Unveiling the Gut Microbiota of Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) in Selected Habitats in Malaysia.

Background: The gut microbiota plays an important role in primates, which may be associated with their habitat. In Malaysia, pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) live in different habitat environments and have traditionally been used for coconut plucking for more than a century. There is currently no information regarding the gut microbiota of this macaque in Malaysia.

Gut microbial assessment among Hylobatidae at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, Peninsular Malaysia.

Importance: Recent developments in genetic analytical techniques have enabled the comprehensive analysis of gastrointestinal symbiotic bacteria as a screening tool for animal health conditions, especially the endangered gibbons at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre (NWRC).

Objective: High-throughput sequencing based on 16S ribosomal RNA genes was used to determine the baseline gut bacterial composition and identify potential pathogenic bacteria among three endangered gibbons housed in the NWRC.

Methods: Feces were collected from 14 individuals (, n = 9; , n = 4; and , n = 1) from March to November 2022.

Characterizing the gastrointestinal microbiome diversity in endangered Malayan Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus): Insights into group composition, age variability and sex-related patterns.

Background: The gut morphology of Symphalangus syndactylus exhibits an intermediate structure that aligns with its consumption of fruit and ability to supplement its diet with leaves. The Siamang relies on its gut microbiome for energy extraction, immune system development, and the synthesis of micronutrients. Gut microbiome composition may be structured based on several factors such as age, sex, and habitat.

Preliminary assessment of group composition and activity pattern of the critically endangered Bornean Banded Langur in Tanjung Datu National Park.

The Bornean banded langur () is critically endangered species primarily found in Sarawak, Malaysia. Albeit this species is in peril, the ecology knowledge of this endemic species of Borneo is still scarce. Thus, a rapid survey employing total count and scan sampling method was conducted between July to August 2023 at Tanjung Datu National Park (TDNP), Sarawak to observe the social interaction of species with the environment.

Alteration of the gut microbial composition of critically endangered Malayan tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in captivity during enrichment phase.

Background: Enrichment activities may influence the microbiomes of captive tigers', affecting their health, digestion, and behavior. Currently, there are few studies that address the impact of enrichment activity on tigers' health. This study aimed to determine the diversity of the gut microbiome in captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari during the environmental enrichment phase using a metabarcoding approach.

Interspecific variation in the diet of and at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.

Primate communities in the Genting Highlands consist of a single species of Hylobatidae and four species of Cercopithecidae, which are known to exhibit social interaction behaviour. Thus, a study on the diets of (siamang; family Hylobatidae) and (pig-tailed macaque; family Cercopithecidae) was carried out at Genting Highlands, in order to compare the dietary preferences and interspecific competition between the two primate families. A DNA metabarcoding approach was used to analyse diet intake using non-invasive samples based on the trnL region.

Molecular phylogeny confirms the subspecies delineation of the Malayan Siamang () and the Sumatran Siamang () based on the hypervariable region of mitochondrial DNA.

Siamangs () are native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and southern Thailand and their taxonomical classification at subspecies level remains unclear. Morphologically, two subspecies were proposed as early as 1908 by Thomas namely and Thus, this study aims to clarify the Siamang subspecies status, based on mtDNA -loop sequences. Faecal samples were collected from wild Siamang populations at different localities in Peninsular Malaysia.

Ethnoprimatology reveals new extended distribution of critically endangered banded langur Presbytis femoralis (Martin, 1838) in Pahang, Malaysia: Insights from indigenous traditional knowledge and molecular analysis.

The banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) is a critically endangered primate, which within Malaysia has not been known to extend significantly outside the state of Johor. Traditionally, distribution studies on this highly threatened primate have relied on conventional methods such as DNA identification, live counting, and camera trapping. However, ethnoprimatology offers an alternative approach to data collection, involving the active participation of indigenous and local communities possessing valuable knowledge and experience with local primate species.

Metagenomic profile of the bacterial communities associated with Ixodes granulatus (Acari: Ixodidae): a potential vector of tick-borne diseases.

Ixodes granulatus Supino, 1897 (Acari: Ixodida) is one of Malaysia's most common hard ticks and is a potential vector for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Despite its great public health importance, research on I. granulatus microbial communities remains largely unexplored.

Determining the Dietary Preferences of Wild Asian Elephants () in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia Based on Sex and Age using trnL DNA Metabarcoding Analysis.

The world's largest terrestrial mammal, Asian elephants, are known to have enormous feeding needs. Several factors such as season, sex, age, and daily activities influence the amount of food required by an individual. Generally, captive elephants have a limited choice of food on a daily basis compared with that of elephants in the wild.

Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships and Unveiling Novel Genetic Diversity among Slow and Pygmy Lorises, including Resurrection of .

Genetic analysis of historical museum collections presents an opportunity to clarify the evolutionary history of understudied primate groups, improve taxonomic inferences, and inform conservation efforts. Among the most understudied primate groups, slow and pygmy lorises (genera and ) are nocturnal strepsirrhines found in South and Southeast Asia. Previous molecular studies have supported five species, but studies using morphological data suggest the existence of at least nine species.

Determining the diet of wild Asian elephants () at human-elephant conflict areas in Peninsular Malaysia using DNA metabarcoding.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) contributes to the increasing death of Asian elephants due to road accidents, retaliatory killings and fatal infections from being trapped in snares. Understanding the diet of elephants throughout Peninsular Malaysia remains crucial to improve their habitat quality and reduce scenarios of HEC. DNA metabarcoding allows investigating the diet of animals without direct observation, especially in risky conflict areas.

Metabarcoding data analysis revealed the plant dietary variation of long-tailed macaque (Cercopithecidae, Cercopithecinae) living in disturbed habitats in Peninsular Malaysia.

The long-tailed macaque () 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.

First report on metabarcoding analysis of gut microbiome in Island Flying Fox () in island populations of Malaysia.

Flying fox () belongs to the frugivorous bats, which play a crucial role in maintaining proper functioning of an ecosystem and conservation of the environment. Bats are well-known carriers of pathogenic viruses, such as BatCov RaTG13 from the coronavirus family that share 90.55% with SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing recent global pandemic coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).

Dietary Habits of Free-ranging Banded Langur () in a Secondary-human Modified Forest in Johor, Malaysia.

Banded langurs, , are distributed in southern Peninsular Malaysia, , Johor and its borders including Singapore. It has been estimated that there are only < 250 mature individuals of in Malaysia and Singapore, and the species is currently considered Critically Endangered. The dietary information of and even other closely related species has rarely been reported.

Metabarcoding of Parasitic Wasp, (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) That Parasitizing Bagworm, Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae).

Microbiome studies of the parasitoid wasp, (Nixon) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) are important because has potential as a biological control agent to suppress the pest, Walker (Lepidoptera, Psychidae). Three field populations of parasitic wasps with different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to control collected from Perak state (Tapah) and Johor state (Yong Peng and Batu Pahat districts) in Peninsular Malaysia were studied. Bacterial community composition and structure were analysed using α and β diversity metrics.

Taxonomy, Evolutionary and Dispersal Events of Pig-Tailed Macaque, (Linnaeus, 1766) in Southeast Asia with Description of a New Subspecies, in Malaysia.

The pig-tailed macaque, , which is distributed in Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra, has been the subject of unstable and changing taxonomic entity in the group. This species is involved with a human-macaque conflict in Malaysia and at the same time played an important role in the ethnozoological culture of Malaysian. Even so, comprehensive phylogenetic, population genetics and biogeographical analysis of in Malaysia are non-existent after decades of intensive research on the genus itself.

Morphological and molecular identification of medically important questing Dermacentor species collected from some recreational areas of Peninsular Malaysia.

Questing is a situation when a tick is seeking to get closer or ambush its potential host. However, information on questing tick species in Malaysia is still lacking, thus the association with tick-borne diseases (TBD) is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the tick species from five most frequently visited recreational areas in Pahang and Terengganu states, which were recorded to have high potential of TBD cases.

Population dynamics and ranging behaviours of provisioned silvered langur (Trachypithecus cristatus) in Peninsular Malaysia.

Tourists are attracted to the Bukit Melawati Kuala Selangor (BMKS) of Peninsular Malaysia, a small hill park, for both its status as a historical site and the free-ranging silvered langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus) that come for provisioning. We assessed the population trends and group sizes of T. cristatus over 10 years in the BMKS and examined their ranging patterns.

Activity Budget and Postural Behaviors in Orangutans on Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island for Assessing Captive Great Ape Welfare.

Assessments of the welfare status of captive and semi-captive animals often compare how their expression of natural behaviors differs from that of free-ranging conspecifics. From December 2015-2016, we recorded and analyzed the activity budget and postural behaviors of three orangutans in Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island (BMOUI) to evaluate their welfare status. The orangutans' activity budget was dominated by resting (60%), feeding (13%), playing (14%), and moving (9%).