An Ecological and Molecular Study of Elusive Western Tarsier Cephalopachus bancanus in Malaysian Borneo
Borneo is one of the biodiversity hotspots that various studies on different taxa have been conducted since lots of endemic species were discovered. The evolution history such as the existence of refugia in Borneo has been identified as the main phenomenon for the high endemism of species. The in...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23940/1/Nur%20Mukminah%20Naharuddin%20ft.pdf |
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| Summary: | Borneo is one of the biodiversity hotspots that various studies on different taxa have been
conducted since lots of endemic species were discovered. The evolution history such as the
existence of refugia in Borneo has been identified as the main phenomenon for the high
endemism of species. The informations on the ecology and molecular genetics are crucial for
better understanding of the current distribution, sociobiology, conservation status and evolution
during early stages of primate divergence. The study on the ecology and molecular genetics of
the Western Tarsier, Cephalopachus bancanus, was conducted from year 2013 until 2016. A
total of 49 individuals of C. bancanus were recorded from Sarawak and Sabah. Based on the
results, C. bancanus is mainly found inhabiting mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF), kerangas
forest and peat swamp forest. This is most probably due to the plenty of food resources and
suitable vegetation conditions provided to C. bancanus. The frequency of the acoustic call for
an individual of this species recorded in Mulu NP was 70 kHz. This study showed lack of
morphological variations existing between the populations from the southern and central
Sarawak. On the contrary, the individual from the northern Sarawak was isolated from that of
the southern and central Sarawak. This was probably due to the vegetation and habitat
differences and geographical barriers. The D-loop gene of 511 base pairs from a total of 30
individuals of C. bancanus was successfully sequenced. Besides, COI gene with the size of 399
base pairs from a total of 31 individuals of C. bancanus was sequenced. While Cyt b gene with
the size of 288 base pairs from 22 individuals of C. bancanus was sequenced. The phylogenetic
relationships inferred from these mitochondrial genes showed that all the sequences of C.
bancanus in Sarawak formed a monophyletic group. Most of the C. bancanus sequences in
Sarawak were in their unique haplotypes. Only individuals from southern and central Sarawak
shared the same haplotype groups. The only individual from northern Sarawak population was in its unique haplotype group. There were no phylogeographic patterns being observed in Dloop, COI and Cyt b genes of the sequence samples of C. bancanus in Sarawak. Likewise, less
variation observed in the genetic structure of C. bancanus among the population in Sarawak.
The habitat fragmentation and habitat loss may restrict the migration of the C. bancanus. Hence,
low gene flow was observed among the C. bancanus populations. The estimated divergence
time of C. bancanus in Borneo was during the late Miocene epoch which is around 7 Mya. The
dispersal of C. bancanus in Borneo is possibly affected by the harsh environment during late
Miocene. For future study, more ecological parameters should be added and different molecular
markers should be tested. |
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