all species of the species group is also provided.
Although dengue haemorrhagic fever is widely established in South-East Asia, no cases have been reported from Borneo. In order to help to assess whether the infection could become established in Borneo, a survey was made, using the single-larva collection method, of the distribution and prevalence of the principal vector, Aedes aegypti, in Sabah and in a few towns and villages of Brunei and Sarawak. In addition, the prevalence of Ae. aegypti was compared with that of certain other species of Aedes.Ae. aegypti was found to be well established in the north, east, and south-west of Sabah but to be absent from almost all of the west coast. It was either uncommon in, or absent from, several small coastal villages; in others, very high Breteau indices were recorded. No reasonable explanation for this discontinuous distribution can be suggested. Large numbers of potential larval habitats were found, giving reason to believe that Ae. aegypti will spread further within these territories.