Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection

The Baleh Water Skink (Tropidophorus sebi) is the focal species of this study, aimed at understanding its life history by investigating its thermal biology and spatial ecology within the logged forests of Upper Baleh. With rapid habitat changes posing a challenge to its long-term survival, understan...

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Main Author:	Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English English
Published:	2024
Subjects:	QH Natural history QL Zoology
Online Access:	http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/3/DSVA%20Awang.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/4/Thesis%20Awang.pdf
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id	my-unimas-ir.45172
record_format	uketd_dc
spelling	my-unimas-ir.451722024-07-11T06:56:24Z Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection 2024-07-04 Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim QH Natural history QL Zoology The Baleh Water Skink (Tropidophorus sebi) is the focal species of this study, aimed at understanding its life history by investigating its thermal biology and spatial ecology within the logged forests of Upper Baleh. With rapid habitat changes posing a challenge to its long-term survival, understanding species adaptation is crucial for conservation and management. Temperature-sensitive radio transmitters were utilized to monitor seven adults of the species, consisting of four females and three males. The mean body temperature (Tb) of females and males was 25.47°C (SE ± 0.54) and 26.09°C (SE ± 0.45), respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the mean Tb and ambient temperature, as well as substrate temperature. Through telemetry techniques, this study demonstrates that skinks are capable of regulating body temperature through thigmothermy, effectively reducing body temperature compared to ambient conditions. Using the 100% Minimum Convex Polygons (MCP) method, home range size was estimated to range from 28.69 to 212.32 m². Notably, the study documented the smallest home range size among tracked individuals for a gravid individual, providing novel insights into this aspect of the species' ecology. Microhabitat occupancy data reveals that the skinks are primarily found near streams (33.1%) and under vegetation debris (31.2%), followed by on banks and under bank debris (29.3%). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was utilized to identify influential factors driving microhabitat selection, with distance from the water body (1.748) and canopy cover (1.186) emerging as the most significant components. Finally, it is hoped that the results from this study serve as a tool for developing conservation measures. By comprehending the species' ecology, this research can aid in ensuring the long-term survival and conservation of Tropidophorus sebi and other tropical ectothermic species inhabiting similar environments. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 2024-07 Thesis http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/3/DSVA%20Awang.pdf text en staffonly http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/4/Thesis%20Awang.pdf text en validuser masters Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
institution	Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
collection	UNIMAS Institutional Repository
language	English English
topic	QH Natural history QL Zoology
spellingShingle	QH Natural history QL Zoology Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
description	The Baleh Water Skink (Tropidophorus sebi) is the focal species of this study, aimed at understanding its life history by investigating its thermal biology and spatial ecology within the logged forests of Upper Baleh. With rapid habitat changes posing a challenge to its long-term survival, understanding species adaptation is crucial for conservation and management. Temperature-sensitive radio transmitters were utilized to monitor seven adults of the species, consisting of four females and three males. The mean body temperature (Tb) of females and males was 25.47°C (SE ± 0.54) and 26.09°C (SE ± 0.45), respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the mean Tb and ambient temperature, as well as substrate temperature. Through telemetry techniques, this study demonstrates that skinks are capable of regulating body temperature through thigmothermy, effectively reducing body temperature compared to ambient conditions. Using the 100% Minimum Convex Polygons (MCP) method, home range size was estimated to range from 28.69 to 212.32 m². Notably, the study documented the smallest home range size among tracked individuals for a gravid individual, providing novel insights into this aspect of the species' ecology. Microhabitat occupancy data reveals that the skinks are primarily found near streams (33.1%) and under vegetation debris (31.2%), followed by on banks and under bank debris (29.3%). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was utilized to identify influential factors driving microhabitat selection, with distance from the water body (1.748) and canopy cover (1.186) emerging as the most significant components. Finally, it is hoped that the results from this study serve as a tool for developing conservation measures. By comprehending the species' ecology, this research can aid in ensuring the long-term survival and conservation of Tropidophorus sebi and other tropical ectothermic species inhabiting similar environments.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Master's degree
author	Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim
author_facet	Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim
author_sort	Awang Khairul Ikhwan, bin Awang Abdul Rahim
title	Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
title_short	Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
title_full	Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
title_fullStr	Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
title_full_unstemmed	Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection
title_sort	life history patterns of the baleh water skink, tropidophorus sebi (reptilia: scincidae: tropidophorus): thermoregulation, movement and microhabitat selection
granting_institution	Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation
granting_department	Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
publishDate	2024
url	http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/3/DSVA%20Awang.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45172/4/Thesis%20Awang.pdf
_version_	1804888440631721984

Life History Patterns of the Baleh Water Skink, Tropidophorus sebi (Reptilia: Scincidae: Tropidophorus): Thermoregulation, Movement and Microhabitat Selection

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