PROCEEDING OF

NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY
SEMINAR 2008
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & NATIONAL PARKS
 PROCEEDING OF
NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY
SEMINAR 2008
DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & NATIONAL PARKS

Edited by
Mohd. Nawayai Yasak
Shukor Md. Nor
Rahmah Ilias
Syarifah Khadiejah Syed Mohd. Kamil
Mohamad Rufino Baipura Mohamad
Frankie anak Thomas Sitam

Department of Wildlife & National Parks

2010
 Cetakan pertama/First printing 2010

Hak cipta/Copyright Department of Wildlife and National Parks

Hak cipta terpelihara. Tiada bahagian daripada terbitan ini boleh diterbitkan semula, disimpan
untuk pengeluaran atau ditukarkkan ke dalam sebarang bentuk atau dengan sebarang alat jua pun,
sama ada dengan cara elektronik, gambar serta rakaman dan sebagainya tanpa kebenaran bertulis
daripada Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara terlebih dahulu

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form of by
any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks

Diterbitkan di Malaysia oleh/Published in Malaysia by

Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia,

KM 10, Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 90866800

Fax: +603 90752873

e-mail: pakp@wildlife.gov.my
Website: www.wildlife.gov.my

Dicetak di Malaysia /Printed in Malaysia

ISBN 978-967-5557-05-7

iv
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword vi

1 Mammals of Temenggor Forest Reserve: Evidence through Camera Trapping 7

Rufino, M. B. M., David Magintan, Cosmas Ngau, Abu Zahrim Ismail, Hamidi
Jamaludin, Zainal, A. M., Idlan Rasdi, Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Dennis Ten
Choon Yung & Fauzul Azim, Z. A.

2 Taburan Herpetofauna di Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser, Pahang 17

Paul Y. Imbun, Sinail Dunsul & Hamidi Jamaludin

3 A Survey on Small Mammals in the Royal Belum Park, Perak, Malaysia 27

Nur Aida Md Tamrin, Mohd Ridwan A. Rahman, Mohd Hanif Ridzuan Mat
Daud, Noorhaliza Hassan and M.T. Abdullah

4 Annotated Checklist of Butterflies at Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum, Perak 37

Syarifah Khadiejah Syed Mohd Kamil, Khairul Nizam Kamaruddin &
Normaisarah Ibrahim

5 Hornbills and Barbets of Kuala Atok, Taman Negara Pahang 43

Pan, K.A., Siti Hawa, Y., Nor Azlin, M.F., Shahfiz, M.A, Rahmah, I

6 Odonata of Fraser’s Hill, Montane Ecozones with Conservation Implications 49

Y. Norma-Rashid

7 Diversity of Edible Rare Fruit Species in Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum Forest 61
Reserve, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia
Mohd. Nor Faizal, G., Masrom, H., Omar, Y., & Gerten, D.

8 A Survey of Macrofungi at Sungai Kejar, Taman Diraja Belum, Gerik, Perak 67

Thi Bee Kin & Lee Su See

9 Phytochemical and Biological Activity Screening of Plants Collected From 77

Kuala Keniam, Taman Negara, Pahang
Nor Hadiani Ismail, Faridahanim Mohd Jaafar, Norizan Ahmat, Rohaya
Ahmad, Noor Hana Hussain and Shamsul Khamis

10 Partial Purification and Characterization of Acetylcholinesterase from Mytus 87

Vittatus
Mohd Khalizan Sabullah & Mohd Yunus Abd. Shukor

v
 FOREWORD

Department of Wildlife and National Parks is one of the lead conservation agencies in Peninsular
Malaysia especially in conserving wildlife and its habitat. DWNP also manages protected areas through
planning and implementing various activities which benefits the long term conservation of the areas.
The development of the protected areas is carried out in a smart way by considering its biodiversity
resources and also habitats. To date, DWNP manages 35 protected areas covering 714,253 ha. These
includes wildlife reserves, national parks and Ramsar site.

Thus, inventories were carried out by DWNP in order to document the biodiversity information from
these protected areas involving multiple disciplines such as flora, fauna, ecotourism, ecology and sosio
economy. The DWNP would like to thank all researchers from various agencies that were involved in
our inventories in 2008.

This documentation is the output of the national Biodiversity Seminar that was held by DWNP. The
DWNP thanks all the participants and hopes that this seminar provides the opportunity for biodiverstiy
managers and experts to establish the best way in conserving our priceless biodiversity resources for
the future generations.

Dato’ Abd Rasid Samsudin

Director General
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP)
Peninsular Malaysia

vi
 1
Mammals of Temenggor Forest Reserve: Evidence through Camera Trapping

Rufino, M. B. M., David Magintan, Cosmas Ngau, Abu Zahrim Ismail, Hamidi Jamaludin, Zainal, A.
M., Idlan Rasdi, Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Dennis Ten Choon Yung & Fauzul Azim, Z. A.

Department of Wildlife & National Parks

rufino@wildlife.gov.my

ABSTRACT

A series of camera trapping surveys were carried out in Temenggor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak to
determine the presence and relative abundance of mammal species. Five camera trapping surveys
using 11 camera traps were conducted in the study area from Jun 2007 to August 2008. The camera
traps recorded a total of 1030 photographic images during the study period, of which 631 were images
of mammals from 21 species. The most common species observed were Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)
with 50.4% of the total number of photographs obtained followed by Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos
malayanus) with 14.7%, and Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) with 6.7%. Several species were
photographed only once throughout the study period including Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus
sumatrensis), Banded Linsang (Prionodon linsang), Binturong (Arctictis binturong), Malayan Weasel
(Mustela nudipes) and two species of squirrel.

Keywords: mammals, camera trapping, Temenggor Forest Reserve, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malayan Tapir

ABSTRAK

Satu siri survei menggunakan perangkap kamera telah dijalankan di Hutan Simpan Temenggor, Hulu
Perak untuk mengkaji kehadiran dan kelimpahan relative spesies mamalia di kawasan tersebut. Lima
survei menggunakan 11 perangkap kamera telah dijalankan di kawasan kajian bermula Jun 2007
hingga Ogos 2008. Hasil daripada perangkap kamera tersebut, sebanyak 1030 imej telah direkodkan
di mana 631 adalah imej mamalia daripada 21 spesies. Spesies yang kerap direkodkan adalah Cipan
(Tapirus indicus) dengan 50.4% cerapan dari jumlah keseluruhan gambar yang diperolehi diikuti oleh
Beruang Matahari (Helarctos malayanus) dengan 14.7% dan Kijang (Muntiacus muntjak) dengan
6.7%. Beberapa spesies cuma direkod sekali sepanjang tempoh kajian dijalankan termasuklah Badak
Sumatera (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Linsang (Prionodon linsang), Binturong (Arctictis binturong),
Pulasan Tanah (Mustela nudipes) dan dua spesies tupai.

Kata kekunci: mamalia, perangkap kamera, Hutan Simpan Temenggor, Badak Sumatra, Cipan

7
 INTRODUCTION

Wildlife inventory has been an important tool for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in
current in-situ conservation efforts. The main objectives of the wildlife inventory in protected areas
are three folds; first, to gain latest information on wildlife diversity. Second, to identify any intrusions
and illegal hunting within protected areas as part of enforcement activity. Third, to find any potential
sites that can be developed for ecotourism. Since 1990 to 2008, a total of 48 wildlife inventories
have been conducted in areas of Taman Negara, Wildlife Sanctuaries/Reserves, and Forest Reserves
including State Parks. The methods commonly used in wildlife inventory are rapid survey by direct and
indirect observation (animal or sign), trapping (mist nets, cage traps) and camera trapping.

Studies of rainforest fauna are difficult due to their secretive nature, inherently low densities
and dense vegetation in which they occur (Kawanishi, 2001). Population censuses are considered an
important initial step in determining management and protective needs (Azlan & Sharma, 2003) for
existing rainforest fauna. Therefore, camera trapping method was introduced to aid in population
census of wildlife where data obtained using indirect sign alone can be fraught with difficulties as it
depends on the substrate, the skill of the tracker and the long-term knowledge of study areas. This
method is the least intrusive method to obtain permanent records of presence of multiple taxa day
and night for a long period of time (Kawanishi, 2001). Besides individual identification or population
estimation (Karanth, 1995), the application of camera trapping ranges from collecting species
inventories (Maffei, Cuellar & Noss, 2002; Silveira, Jacomo & Diniz, 2003; Trolle, 2003b; Srbek-Araujo
& Garcia, 2005; Azlan & Lading, 2006) to studying activity patterns (Van Schaik & Griffiths, 1996;
Gomez et al., 2005; Azlan & Sharma, 2006) and estimating animal density (Mace et al., 1994; Karanth
& Nichols, 1998; Sweitzer et al., 2000; Trolle & Kery, 2003; Silver et al., 2004; Rowcliffe et al., 2008).

In Malaysia alone many studies have been done using camera trap as the main tool to
determine various aspects of wildlife. But most of the studies were focused on one specific targeted
species where the photographed images of non-target species were often discarded (Kawanishi,
2001). For this study, the role of camera trap was developed where the analysis did include all species
observed during the study period. The aim of this study was to gain latest information on diversity
and relative abundance of wildlife especially mammals, mainly in the Temenggor Forest Reserve, Hulu
Perak.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

Temenggor Forest Reserve covers a total area of 148,870 hectares, situated in northern Perak and is
part of the Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex. The Belum-Temenggor forest is believed to age about
130 million years old, making it older than the Amazon and Congo forests that could support more
complex in biodiversity. This area has been recognized as an Important Bird Area where it hosts more
than 2000 individuals globally threatened Plain-pouched Hornbill (Aceros subruficollis). This forest
is also the last refuge for at least 14 globally threatened mammal species like the Sumatran Rhino
(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and the Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris), home to countless flora species
including the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. The Temenggor Forest Reserve is also an important
water catchment area for major rivers in Perak, Kelantan and Pahang.

For this study, the camera traps were deployed within an area of about 40 km2 located near
the Perak-Kelantan state border (Map 1). A rapid survey was conducted in this area to determine the
best sites for setting camera traps.

8
Map 1: Locations of deployed camera traps in Temenggor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak throughout the
study period.

Study
Area

9
Study method

Custom made tracking cameras (supplied by Teroka Technologies) were used for this study. These
camera traps are powered by 1.5 and 9 volt alkaline batteries, equipped with active infrared motion
detector, master lock @ Python, Pelican waterproof casing and 1 gigabyte memory card. The delay
between each photograph taken was set to 10 seconds.

Camera traps were deployed at the strategic locations primarily main trails frequently used
by animals. The distance between each camera trap approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers. The camera
traps were deployed for a minimum period of 1 month with no breaks for monitoring or changing the
batteries.

A total of 11 camera traps were used during a total of 5 study periods starting from June
2007 until August 2008. The number of camera traps used for each study period varies from one to
another depending on the availability and suitability of the surrounding areas. Photographs from the
camera traps were then analyzed to estimate the number of individual and relative abundance for
each species of mammals in the study area. Each mammals species were identified using Mohamad
Momin Khan (1992), Corbet and Hill (1992) and Francis (2001).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 1030 photographic images from 2813 trap nights were obtained during the study periods.
From these images, 631 were images of mammals from 21 species and 6 Order namely Artiodactyla,
Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Chiroptera, Proboscidae and Rodentia. Table 1 shows the number of
photographic images, Appendix I and Appendix 2 shows the list of mammal species and photographs
recorded during the study periods.

Table 1: Number of camera traps used, total trap nights and photographed images recorded during
each study session.

NO. OF
NO. OF CAMERA NO. OF TRAP
STUDY PERIOD PHOTOGRAPHED
TRAPS NIGHTS
IMAGES
1. June - August 2007 6 414 74
2. August - October 2007 8 452 427
3. December 2007 - March 2008 11 1020 349
4. March - June 2008 9 785 236
5. July - August 2008 4 142 20
TOTAL 2813 1106

Analyzing the photographic images obtained from the camera traps, relative abundances of
photographed mammals were determined. The relative abundance for each species of mammal was
calculated from the total number of photographs (detections) and the detection rate (per 100 trap
nights). Assumption made was a camera trapping encounter with a group or an individual is considered
as one detection for that particular species. This census model of relative abundance estimation was
based on the study done by Laidlaw et al. (2000), and the data is presented in Appendix III.

10
 Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) was the most frequently encountered and widespread within
40 km2 study area. Likewise, Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), Barking Deer (Muntiacus
muntjak) and Gaur (Bos gaurus) were relatively abundant in the study area. Some species were recorded
only once during the study period including Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Malay
Weasel (Mustela nudipes) and Bear Cat (Arctictis binturong). As for the capture frequency, calculations
made were based on total number of detection for each mammal species and the detection rate (per
24 hours trapping duration) since the camera traps were deployed continuously during each study
period. Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) recorded the highest trapping frequency with approximately
3 encounter occasions per camera trap per trapping day. From the censuses, the relative abundance
and the capture frequency increase significantly with the total number of images captured for each
species of mammal.

Estimate of abundance

Relative abundances of wildlife species derived from this study solely depends on the capture
frequencies and trapping rates. Capture frequency can give an idea about the relative abundance
of species but there is still an ongoing discussion among scientist about the reliability of this index
(Carbone et al., 2001, 2002; Jennelle et al., 2002) to derive an accurate estimate of abundance. For
example, in this study, relative abundance of the Malayan Tapir is the highest among other species
but this index does not necessarily indicate that the Malayan Tapir has the highest population number
in the study area. Analyzing the imprinted time on the photographs of this species, we found out that
several photographs of the Malayan Tapir belong to only a single individual. This is due to the nature
of the Tapir to be attracted by the flashing light from the camera traps.

Most camera trap studies concentrated on one target species with unique individual
marking, using capture-recapture model to estimate density and abundance. This method is based on
re-trapping of recognizable individuals by cameras (Karanth, 1995; Karanth & Nichols, 1998; Maffei et
al.I, 2005). But this method can only be applied to species with individually unique natural markings or
those that can be individually marked prior to camera trapping (Trolle & Kerry, 2003). Unfortunately,
very few species that have natural markings to be individually recognizable. A study done by Rowcliffe
et al. (2008) estimating abundance of species without the need for individual recognition may be
the solution. This model utilizes parameters such as number of photographs per unit time, animal
speed movement and the dimensions of the camera detection zone. Theoretically, we suggest that
combination of both capture-recapture model and this method should come out with more accurate
estimates of wildlife abundance.

Camera trapping as threats indicator

The multi-purpose function of camera trapping has been recognized in area of wildlife population
study. Almost all aspects of wildlife can be studied using this technique giving the fact that camera
trapping provides solid prove of wildlife presence and the reliability of this technique compared to
other data collection and observation method. Recording all the essential data for camera trapping
would provide more parameters for a more thorough analysis of wildlife in a particular area. Relatively,
the uttermost important thing is good knowledge on specific wildlife of interest before coming to any
conclusion for an analysis.

From this study, we recorded rare occurrence of Gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki) at higher
elevation (approximately 1200 metres above sea level). Gaurs are known to dwell in undisturbed
lowland dipterocarp forests depending on availability of food resources, water and salt licks. No record
of Gaur at a much higher elevation has been noted for the past decades. Field observation indicated

11
that the surrounding lowland areas of study were heavily logged, stretching along the border of Perak-
Kelantan (Main Range). Human disturbance such as logging activities is probably the main reason why
this species was difficult to find at the study area.

CONCLUSIONS

Camera trapping has proven to be an effective method in studying many aspects of wildlife. Standardized
sampling criteria, adequate sampling size and sampling duration, reliable parameters and appropriate
selection of analyzing method will ensure a much more accurate outcome when using camera trapping
method. The findings from this study indicate that the Temenggor Forest Reserve is still sustaining a
vast number of wildlife species. The forest habitats of this reserve need to be maintained to ensure
the survival of the wildlife species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the Director General, Deputy Director General I and II for the support and
recognition given throughout the study. We also thank the DWNP State Directors for providing much-
needed workforce to carry out the study. Not forgetting DWNP Wildlife Rangers for companionship and
assistance throughout the study period and not forgetting individuals involved directly or indirectly
during the whole process of inventory.

REFERENCES

Azlan, J. M. 2006. Mammals diversity and conservation in a secondary forest in Peninsular Malaysia.
Biodiversity Conservation. 15:1013-1025.

Azlan, J. M. & Lading, E. 2006. Camera trapping and conservation in Lambir Hills National Park,
Sarawak. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 54:469-475.

Azlan, J. M. & Sharma, D. S. K. 2006. The diversity and activity patterns of wild felids in a secondary
forest in Peninsular Malaysia. Oryx. 40:36-41.

Azlan, J. M. & Sharma, D. S. K. 2003. Camera trapping the Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)
in a Secondary Forest, Peninsular Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 51
(2):421-427.

Carbone, C., Christie, S., Conforti, K., Coulson, T., Franklin, N., Ginsberg, J. R., Griffiths,M., Holden, J.,
Kawanishi, K., Kinnaird, M., Laidlaw, R., Lynam, A., MacDonald, D. W., Martyr, D., McDougal,
C., Nath, L., O’Brien, T., Seidensticker, J., Smith, D. J. L., Sunquist, M., Tilson, R. & Shahruddin,
W. N. W. 2001. The use of photographic rates to estimate densities of tigers and other cryptic
mammals. Animal Conservation. 4:75-79.

Corbet, G.B. and Hill, J.E. 1992. The mammals of the IndoMalayan region. Natural History Museum
Publications. Oxford University Press. New York.

Francis, C. M. 2001. A photographic guide to mammals of South-east Asia: Including Thailand,

Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, Bali and Borneo.
London: New Holand.

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Gomez, H., Wallace, R. B., Ayala, G. & Tejada, R. 2005. Dry season activity periods for some Amazonian
mammals. Study on Neotropical Fauna Environment. 40:91-95.
Jennelle, C. S., Runge, M. C. & Mackenzie, D. I. 2002 The use of photographic rates to estimate
densities of tigers and other cryptic mammals: A comment on misleading conclusions. Animal
Conservation. 5:119-120.

Karanth, K. U. & Nichols, J. D. 1998. Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures
and recaptures. Ecology. 79:2852-2862.

Karanth, K. U. 1995. Estimating tiger Panthera tigris populations from camera trap data using capture–
recapture models. Biological Conservation. 71:333–338.

Kawanishi, K. 2001. Standardized data management for camera trapping studies in Malaysia. Journal
of Wildlife and Parks. 19:75-88.

Laidlaw, R. K., Mohd. Taufik Abdul Rahman & Zamiza Zainal. 2000. Large mammals in Krau Wildlife
Reserve. Journal of Wildlife and Parks. 18:75-106.

Mace, R. D., Minta, S. C., Manley, T. L. & Aune, K. E. 1994. Estimating Grizzly bear population size using
camera sightings. Wild. Soc. Bull. 22:74-83.

Maffei, L., Cuellar, E. & Noss, A. J. 2002. Uso de trampas camara para la evaluacon de mamiferos en el
ecotono chaco-chiquitania. Rev Boliviana de Ecologia y Coservacion. 11:55-65.

Mohamad Momin Khan. 1992. Mamalia Semenanjung Malaysia. Malindo Printers Sdn. Bhd.

Rowcliffe, J. M., Field, J., Turvey, S. M. & Carbone, C. 2008. Estimating animal density using camera
traps without the need for individual recognition. Journal of Applied Ecology. 45(4):1228-
1236.

Silveria, L., Jacomo, A. T. A. & Diniz, J. A. F. 2003 Camera trap, line transect census and track surveys; a
comparative evaluation. Biological Conservation. 114:351-355.

Silver, S. C., Ostro, L. E. T., Marsh, L. K., Maffei, L., Kelly, A. M. J., Wallace, R. B., Gomez, H. & Ayala, G.
2004. The use of camera traps for estimating jaguar Panthera onca abundance and density
using capture/recapture analysis. Oryx. 38:148-154.

Srbek-Araujo, A. C. & Garcia, A. C. 2005. Is camera-trapping an efficient method for surveying

mammals in neo-tropical forests? A case study in South-Eastern Brazil. Journal of Tropical
Ecology. 21:1-5.

Sweitzer, R. A., Van Vuren, D., Gardner, I. A., Boyce, W. M. & Waithman, J. D. 2000. Estimating sizes of
wild pig populations in the north and central coast regions of California. Journal of Wildlife
Management. 64:531-543.

Trolle, M. 2003b. Mammal survey in the South-Eastern Pantanal, Brazil. Biodiversity Conservation.
12:823-836.

Trolle, M. & Kery, M. 2003. Estimation of ocelot density in Patanal using capture-recapture analysis of
camera trapping data. Journal of Mammalogy. 84:607-614.

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 Appendix I : Species of mammals photographed at the Temenggor Forest Reserve during the study periods between June 2007 and August 2008.

JUN- MAR- JULY-

AUG-OCT DEC 2007-
ORDER/FAMILY SPECIES COMMON NAME ENGLISH NAME AUG JUNE AUG
2007 MAR 2008
2007 2008 2008

BOVIDAE Bos gaurus Seladang Gaur 

CANIDAE Cuon alpinus Serigala Dhole 
CERVIDAE Muntiacus muntjak Kijang Barking Deer    
Cervus unicolor Rusa Sambar Deer 
ELEPHANTIDAE Elephas maximus Gajah Elephant  
FELIDAE Panthera tigris Harimau Belang Tiger 
Catopuma temmincki Kucing Tulap Asiatic Golden Cat  
Prionailurus bengalensis Kucing Batu Leopard Cat 
Pardofelis nebulosa Harimau Dahan Clouded Leopard   

14
Pardofelis marmorata Kucing Dahan Marbled Cat   
Prionailurus planiceps Kucing Hutan Flat-headed Cat 
MUSTELIDAE Martes flavigula Mengkira Yellow-throated Marten   
Mustela nudipes Pulasan Tanah Malay Weasel 
RHINOCEROTIDAE Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Badak Sumatera Sumatran Rhinoceros 
SUIDAE Sus scrofa Babi Hutan Wild Pig   
TAPIRIDAE Tapirus indicus Cipan Tapir     
URSIDAE Helarctos malayanus Beruang Matahari Malayan Sunbear    
VIVERRIDAE Arctictis binturong Binturong Bear Cat 
Prionodon linsang Linsang Banded Linsang 
Unidentified sp.
CHIROPTERA - Kelawar Bats 
RODENTIA - Tupai Squirrel 
Appendix II: Some photographs of mammals captured using camera traps at Temenggor Forest
Reserve (June 2007 till August 2008)

Gaur Malayan Tapir

Bos gaurus hubbacki Tapirus indicus

Malayan Sun Bear Clouded Leopard

Helarctos malayanus Pardofelis nebulosa

Dhole Asiatic Golden Cat

Cuon alpinus Catopuma temmincki

15
 Appendix III : Total number of images photographed, capture frequencies and relative abundances according to respective species (2813 trap nights).

Relative Abundance
Total No. of Capture Frequency
No. Common Name Scientific Name (photographs 100 trap
Photograph (photographs 24hrs-1)
nights-1)
1. Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus 318 2.72 11.30
2. Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus 93 0.79 3.31
3. Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak 42 0.36 1.49
4. Gaur Bos gaurus 42 0.36 1.49
5. Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula 30 0.26 1.07
6. Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata 20 0.17 0.71
7. Clouded Leopard Pardofelis nebulosa 18 0.15 0.64
8. Elephant Elephas maximus 15 0.13 0.53
9. Dhole Cuon alpinus 11 0.09 0.39
10. Wild Pig Sus scrofa 8 0.07 0.28

16
11. Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis 7 0.06 0.25
12. Tiger Panthera tigris 7 0.06 0.25
13. Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temmincki 4 0.03 0.14
14. Squirrel - 4 0.03 0.14
15. Banded Linsang Prionodon linsang 3 0.03 0.11
16. Bats - 2 0.02 0.07
17. Flat-headed Cat Prionailurus planiceps 2 0.02 0.07
18. Sambar Deer Cervus unicolor 2 0.02 0.07
19. Bear Cat Arctictis binturong 1 0.01 0.04
20. Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes 1 0.01 0.04
21. Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis 1 0.01 0.04
Total 631 5.4 21.43
 2
TABURAN HERPETOFAUNA DI RIZAB HIDUPAN LIAR BUKIT FRASER, PAHANG

Paul Y. Imbun¹, Sinail Dunsul¹ & Hamidi Jamaludin²

¹ Bahagian Penyelidikan dan Pendidikan,Taman Kinabalu, 88806 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

² Bahagian Konservasi Biodiversiti, Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara
(PERHILITAN) 56100 Kuala Lumpur

dingguron@yahoo.com

ABSTRAK

Pengetahuan mengenai taburan dan kekayaan herpetofauna merupakan satu aspek penting dalam
pemuliharaan sesuatu kawasan hutan simpan. Penyelidikan herpetofauna masih lagi terhad di Rizab
Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser. Suatu kajian inventori jangka pendek herpetofauna telah dijalankan pada 6
hingga 13 Julai 2008 di kawasan ini. Kawasan kajian adalah di sekitar tapak pelancongan Bukit Fraser,
Pahang. Lima lokasi yang telah dipilih untuk tinjauan terletak pada altitud 1,290 ± 20 kecuali satu
lokasi yang beraltitud 945 m. Tinjauan herpetofauna dijalankan dengan berjalan kaki di denai-denai
hutan dan di sepanjang sungai, selama 2 jam pada waktu siang dan malam. Hasil daripada tinjauan
ini, 39 spesimen daripada 26 spesies herpetofauna telah dikutip. Sebanyak 16 spesies katak, 9 spesies
cicak dan 1 spesies ular telah dikenalpasti dalam kajian ini. Tiga spesies katak (Xenophrys aceras,
Microhyla heymonsi dan Philautus petersi) dan 2 spesies cicak (Peropus larutensis dan Acanthosaura
crucigera) merupakan rekod baru bagi Bukit Fraser. Kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa kehadiran
spesies amfibia di Air Terjun Jeriau pada altitud 945 m, adalah lebih tinggi berbanding dengan di lokasi
kajian lain yang terletak pada altitud 1,290 m. Kajian awal ini menunjukkan bahawa kekayaan spesies
amfibia di Bukit Fraser berkemungkinan lebih tinggi di tanah rendah berbanding dengan di tanah
tinggi. Namun ini memerlukan kajian yang lebih lanjut. Kajian yang berterusan perlu dijalankan bagi
menentukan status taburan dan kekayaan spesies herpetofauna di Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser.
Ini adalah penting kerana hasil kajian dapat menyokong usaha-usaha pemuliharaan dan perlindungan
hutan terutamanya di sekitar kawasan pelancongan Bukit Fraser.

Kata kekunci: herpetofauna, Bukit Fraser, taburan, tanah tinggi, pemuliharaan

ABSTRACT

Distribution and abundance of herpetofauna is one of the most important information needed in
conservation of a particular forest reserve. Research on herpetofauna at the Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit
Fraser is scarce. A brief study of herpetofauna was done at the area from 6 to 13 July 2008. The study

17
was done in the tourism area of Bkit Fraser, Pahang. Five sites were chosen at altitude 1,290 ± 20
except for one site at altitude of 945 m. The survey was done by walking along the forest trails and
river banks for 2 hours at day and night time. A total of 39 specimens of 26 species of herpetofauna
was collected. A total of 16 species of frog, 9 species of lizard and 1 species of snake was recorded.
There were three species of frog (Xenophrys aceras, Microhyla heymonsi and Philautus petersi) and 2
species of lizard (Peropus larutensis and Acanthosaura crucigera) which are the new record for Bukit
Fraser. More amphibian species was found at Air Terjun Jeriau at altitude 945 m compared to the other
sites at altitude 1,290 m. This study indicates that amphibian species are more abundance at the lower
ground than the higher ground at Bukit Fraser.Continuous study needed to be done to determine the
distribution and abundance of herpetofauna at Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser. This is important to
support the conservation and protection efforts at the area.

Keywords: herpetofauna, Bukit Fraser, distribution, high land, conservation

PENDAHULUAN

Pengetahuan tentang herpetofauna di dalam kawasan perlindungan Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser
adalah sangat terhad buat masa ini. Namun kajian tentang biodiversiti flora, avifauna dan mamalia di
Bukit Fraser telah banyak dijalankan. Setakat ini belum ada lagi tinjauan dan kajian secara terperinci
dan berterusan tentang biodiversiti herpetofauna yang dijalankan di kawasan ini. Inventori awal ini
sangat berguna dan penting kepada kumpulan pengkaji haiwan herpeto untuk menentukan status
kehadiran dan kekayaan spesies amfibia serta reptilia di Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser. Maklumat
daripada inventori ini diharap dapat menaiktaraf status perlindungan spesies amfibia dan reptilia
yang pada ketika ini belum dilindungi oleh sesuatu akta kecuali beberapa spesies reptilia seperti
dalam genus Python dan Ophiophagus. Di samping itu juga, maklumat inventori ini dapat membantu
pengurusan kawasan perlindungan dengan lebih berkesan lagi agar impak pembangunan terhadap
hidupan liar amnya dan herpetofauna khususnya diminimakan.

KAWASAN KAJIAN

Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser merupakan sebahagian daripada Banjaran Titiwangsa yang terletak
antara sempadan Pahang dan Selangor. Kaijan telah dijalankan di Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser
dalam negeri Pahang. Rizab ini meliputi kawasan seluas 2,000 ha. Kawasan kajian adalah di kawasan
o
pelancongan Bukit Fraser. Suhu kawasan kajian adalah sekitar 15-20 C. Puncak tertinggi Bukit Fraser
ialah 1,500 m dari aras laut. Vegetasinya terdiri daripada jenis Hutan Dipterokap Atas dan Hutan
Pergunungan Bawah.
o
Sejumlah 5 lokasi telah dipilih sebagai lokasi tinjauan dan pemerhatian iaitu Bishops Trail (3
o o o o
43’ 0.4” N; 101 44; 16.0” E), Pine Tree Trail (3 42’ 40.6” N; 101 43; 37.0” E), Hemmant Trail (3 43’
o o o
0.4” N; 101 44; 16.0” E), Tasik Allan dan Air Terjun Jeriau (3 43’ 44.2” N; 101 42; 45.4” E). Bishops
Trail terletak lebih kurang 30 – 50 m dari Hemmant Trail. Pine Tree Trail terletak 500 m dari lokasi Tasik
Allan, manakala lokasi Air Terjun Jeriau adalah yang paling jauh iaitu kira-kira 5 km dari lokasi yang
lain. Semua lokasi tinjauan terletak pada altitud 1,290 ± 20 m kecuali Air Terjun Jeriau yang terletak
pada altitud 945 m.

18
Rajah 1: Lokasi tapak kajian, Tasik Allan, Air Terjun Jeriau, Bishops Trail (kuning), Pine Tree Trail (merah)
dan Hemmant Trail (biru)

BAHAN DAN KAEDAH

Inventori herpetofauna telah dijalankan di 5 lokasi pada altitud dan jenis hutan yang berbeza. Dalam
kajian ini, hanya 4 kaedah pengumpulan data dan spesimen dilakukan iaitu penangkapan di kawasan
(1) tebing sungai, (2) rentis hutan, (3) jalan raya atau parit yang mempunyai takungan air, dan (4)
pemerhatian cicak atau ular pada waktu siang di sepanjang jalan raya dan trail. Pengumpulan data
dan spesimen telah dijalankan selama 2 jam pada waktu pagi dan 2 jam pada waktu malam. Spesimen
yang telah dikutip dinomborkan dan diawet dalam larutan formalin 10%. Data-data seperti tarikh,
masa pengutipan, altitud, habitat (kedudukan spesimen ketika dikutip sama ada berada di atas tanah,
atas batu, batang kayu, atas pokok, atas ranting, atau atas daun), berat dan ukuran setiap spesimen
direkodkan.

Teknik pengumpulan data dan spesimen ini telah dijalankan mengikut kaedah inventori
herpetofauna yang diperkenalkan oleh Matsui (per. comm.) Sampel katak atau ular telah ditangkap
dengan tangan. Spesimen yang telah dikutip disimpan di Muzium Unit Zoologi, Taman Sabah.

HASIL KAJIAN

Sejumlah 39 spesimen telah dikutip sepanjang tinjauan dijalankan. Kesemua spesimen ini adalah
untuk koleksi spesimen muzium (Jadual 1 dan Apendik 1). Kira-kira 77% daripada jumlah spesimen
ini merupakan amfibia (katak) dan yang selebihnya adalah reptilia (cicak). Spesimen bagi kebanyakan
spesies herpetofauna dapat dikutip manakala kehadiran beberapa spesies hanya dapat dicerap melalui
pemerhatian langsung (Rajah 2). Tiada spesimen ular yang dikutip. Sejumlah 26 spesies amfibia dan
reptilia telah ditemui yang terdiri daripada 16 spesies katak, 9 spesies cicak, dan 1 spesies ular.

19
Jadual 1: Senarai semak spesies herpetofauna di Bukit Fraser

Famili/Spesies Koleksi/cerap Ptt Bst Alake Atjeriau Hemtrail

Bufonidae
Ansonia jeetsukurumani 2 x
Bufo asper OB x
Bufo juxtasper OB x
Megophryidae
Xenophrys longipes 4 x x
Xenophrys aceras x
Microhyilidae
Metaphrynella pollicarris 4 x x x
Microhyla heymonsi 2 x
Ranidae
Odorrana hosii 5 X x
Amolops larutensis 4 x
Hylarana nicobariensis OB x
Dicroglossidae
Fejervarya limnocharis OB X
Limnonects plicatellus 1 x
Limnonectes blythii 3 x
Rhacophoridae
Philautus petersii 1 x
Philautus vermiculatus 3 x x
Theloderma asperum 1 x
Agamidae
Draco blanfordi 1 x
Acanthosaura crucigera 1 x
Acanthosaura armata 2 x
Gekkonidae
Cyrtodactylus quadrivi-
ragatus 2 x X
Cyrtodactylus variegatus 1 x
Hemidactylus frenatus 1 x
Peropus larutensis 1 x
Scincidae
Tropidophorus berdmorei OB x
Mabuya sp OB X x
Elapidae
Maticora intestinalis OB x

Petunjuk

OB = Dicerap PTT= Pine Tree Trail BST= Bishops Trail

ALAKE=Tasik Allan ATJERIAU= Air Terjun Jeriau HEMTRAIL=Hemmant Trail

20
 Rajah 2: Bilangan spesies yang dikutip dan discerap semasa tinjauan di Bukit Fraser

Hasil tinjauan menunjukkan bahawa lebih banyak individu amfibia dikutip di lokasi Air Terjun
Jeriau yang terletak pada altitud 945 m (Rajah 3). Kehadiran spesies amfibia juga lebih tinggi di lokasi
ini berbanding dengan lokasi lain pada altitud yang lebih tinggi. Dari segi taburan spesies reptilia pula,
tidak ada sebarang corak yang dapat diperhatikan daripada taburannya. Kehadiran spesies reptilia
adalah hampir sama di setiap lokasi (Rajah 3).

Rajah 3: Taburan spesies herpetofauna di setiap lokasi kajian di Bukit Fraser

21
 Terdapat 6 famili katak iaitu Bufonidae, Megophryidae, Microhylidae, Ranidae, Dicroglossidae
dan Rhacophoridae. Setiap famili menyumbang kepada bilangan spesies yang hampir sekata (Rajah 6).
Daripada segi bilangan individu, famili Ranidae menyumbangkan kepada kutipan spesimen terbanyak
(9 individu). Tinjauan ini telah berhasil menemui 3 spesies katak yang merupakan rekod baru bagi
Bukit Fraser, iaitu Xenophrys aceras, Microhyla heymonsi dan Philautus petersi.

Rajah 4: Bilangan spesies amfibia mengikut famili

Bagi reptilia dari kumpulan cicak, famili Gekkonidae adalah yang terbanyak dari segi kehadiran
spesies (4 spesies), diikuti oleh famili Agamidae (3 spesies) dan famili Scincidae (2 spesies) (Rajah 5).
Dua rekod baru diperolehi bagi Bukit Fraser iaitu Peropus larutensis dan Acanthosaura crucigera.

Rajah 5: Bilangan spesies reptilia mengikut famili

Bagi reptilia dari kumpulan ular, hanya 2 individu yang dijumpai sepanjang tinjauan dijalankan.
Walau bagaimanapun, satu daripada individu ular tersebut hanya dapat dilihat dari jarak jauh dan ular
tersebut masuk ke dalam sungai sebelum pengecaman dapat dibuat. Satu-satunya spesies ular yang

22
dapat dicamkan secara pastinya ialah Maticora intestinalis. Namun spesimen tidak dikutip kerana
tidak ada individu lain bagi spesies ini yang ditemui.

PERBINCANGAN

Kawasan tapak inventori adalah terganggu akibat daripada kesan-kesan pembinaan jalanraya dan
bangunan yang sedang pesat dijalankan di sekitar Bukit Fraser. Ini mungkin adalah di antara punca
yang menyebabkan tidak banyak spesies herpetofauna yang ditemui. Walau bagaimana-pun, hutan
yang telah diterokai seawal 1900 sudah mulai kembali menjadi hutan dengan saiz pokok sederhana
besar dan ini membolehkan beberapa spesies katak seperti Theloderma asperum dan Philautus
vermiculatus yang mungkin telah pupus atau pernah meninggalkan tempat ini kembali semula. Kedua-
dua spesies ini adalah spesies yang hidup di dalam hutan semulajadi yang tidak terganggu. Keadaan
hutan yang terganggu sebelum ini menyebabkan taburannya terhad dan sukar ditemui. Hutan telah
tumbuh semula dan ini mengurangkan fragmentasi hutan akibat daripada pembangunan yang telah
dijalankan di Bukit Fraser bagi tujuan pelancongan.

Menurut beberapa kajian, reptilia seperti Varanus dumerilii dan Cyrtodactylus elok pernah
dikutip di hutan Bukit Fraser (Bennet & Lim, 1995; Grisner, 2008). Spesies tersebut tidak ditemui
semasa tinjauan dibuat, namun kajian tersebut menunjukkan kehadiran spesies herpetofauna lain
berpotensi ditemui sekiranya pemantauan dan tinjauan jangka panjang dijalankan di kawasan hutan
Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit Fraser. Kajian herpetofauna yang pernah dijalankan di Bukit Fraser juga
menunjukkan terdapat 43 spesies reptilia dan 22 spesies amfibia (1 spesies sesilia dan 21 spesies katak),
yang mana 19 spesies herpetofauna merupakan rekod baru (Leong & Lim, 2003). Dalam tinjauan kami,
terdapat dua rekod baru bagi reptilia iaitu Peropus larutensis dan Acanthosaura crucigera. Penemuan
ini yang merupakan rekod baru bagi Bukit Fraser.

Hasil tinjauan menunjukkan bahawa kehadiran spesies amfibia adalah tinggi di lokasi Air
Terjun Jeriau yang beraltitud lebih rendah (945 m) berbanding dengan lokasi lain yang beraltitud lebih
tinggi (~ 1,290 m). Kajian yang lebih mendalam perlu dijalankan untuk menjelaskan pemerhatian ini.

Tinjauan yang dijalankan selama lebih kurang seminggu adalah tidak mencukupi untuk
menentukan status kehadiran dan kekayaan spesies herpetofauna di Bukit Fraser. Justeru, adalah
dicadangkan tinjauan secara berkala dan berterusan perlu dijalankan di Rizab Hidupan Liar Bukit
Fraser supaya kepelbagaian spesies herpetofauna dapat ditentukan.

PENGHARGAAN

Ribuan terima kasih diucapkan kepada Pengarah Taman Sabah, En.Paul Basintal, Penolong Pengarah
Dr. Maklarin B. Lakim dan Pn. Rimi Ripin di atas kebenaran dan kepercayaan untuk menyertai inventori
ini, kepada Penyelaras Program Inventori Cik Syarifah Khadiejah Bt. Syed Mohd Kamil, En. Hasdi bin
Hassan @ Asang, En. Hamidi Bin Jamaludin, serta kakitangan Jabatan PERHILITAN di atas kerjasama
sepanjang inventori. Bantuan Dr. Robert F. Inger dan Dr. Liong Tzi Ming dalam mengenalpasti spesimen-
spesimen katak sangat dihargai. Terima kasih juga kepada semua peserta rombongan dari Taman-
Taman Sabah di atas bantuan di lapangan, kerjasama dan perkongsian idea.

23
 RUJUKAN

Bennet, D. & Lim B. L. 1995. A note on the distribution of Varanus dumerilii and Varanus rudicollis in
Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 49: 113-116.

Inger, R. F. & Stuebing, R. B. 1997. A field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History
Publications (Borneo) Sabah with Science and Technology Unit, Sabah.

Inger, R. F. & Stuebing, R. B. 1999. A field Guide to the Snakes of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History
Publications (Borneo) Sabah.

Inger, R. F. & Tan, F. L. 1996. The Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles in Sabah. Kota Kinabalu:
Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd.

Indraneil, D. 2004. A pocket Guide Lizards of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications
(Borneo) Sdn. Bhd.

Grisner, L. L. 2008. On the distribution and identification of Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Smith, 1923,
and Cyrtodactylus elok Dring, 1979. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56(1): 177-179.

Leong, T. M. & Lim, K. P. 2003. Herpetofaunal records from Fraser’s Hill, Peninsular Malaysia, with
larval descriptions of Limnonectes nitidus and Theloderma asperum (Amphibia: Ranidae and
Rhacophoridae). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 51(1): 123-136.

24
Apendiks 1: Contoh-contoh spesies katak yang direkodkan di kawasan kajian di RHL Bukit Fraser

Metaphrynella pollicaris Philautus vermiculatus

Odorrana hosii Xenophrys aceras

Limnonectes plicatellus Limnonectes blythii

25
Amolops larutensis Theloderma asperum

Microhyla heymonsi Philautus petersi

Ansonia jeetsukumarani Xenophrys longipes

26
 3
A SURVEY ON SMALL MAMMALS IN THE ROYAL BELUM PARK, PERAK, MALAYSIA

Nur Aida Md Tamrin, Mohd Ridwan A. Rahman, Mohd Hanif Ridzuan Mat Daud,
Noorhaliza Hassan and M.T. Abdullah

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

better_tortoise@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A survey on small mammals was conducted at Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum Park, Perak on the 18th untill
24th of August 2008. Throughout the sampling period, 10 mist nets, four Harp traps and 150 cage traps
were deployed. The preliminary small mammal species list is presented for Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum
Park, Perak using the information gained during the six days of sampling. A total of 24 individuals
representing 13 species from 10 genera and five families of small mammals were recorded. Ground-
level trapping using 150 cage traps yielded five species of small mammals in the Order Rodentia with
the trapping effort of 900 trap-days. The Polynesian Rat (Rattus exulans) was the most commonly
trapped terrestrial small mammal. Eight species of bats from the Order Chiroptera were trapped with
the accumulated effort of 84 trap-days. The most common species of bats captured was the Short-
nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis). The less common small mammal species captured in Sungai
Kejar, Royal Belum Park were Kerivoula intermedia, Hipposiderous diadema, Hipposiderous cineraceus,
Kerivoula papillosa, Rhinolophus trifoliatus, Balionycteris maculata, Chironax melanochepala, and
Sundamys muelleri with only one individual per species.

Keywords: biodiversity, Royal Belum Park, Chiroptera, Rodentia

ABSTRAK

Kajian mamalia kecil telah dijalankan di Sungai Kejar, Taman DiRaja Belum, Perak mulai 18 hingga
24 Ogos 2008. Sebanyak 10 jaring kabut, empat perangkap Harpa dan 150 perangkap sangkar telah
digunakan. Senarai awal spesies mamalia kecil direkodkan sepanjang enam hari kajian. Sebanyak
24 individu merangkumi 13 spesies daripada 10 genus telah direkodkan sepanjang kajian ini. Lima
spesies mamalia kecil dalam Order Rodentia telah ditangkap menggunakan 150 perangkap sangkar
dengan jumlah usaha 900 perangkap-hari. Rattus exulans merupakan spesies mamalia kecil tidak
terbang yang paling kerap ditangkap. Lapan spesies kelawar daripada Order Chiroptera telah
ditangkap dengan jumlah usaha 84 perangkap-hari. Spesies kelawar yang paling kerap ditangkap
ialah Cynopterus brachyotis manakala mamalia kecil yang paling kurang ditangkap di Taman DiRaja

27
Belum ialah Kerivoula intermedia, Hipposiderous diadema, Hipposiderous cineraceus, Kerivoula
papillosa, Rhinolophus trifoliatus, Balionycteris maculata, Chironax melanochepala dan Sundamys
muelleri dengan hanya satu individu bagi setiap spesies.

Kata kekunci: kepelbagaian hidupan, Taman DiRaja Belum, Chiroptera, Rodentia

INTRODUCTION

Royal Belum Forest Reserve (RBFR) is situated in the north most corner of Perak, adjacent to
Temenggor Forest Reserve. The 117,500 ha was declared as the Royal Belum State Park on 31st July
2003. It is the third largest park in Malaysia after Taman Negara (434,351 ha) and Crocker Range Park
(139,919 ha) (Ministry of Natural Resource and Enviroment, 2007). The RBFR composed mainly of
tropical rainforest. There are three types of forest which are lowland dipterocarp, hill dipterocarp and
lower montane forests. The habitat consists of bamboo and palm trees and ferns. It is surrounded
by Temenggor Lake (15, 200 ha) which is the largest man-made lake in Perak and second largest in
Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu.

RBFR is the important area for large mammals such as Gaur, Asian elephant, Malayan tigers
and Sumatrans rhinoceros. Research and inventories have been done by PERHILITAN, WWF, MNS and
other institutions in this forest reserve, and preliminary inventory done by PERHILITAN (Abd Kadir
Abu Hashim, 1992) recorded that RBFR contains high wildlife diversity comparable to Taman Negara
Pahang and Ulu Muda FR, Kedah. Previous study by Besar and Muhamad (1994) recorded 15 species
of small mammals at Sira Rambai, RBFR. Another study by Ratnam et al. (1995) at Temenggor Forest
Reserve also recorded 67 species of small mammals.

The objectives of this survey were to document the diversity of small mammals in RBFR
and to compare with previous studies. This baseline information is important to determine the latest
status of small mammal diversity and their habitat in RBFR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

The survey was conducted at Sungai Kejar (N 05° 48’ 34.9” E 101° 25’ 26.0”), RBFR from 18 to 25
August 2008. Sungai Kejar is an hour distance from Banding Jetty using speed boat across Temenggor
Lake. The elevation of the study area is approximately 300 meters a.s.l. while the forest reserve ranged
between 300 and 900 meters a.s.l. (Jasmi Abdul, 1991).

28
 Figure 1: Map of Royal Belum Forest Reserve and Sungai Kejar (in box) as the study area

Trapping

Survey was carried out using 10 mist nets (36 mm mesh), four four-bank Harp traps and 150 cage
traps. Nets and Harp traps were set at forest edge, trails, cross the stream, and an open area in the
forest. Cage traps baited with banana and salted fish were placed above ground along the trail with the
approximate distance of 10 m from each others. The trapping effort was calculated by total number
of nets and traps multiply by total of sampling days. Measurements of external character were done
using a dial vernier calliper (Mitutoyo™, Kawasaki, Japan) and weight was taken using a Pesola spring
balance. The identification of species was done using Payne et al. (2005), Kingston et al. (2006), and
Francis (2008). Samples collections of dry and wet specimens were deposited into the Museum of
Zoological UNIMAS (MZU) and PERHILITAN museum. All tissue samples were preserved in both lysis
buffer and 75% ethanol. Bloods were collected using syringe and dripped on the nobuto-blood strip
or filter paper, or preserved in blood preservative buffer. Each tube, vial or filter paper was properly
labeled with collection number, species name, date and location.

RESULTS AND DISSCUSSIONS

Based on this study, a total of 24 individuals representing 13 species from 10 genera and five families
of small mammals were recorded in the sampling area (Table 1). Ground-level trapping yielded five
species of non-volant small mammals in the family Muridae with the trap effort of 900 trap-day. Eight
species of bats from the Order Chiroptera were trapped with the accumulated effort of 84 trap-day.

The most commonly encountered small mammal species was R. exulans (25%) (Table 1).
There were 10 species caught as singletons, namely Balionycteris maculata, Chironax melanochepala,
Hipposideros cineraceus, H. diadema, Kerivoula intermedia, K. papillosa, Rhinolophus trifoliatus, and

29
Sundamys muelleri. Higher diversity of small mammals were recorded using cage traps and Harp traps
which were five species respectively while only three species documented using mist nets. Although
Harp traps and mist-nets are specified to catch insect bats and fruit bats respectively, Harp traps have
higher success rate than mist-netting as observed in the captured species of volant small mammals.
Thus, the suggestion on the effectiveness of Harp traps was supported as the insectivorous bats
are capable of avoiding and detecting the nets by using their echolocation (Abdullah et al., 1997;
Mohd-Azlan et al., 2005). Nevertheless, the insect bats can still be captured in mist net with frequent
checking as they have a high tendency to escape from the net by chewing their way out in just short
of minutes when the nets left unattended (Abdullah et al., 1997).

Table 1: Number of species captured and the relative abundance in Sg. Kejar, Royal Belum Forest
Reserve

Family Species Individuals Relative abundance (%)

Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus trifoliatus 1 4.17
Hipposideridae Hipposideros diadema 1 4.17
  Hipposideros cineraceus 1 4.17
Vespertilionidae Kerivoula intermedia 1 4.17
  Kerivoula papillosa 1 4.17
Pteropodidae Cynopterus brachyotis 3 12.50
  Balionycteris maculata 1 4.17
Chironax melanochepala 1 4.17
Muridae Rattus exulans 6 25.00
Rattus rattus 3 12.50
Maxomys whiteheadi 2 8.32
Sundamys muelleri 1 4.17
Leopoldamys sabanus 2 8.32
Total 13 24 100

Based on Figure 2, the curves have not reached the asymptotes suggesting that there are
more species could be captured if the sampling days being increased.

Figure 2: Cumulative number of species (volant and non-volant) caught in Sg. Kejar.

30
 Appendix I shows the comparison of species caught and observed in recent study and the
other two studies done by Ketol and Khashim (1994) and Ratnam et al. (1995). The summary of this
study compared to previous reports is listed in Table 2.

The durations for samplings are different for each survey which makes the data are not
comparable. The study by Ratnam et al. (1995) was done for 12 months comprising of five expeditions
in three sampling sites captured higher number of species and individuals. Different number of species
reported in the study by Ketol and Khashim (1994) although their study was conducted in the same
Forest Reserve. Differences of total species number caught between the current and previous studies
suggested to be contributed by the differences of the trapping locations in combination with the
usage of more effective traps (Mohd-Azlan et al. 2005). The placement of nets and traps would also
influence the small mammal species collection.

Low number of species captured in this study is due to certain biotic and abiotic factors.
The major reason is probably the presence of human disturbance in the study area. There are major
man-made developments such as buildings that altered the forest compositions. The progress of the
development forced the small mammals and in fact all animals to get deeper in the forest which was
not in the location of the study site. According to the study done by Ketol and Khashim (1994), the
aborigines hunt certain species of non-volant small mammals such as squirrels for food. There was no
species of squirrel observed during the survey.

Low food resources might cause the lower number of individual captured. Lack of fruiting
trees was observed during the survey. However, the presence of frugivore bats such as B. maculata,
C. brachyotis, and C. melanochepala are likely to influence the regeneration of forest as they can play
important role in seed dispersal and pollination (Boon and Corlett, 1989; Fujita and Tuttle, 1991; Tan
et al., 1998; Hodgkison et al., 2003 and Mohd-Azlan et al., 2010).

The vegetation of the sampling sites is not condensed consists of mainly bamboo trees,
palms and ferns among a few big trees. This leads to the high predation-prey relationship for example
owl catching non-volant small mammals for food. The other speculation is the unsuitable bait used
also influence the capture of non-volant mammal. In Sarawak, banana is the most efficient bait for
capturing rodents and Scadentia (Tuen et al., 2000). However, it seems the banana is less effective
in RBFR. From the observation, all Rattus species were caught in traps baited with salted fish, while
the rest of forest rats caught in traps baited with banana. Foods preference plays the vital roles in
developmental processes that usually promote symmetrical growth of small mammals (Rahman,
2010).

The presence of Rattus exulans (highest individual caught) and Rattus rattus indicate that
there were human disturbance existed in the study area because rats in genus Rattus act as the
biological indicator for human existence (Ratnam et al., 1995; Payne et al., 2005; Francis, 2008).
During survey, all of Rattus species were caught in the camp vicinity. Thus, this strengthens the notion
that the Rattus species is high associated with the human.

The weather is probably one of the factors that influenced the results in this study. Heavy
downpour during the most of sampling time especially in the late evening until dawn may have
affected the foraging activity of nocturnal small mammals. Thus, less number of species comes out to
forage and being captured in the traps.

31
Table 2: Summary of this study compared to previous reports

UNIMAS &
Parameter Ketol and Khashim (1994) Ratnam et al. (1995)
PERHILITAN (2008)
Duration 6 days 12 months
9 days
(18-23 August (October 1993-Octo-
(27 April-5 May 1994)
2008) ber 1994)
Number of 1 1 5
expeditions
Number of sites 1 1 3
(Sg. Kejar, (Sira Rambai, (Kampung Tekam,
Royal Belum Park) Royal Belum Park) Halong camp and
Hill 1213,
Temenggor Forest
Reserve)
Methodology Mist-netting, Mist-netting, Mist-netting,
Harp-trapping, cage trapping Harp-trapping,
cage trapping cage trapping, direct
observations,
identification of
tracks and
distinctive marks
Number of
24 35 N/A
individuals
Number of species 13 15 67
Number of Family 5 7 11
Most abundant
Rattus exulans Rhinolophus acuminatus N/A
species
Total effort
984 855 N/A
(trap-days)

CONCLUSIONS

Low number of species caught in this study compared to the previous studies done by Ketol and
Khashim (1994), and Ratnam et al. (1995) probably due to the presence of human disturbance, low
food resources, effectiveness of trapping and weather. Small mammals are good biological indicators
as they are sensitive to any sorts of disturbance and development towards the forest environment. It
is obvious that any form of habitat depletion within the park would severely affects the small mammal
population. Minimizing human disturbance in the park is crucial to maintain the species composition
in the forest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our appreciation goes to PERHILITAN for inviting and allowing us to join the inventory and the National
Biodiversity Conference. Our gratitude goes to UNIMAS for the administrative support and providing
the fund from grant MoHE FRGS to Prof. Mohd. Tajuddin Abdullah.

32
 REFERENCES

Abd Kadir, A. H. 1992. Survei Hidupan Liar di Hutan Simpan Belum, Hulu Perak. Department of Wildlife
and National Park, Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah, M. T., Rahman, M. A. & Hall, L. S. 1997. New records for bats in Sarawak, Malaysia. Malayan
Nature Journal 50: 365-367.

A. Rahman, M. R. 2010. Biogeography and variation of dusky fruit bat, Penthetor lucasi in Malaysia.
MSc Thesis. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Semarahan.

Boon, P. P. & Corlett, R. T. 1989. Seed dispersal by the lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus
brachyotis, Pteropodidae, Megachiroptera). Malayan Nature Journal 42: 251-256.

Besar, K. & Muhamad Khashim, A. 1994. Morfologi mamalia kecil Hutan Simpan Belum, Hulu Perak.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Francis, C. M. 2001. A photographic guide to mammals of South-east Asia: Including Thailand,

Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, Bali and Borneo.
London: New Holand Press.

Francis, C. M. 2008. Field guide to the mammals of South-east Asia. London: Princeton Press.

Fujita, M. S. & Tuttle, M. D. 1991. Flying foxes (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae): threatened animals of key
ecological importance. Conservation Biology 5: 455-463.

Hodgkison, R., Balding, S. T., Zubaid, A. & Kunz, T. H. 2003. Fruit bats as seed dispersers and pollinators
in a lowland Malaysian rain forest. Biotropica 35: 491-502.

Jasmi Abdul. 1991. Kertas Cadangan Penubuhan Taman Negara Belum, Negeri Perak. Department of
Wildlife and National Park, Ipoh, Perak.

Ministry of Natural Resource and Enviroment. 2007. Royal Belum State Park Gazetted. Malaysian Park
Newsletter. July 2007.

Mohd-Azlan, J., Neuchlos, J. & Abdullah, M. T. 2005. Diversity of chiropterans in limestone forest area,
Bau, Sarawak. Malaysian Applied Biology 34 (1): 59-64.

Mohd-Azlan, J., Tuen, A. A. & Mohd Ridwan, A. R. 2010. Preliminary assessment of activity pattern
and diet of lesser dog faced fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis in a dipterocarp forest, Sarawak,
Borneo. Tropical Ecology 51 (2): 175-180.

Payne, J. & Francis, C. M. 2005. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah
Society.

Ratnam, L., Lim, B. L. & Hussein, N. A. 1995. Mammals of the Sungai Singgor area in Temengor Forest
Reserve, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 48: 409-423.

Tan, K. H., Zubaid, A. & Kunz, T. H. 1998. Food habits of Cynopterus brachyotis (Muller) (Chiroptera:
Pteropodidae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 14: 299-307.

Tuen, A. A., Osman, A. & Putet, C. 2000. Distribution and abundance of small mammals and birds at
Mt. Santubong, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal 76: 235- 254.

33
Appendix I: List of species and individuals caught according to their location in Sungai
Kejar, Royal Belum Park, Perak compared to previous study at Royal Belum Park and
the adjacent forest reserve

Current study
Family Ketol and Ratnam et al.
Sungai Kejar Khashim (1994) (1995)
Forest Base camp Sira Rambai Temenggor FR
Species
area area
Rhinolophidae
Rhinolophus trifoliatus 1 0 6 Recorded
Rhinolophus affinis 0 0 1 Recorded
Rhinolofus acuminatus 0 0 9 Not recorded
Rhinolophus stheno 0 0 0 Recorded
Rhinolophus lepidus 0 0 0 Recorded
Rhinolophus
megaphyllus 0 0 0 Recorded
Hipposideridae
Hipposiderous
diadema 1 0 0 Recorded
Hipposiderous
cineraceus 1 0 1 Recorded
Hipposideros bicolor 0 0 2 Recorded
Hipposideros Galeritus 0 0 0 Recorded
Vespertilionidae
Kerivoula papillosa 1 0 0 Recorded
Kerivoula pellucida 0 0 0 Recorded
Kerivoula minuta 0 0 0 Recorded
Kerivoula hardwickii 0 0 0 Recorded
Kerivoula intermedia 1 0 0 Not recorded
Murina aenea 0 0 2 Recorded
Murina cyclotis 0 0 4 Recorded
Murina suilla 0 0 1 Recorded
Phoniscus atrox 0 0 1 Recorded
Myotis muricola 0 0 0 Recorded
Myotis horsefieldi 0 0 0 Recorded
Myotis montivagus 0 0 0 Recorded
Myotis hermani 0 0 0 Recorded
Myotis ridleyi 0 0 0 Recorded
Tylonycteris pachypus 0 0 0 Recorded
Tylonycteris robustula 0 0 0 Recorded
Miniopterus
schreibersii 0 0 0 Recorded
Harpiocephalus
mordax 0 0 0 Recorded
Molossidae
Cheoromeles torquatus 0 0 0 Recorded
Nycteridae
Nycteris javanica 0 0 2 Not recorded
Megadermatidae
Megaderma spasma 0 0 1 Recorded

34
Pteropodidae
Cynopterus brachyotis 3 0 0 Recorded
Balionycteris maculata 1 0 0 Recorded
Chironax
melanochepala 1 0 0 Not recorded
Megaerops ecaudatus 0 0 1 Recorded
Rousettus
amplexicaudatus 0 0 0 Recorded
Pteropus vampyrus 0 0 0 Recorded
Cynopterus horsefieldii 0 0 0 Recorded
Dyacopterus spadiceus 0 0 0 Recorded
Penthetor lucasi 0 0 0 Recorded
Eonycteris spelaea 0 0 0 Recorded
Macroglossus minimus 0 0 0 Recorded
Emballonuridae
Emballonura monticola 0 0 0 Recorded
Muridae
Rattus exulans 0 6 0 Recorded
Rattus rattus 0 3 0 Recorded
Rattus tiomanicus 0 0 1 Recorded
Leopoldamys sabanus 2 0 1 Recorded
Sundamys muelleri 1 0 2 Recorded
Maxomys whiteheadi 2 0 0 Recorded
Chiropodomys
glirosildes 0 0 0 Recorded
Rattus rattus diardii 0 0 0 Recorded
Berylmys bowersi 0 0 0 Recorded
Niviventer
cremoriventer 0 0 0 Recorded
Maxomys surifer 0 0 0 Recorded
Sciuridae
Ratufa bicolor 0 0 0 Recorded
Ratufa affinis 0 0 0 Recorded
Callosiurus notatus 0 0 0 Recorded
Callosiurus prevostii 0 0 0 Recorded
Callosciurus
nigrovittatus 0 0 0 Recorded
Callosciurus flavimanus 0 0 0 Recorded
Sundasciurus tenuis 0 0 0 Recorded
sundasciurus lowii 0 0 0 Recorded
Tamiops macclellandii 0 0 0 Recorded
Lariscus insignis 0 0 0 Recorded
Petaurista petaurista 0 0 0 Recorded
Iomys horsfieldii 0 0 0 Recorded
Hylopetes lepidus 0 0 0 Recorded
Rhizomyidae
Rhizomys sumatrensis 0 0 0 Recorded
Number of families 5 7 11
Number of species 13 15 67
Number of individuals 24 35 N/A

35
 4
ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLIES AT SUNGAI KEJAR, ROYAL BELUM, PERAK

Syarifah Khadiejah Syed Mohd Kamil, Khairul Nizam Kamaruddin & Normaisarah Ibrahim

Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP),

56100 Kuala Lumpur

khadiejah@wildlife.gov.my

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a checklist of butterfly species recorded from the area surrounding Sungai Kejar
camping site at Royal Belum State Park in Perak. Observation and sampling that made between 18 to
24 August 2008 recorded 39 species belonging to 26 genera and 4 families of butterflies. The survey
also showed that most of the species recorded at Sungai Kejar were frequent to the open area.

Keywords: butterflies, Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum State Park, Perak, insect,

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini telah merekodkan spesies kupu-kupu yang terdapat di persekitaran tapak perkhemahan
Sungai Kejar, Taman Negeri Diraja Belum, Perak. Pemerhatian dan persampelan yang telah dijalankan
pada 18 hingga 24 Ogos 2008 telah merekodkan 39 spesies kupu-kupu yang terdiri daripada 26 genus
dan 4 famili. Kajian juga mendapati sebahagian besar spesies yang direkodkan merupakan spesies
yang mendiami kawasan terbuka.

Kata kekunci: kupu-kupu, Sungai Kejar, Taman Negeri Diraja Belum, Perak, serangga

INTRODUCTION

Most butterflies are day fliers and sit with the wings closed in upright position above the body
when resting. This characteristic together with a pair of clubbed or gradually thickened antennae
differentiate butterflies from moths. In Peninsular Malaysia, a total of 1,030 butterfly species were
recorded by Corbet and Pandlebury (1992) which had become the main references in butterfly species
identification. But in Malaysia, the highest diversity was recorded at Mount Kinabalu National Park
comprises of 945 species (Hauser et al., 1997). Though, only 40 species of butterflies are protected
under the Wildlife Act 1972 [Act 76] in which most of them are larger size butterflies including birdwing,
tree nymph and swallowtail. Many butterflies are attracted to nectar, carrion, feces, urine and rotten
fruit. Some Satyrines, most Amathusiids and some Nymphalids are fond of rotting fruit (Yong, 2000).
37
 Sungai Kejar is one of the main river systems in Royal Belum State Park which is an important
water source for large mammals including elephant, tiger, barking deer and wild pig. Their feces and
footprints are often seen left by the riverbanks. The waste deposits become possible attraction to
butterflies. Studies of butterflies are particularly important given that they play a major role in many
ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, pollination, seed predation, parasitism
and herbivory (Janzen, 1987; Bond, 1994).

As part of the biodiversity inventory conducted by Department of Wildlife and National Parks
(DWNP), this survey was carried out to generate a checklist of butterfly species found at Sungai Kejar
camping site. The species list may become an ecotourism attraction other than as biological indicator.
The survey site located at North of Royal Belum State Park (N5° 48.653’ E101° 25.482’ Alt.240m) with
fast flowing streams situated on both left and right of the camping site.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Sampling was conducted within the vicinity of Sungai Kejar camping site between 18-24 June 2008
(Figure 1). The sampling period fall during dry season. Samples actively collected using sweep
net between 0900 and 1600 hrs. Sweep netting was also carried out at low bushes to chase out
crepuscular and resting butterflies. Samples were put in folded glassine triangular paper designed to
keep Lepidopteran. Butterflies also were recorded through observation at the study site. Butterflies
were identified according to Corbet & Pendelbury (1992). Specimen collected were dried and stored
at the DWNP museum in Lanchang, Pahang.

Reference

Sungai Kejar Study Site

Figure 1: Map shows the location of Sungai Kejar Basecamp in Royal Belum State Park

RESULTS

The list of butterfly species collected and observed at Sungai Kejar basecamp is listed in appendix
1. Only four out of five families recorded in Peninsular Malaysia present at Sungai Kejar camping
site. Nevertheless, the numbers of species collected were very low. Only 39 species from 26 genera
were collected and observed in total. This represent about 3% of the total butterfly species inhabit

38
Peninsular Malaysia. The composition of butterfly species recorded by family is presented by Figure 2.

Figure 2: The composition of butterfly species according to family recorded at Sungai Kejar
Basecamp

DISCUSSION

In general, the species collected were typical of open area (Corbet & Pendlebury, 1992). The study site
is a lowland forest with moderate secondary growth vegetation along both sides of Sungai Kejar river
bank. A total of 16 species of fruit trees recorded (including Artocarpus spp.) adjacent to the camping
site and a few ginger plants are flowering during the study period. Many butterfly species rely on
these type of vegetations as food source especially Nymphalidae. Approximately 75% of Nymphalid
sp. recorded in Sabah feed on fruit (Tangah et al. 2004).

The site was dominated by Nymphalidae collected throughout the sampling period however,
most of the species collected showed a very low frequency of individuals. Neocherita amrita amrita
was the only species representing family Lycaenidae. This butterfly species is relatively small, solitary,
inhabit open forest and described as rare by Corbet & Pendlebury (1992). The habitat of the study
area seems to be preferred by Junonia atlites atlites (The Grey Pansy) seeing as the species was very
commonly observed during the study period. In most part of its range in Peninsular Malaysia, Junonia
spp. occurs in both wet and dry seasons (Corbet & Pendlebury, 1992).

The study by Malaysian Nature Society (2005) at Belum-Temenggor forest reserve recorded
a total of 168 species of butterflies including the rare Herona sumatrana and Tanaecia clathrata and
252 smaller moths. A total of 93 butterfly species recorded at Sungai Ber during the DWNP inventory
at Titiwangsa range (Fairus & Syarifah, 2008). Another inventory recorded 51 species of butterfly from
various trails at Fraser’s hill. Both surveys were conducted for 10 days. The species recorded from
these surveys are more diverse than those surveyed at Sungai Kejar. This suggest for a longer survey
period should be conducted at Sungai Kejar basecamp for a more complete checklist representing the
site.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We wish to acknowledge the kind assistance from the DWNP as the organizing committee of the Royal
Belum State Park Biodiversity Inventory, Perak State Park Corporation for entry permit and others who
contribute to ideas sharing mainly during the field survey.

39
 REFERENCES

Bond, W. J. 1994. Do mutualisms matter? Assessing the impact of pollinator and disperser disruption
on plant extinction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 344: 83-90.

Corbet, A. S. & Pendlebury, H. M. 1992. The butterflies of Malay Peninsula. 4th edition. Revised by J.N.
Eliot. Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Nature Society.

Hauser, C. L., Schulze, C. H. & Fiedler, K. 1997. The butterfly species (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)
of Kinabalu Park, Sabah. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 45: 281-304.

Janzen, D. H. 1987. Insect diversity of a Costa Rican dry forest; why keep it, and how? Biological Journal
of the Linnaean Society 30: 343-356.

Tangah, J., Hill, J. K., Hamer, K. C. & Dawood, M. M. 2004. Vertical distribution of fruit-feeding butterflies
in Sabah, Borneo. Sepilok Bulletin 1: 17-27.

Yong, H. S. 1983.Malaysian Butterflies – An Introduction. Kuala Lumpur: Tropical Press Sdn. Bhd.

Upton, M. S. 1991. Methods for collecting, preserving and studying insects and allied forms. Australian
Entomological Society. Brisbane: Miscellaneous Publication No. 3. 4th Edition.

Malaysian Nature Society. 2005. Conservation of The Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex, Perak. Policy
Unit Science & Conservatin Department. MNS Headquarters, JKR 41, Jalan Kelantan, Bukit
Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

40
Appendix I: List of butterflies recorded at Sungai Kejar camping site

Family Scientific Name Common Name

1 Papilionidae Papilio memnon agenor The Great Mormon
2 Papilio polytes romulus The Common Mormon
3 Graphium agamemnon agamemnon The Tailed Jay
4 Pathysa antiphates itamputi The Five Bar Swordtail
5 Graphium sarpedon The Common Bluebottle
6 Graphium evemon eventus The Common Jay
7 Pachliopta aristolachiae asteris The Common Rose
8 Chilasa paradoxa aenigma The Great Blue Mime
9 Papilio nephelus sunatus The Black & White Helen
10 Nymphalidae Euploea mulciber mulciber The Striped Blue Crow
11 Euploea tulliolus ledereri The Dwarf Crow
12 Euploea radamanthus radamanthus The Magpie Crow
13 Junonia atlites atlites The Grey Pansy
14 Junonia almana javana The Peacock Pansy
15 Junonia iphita horsfieldi The Chocolate Soldier
16 Parantica aspasia aspasia The Yellow Glassy Tiger
17 Melanitis phedima abdullae -
18 Parantica melaneus sinopion The Chocolate Tiger
19 Doleschalia bisaltidae pratipa The Autumn Leaf
20 Mycalesis mineus macromalayana The Dark Brand Bush
21 Neptis sp. -
22 Parthenos sylvia lilacinus The Clipper
23 Hypolimnas bolina bolina The Great Egg-Fly
24 Hypolimnas bolina jacintha -
25 Cethosia hypsea hypsina The Malay Lacewing
26 Danaus genutia genutia The Common Tiger
27 Lexias pardalis dirtea The Arch Duke
28 Mycalesis sp. -
29 Pieridae Leptosia nina nina The Psyche
30 Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe The Mottled Emigrant
31 Appias lyncida vasava The Chocolate Albatross
32 Appias albina albina -
33 Appias cardena perakana -
34 Cepora iudith malaya The Orange Gull
35 catopsilia pomona pomona The Lemon Emigrant
36 Hebomoia glaucippe aturia The Great Orange Tip
37 Eurema hecabe The Comon Grass Yellow
38 Gandaca harina distanti The Tree Yellow
39 Lycaenidae Neocherita amrita amrita The Grand Imperial

41
 5
HORNBILLS AND BARBETS OF KUALA ATOK, TAMAN NEGARA PAHANG

Pan, K.A.1, Siti Hawa, Y.2, Nor Azlin1, M.F., Shahfiz, M.A1, Rahmah, I 2
1
Tropical Forest Biodiversity Center, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM),
52109 Kepong, Selangor

Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP),

2

56100 Kuala Lumpur

pankhangaun@frim.gov.my

ABSTRACT

Hornbills (Bucerotidae) and barbets (Megalaimidae) are frugivorous birds that occurred sympatrically
in Taman Negara (Pahang). Ten species of hornbills and eleven species of barbets are known to
occur in Peninsular Malaysia. Studies on these birds and in particular the hornbills were initiated
in the 1980s in Taman Negara when it was then known as the premiere hornbill area where almost
all hornbill species occurred except for the plain pouch hornbill (Aceros subruficollis) which was
later found to occur gregariously in the Royal Belum State Park, Perak. The present study highlights
the results of the birds’ inventory of hornbills and barbets from 14-23rd May 2008. Three species
of hornbills comprising wrinkled hornbill (Rhyticeros corrugatus), black hornbill (Anthracoceros
malayanus), and rhinoceros hornbill, Buceros rhinoceros were recorded. In addition, there were
four species of barbets namely gold whiskered barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon) and red-throated
barbet (Megalaima mystacopanos), yellow-crowned barbet (Megalaima henricii), and brown barbet
(Megalaima fuliginosus) that were observed in the vicinity of the Nature Education Center at Kuala
Atok. This paper also highlights the feeding behaviour of gold-whiskered barbet at a fruiting fig (Ficus
benjamina) and recommends further research should be undertaken to ensure the conservation and
management of these spectacular birds in perpetuity.

Keywords: hornbill, barbet, Kuala Atok, feeding behaviour

ABSTRAK

Enggang (Bucerotidae) dan takor (Megalaimidae) merupakan burung frugivor yang terdapat
setempat di Taman Negara (Pahang). Terdapat sepuluh spesies enggang dan sebelas spesies takor
di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kajian terhadap burung-burung ini khususnya burung enggang telah
bermula pada 1980-an di Taman Negara yang merupakan kawasan terbaik kerana pada masa itu
terdapat kesemua spesies burung enggang di situ melainkan enggang belantara (Aceros subruficollos),

43
yang hanya dijumpai di Taman Negeri DiRaja Belum, Perak. Hasil inventori yang dijalankan dari 14-
23hb Mei 2009 merekodkan tiga spesies enggang iaitu enggang berkedut (Rhyticeros corrugatus),
enggang gatal birah (Anthracoceros malayanus) dan enggang badak (Buceros rhinoceros). Selain itu,
empat spesies burung takor yang lazim diperhatikan di Pusat Pendidikan Alam Semulajadi di Kuala
Atok juga direkodkan iaitu takor jambang emas (Megalaima chrysopogon), takor raya (Megalaima
mystacopanos), takor mahkota kuning (Megalaima henricii), dan takor dahan (Megalaima fuliginosus).
Kajian ini menerangkan tabiat pemakanan takor jambang emas di atas pokok ara (Ficus benjamina)
di samping memberi cadangan penyelidikan susulan demi memastikan konservasi dan pengurusan
secara lestari burung ini.

Kata kekunci: enggang, takor, Kuala Atok, lakuan makan

INTRODUCTION

Hornbills and barbets are important frugivorous birds that provide important ecosystem services
such as aiding seed dispersal for many fruit trees particularly figs (Ficus spp.) and assist in fertilizing
forest soil with their droppings. According to Robson (2000), Malaysia, being a megadiverse country,
possesses some ten species of hornbills (54 globally and 12 in South East Asia) and 11 species of
barbets (26 globally and 16 in South East Asia). Frugivory by these birds attracted renewed attention
as it presents an excellent linkage between these biological resources which include flora, fauna and
their habitats. This study was conducted simultaneously with the bird survey during the Taman Negara
(Pahang) Expedition held from 14-23 May 2009.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Survey area

The study area is located at Kuala Atok (40 22’ 08.66’’ N, 1020 23’ 20.49’’E, 75 m) which is part of
the tri-state Taman Negara that fringes Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang (Figure 1). Taman Negara,
once named King George V National Park was gazetted in 1938-39, is a 4,343 km2 National Park. This
National Park is categorised under Category 1b which is a strict nature reserve/wilderness area in the
IUCN category of protected areas (DWNP-EPU-DANCED, 1996).

Figure 1: Map of Study Area in Kuala Atok, Taman Negara (Source: Google Earth)

44
 The objective of this study was to provide an annotated checklist of hornbills and barbets of
Kuala Atok which will serve as an additional note for hornbills and barbets researchers and enthusiasts
alike to generate conservation interest in these two families of spectacular frugivorous birds.

Survey method

Both mist netting and direct observation using Digiscope (NIKON Fieldscope ED; 30-50X84 and NIKON
Compact Camera P5100) and MINOX 10X40 binoculars were used in the survey. This survey was
conducted along a 1000 m transect of an existing trail. Observations were made along the trail from
7:00am till 5:00 pm. Mist nets were placed at 100 m intervals starting from the trail head. Spot counts
which last for 10 minutes were conducted at 200m intervals starting from the trail head. In addition,
spot counts under a fruiting fig (Ficus benjamina) were also conducted where behaviours of hornbills
and barbets were noted using scan and focal samplings.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Only three species of hornbills and four species of barbets were observed during the one week birds’
survey in Kuala Atok, Taman Negara. The annotated list of hornbill and barbet species are as in Table
1.

Table 1: Total number of species for each family recorded in Kuala Atok from 14th to 23rd May 2008

Red Data
No Family/Species Name Local Name Protection
Book
Bucerotidae
1 Aceros corrugatus Wrinkled hornbill Totally Protected Near
Threatened
2 Anthracoceros malayanus Black hornbill Totally Protected Near
Threatened
3 Buceros rhinoceros Rhinoceros hornbill Totally Protected Near
Threatened
Megalaimidae
4 Megalaima chrysopogon Gold whiskered barbet Totally Protected -

5 Megalaima mystacophanos Red-throated barbet Totally Protected Near

Threatened
6 Megalaima henricii Yellow-crowned barbet Totally Protected Near
Threatened
7 Calorhamphus fuliginosus Brown barbet Totally Protected -

Though the results showed a seemingly low occurrence of hornbills and barbets but all the
birds observed were Totally Protected under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972. All the hornbills
and most of the barbets observed were categorised as near threatened in the Red Data Book (Birdlife
International, 2001) with the exception of gold whiskered barbet and brown barbet. Birds that are
near threatened are those taxon that are close to qualifying for or likely to qualify for a threatened
category in the near future.

The behaviours of a female and a juvenile gold whiskered barbet were observed in the fruiting
fig (Ficus benjamina). Feeding bouts were observed at approximately at 8:30 am when the pair was
heard calling from a nearby tree. The calls stopped as they approached the fig tree. The female being

45
comparatively heavier than the juvenile made a rather clumsy landing on a fruiting branch and began
picking on the fruits, one at a time, while the juvenile was seen resting on a nearby branch. The
female would move from branch to branch in a squirrel-like manner with each step being noted as the
branches would shake a bit as the barbet moved rather heavily. No calls were made during feeding
with intermittent resting. After feeding for half an hour, the female would fly to a nearby tree and
began her calling and preening. These territorial calls were rather loud, deep and repeated for about
10 minutes. The juvenile appeared to be very quiet and spent most of its time resting on the same
branch where it landed. The birds flew off from the vicinity of the fruiting tree at approximately at
approximately 9:30 am.

Avifauna survey in Taman Negara is quite lacking as the birding records were inadvertently
missing in the special issue to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Taman Negara 1939-1989.
Nevertheless Siti et al. (1985) in her survey conducted in Taman Negara, Pahang found an additional
species of hornbill, that was helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), and a highland barbet, fire-tufted
barbet (Psilopogon pyrrolophu). Inventory at Siti et al. (1985) study sites in Taman Negara (Pahang),
which included a highland in Gunung Gagau (305-686 m), confirmed the occurrence of the fire-tufted
barbet. Similarly, in the unpublished field notes of Pan (1988a, 1988b, 1988c), during his trekking
between Kuala Terengganu and Perkai Fishing Lodge, observed a pair of helmeted hornbill and the
less common wrinkled hornbill (Aceros corrugatus). Until recently, Pan et al. (2008) conducted bird
inventory in Taman Negara (Terengganu) found that were comparatively more hornbills there with
seven species being recorded. Hornbills that were recorded in Taman Negara (Terengganu) that were
not recorded in Kuala Atok were great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), white-crowned hornbill (Aceros
comatus), oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), wreathed hornbill (Aceros undulates), and
bushy-crested hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus). Taman Negara (Terengganu) in Kenyir appears to be a
better area for hornbills.

The bird survey by Pan et al (2008) also appeared to show that Kuala Atok had better species
diversity for barbets. Only two species of barbets were recorded in Taman Negara (Terengganu)
namely red-throated barbet, (Megalaima mystacophanos); and yellow-crowned barbet, (Megalaima
henricii) while there were four species in Kuala Atok. The difference in the number of species of
barbets sighted in Taman Negara (Terengganu) probably because the area was more opened than the
vegetation of Kuala Atok which was dense and with thick lowland forest. Furthermore, there were no
fruiting fig trees observed in Taman Negara (Terengganu) in that survey.

The sluggish behaviour of the gold-whiskered barbet concurred with those observation
made by Robson (2000) and Wells (2007). Barbets are like miniature hornbills, though different in
colouration, are monogamous, and nest in tree holes as well as their distinctive calls (Kanda, 2008
pers. comm.).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the species diversity of hornbills and barbets in this part of Taman Negara is far from
adequate to do justice to a world renown national park worthy of a World Heritage Site stature. More
similar surveys should be recommended and supported by the management of Taman Negara. Both
hornbills and barbets are spectacular birds that could well be flagship and keystone bird species within
the tropical forest ecosystems. More research could be planned for these birds in order to further
understand their population status, reproductive biology and their home range. This information is
crucial so that more protected areas could be proposed for the conservation and management of
these spectacular birds.

46
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to convey their heartfelt thanks to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia
(FRIM), Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and all those who have assisted in this
hornbills and barbets survey during the expedition.

REFERENCES

Birdlife International (2001). Threatened Birds of Asia: The Birdlife International Red Data Book.
Cambridge, UK: Birdlife International

MNS-Bird Conservation Council (2005). A Checklist of the Birds of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: MNS
Conservation Publication No.2.

Kanda, K. 2008. pers. comm.

Pan, K. A. 1988a. A study of species composition and behavior of sympatric hornbills in Besout, Perak.
Journal of Wildlife and Parks 6: 43-52.

Pan, K. A. (1988b) Notes of the breeding behavior of the Southern Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros
coronatus) in Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 6: 53-57.

Pan, K. A. 1988c. Unpublished field notes.

Pan, K. A., Lim, A. T., Shahfiz, M. A., Kamal, H. M., Diana, N. M. N. & Diana, F. R. 2008. Birds and
mammals of Taman Negara (Terengganu). In Biodiversity Resources and Conservation Status
in Peninsular Malaysia 25: 49-54.

Robson, C. 2000. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. London: New Holland Publ.

Siti, H. Y., Zainuddin, B., Khirull Annuar, S. & Isa, M. M. 1985. Survey of Mammal and Bird Species in
Six Different Habitats: mangrove, Lowland Dipterocarp, Hill Dipterocarp, Upper Diperocarp,
Montane Oak, and Montane Ericaceous Forest. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 4: 68-91.

Wells, D. R. 2007. The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Volume 1. London: Christopher Helm Publ.

47
 6
ODONATA OF FRASER’S HILL, MONTANE ECOZONES WITH CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS

Y. Norma-Rashid

Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya,

50603 Kuala Lumpur

ynorma@um.edu.my

ABSTRACT

In this study, the fauna, habitat preference and ecological features of the dragonflies occurring in the
montane forests of Fraser’s Hill were investigated with vernacular names also mentioned. To date,
twenty-six species from eight family groups have been documented from current and previous works.
The available habitats in the ecozone are listed together with the distinctive associated species. Species
diversity in higher latitudes is known to be not as diverse but what has been highlighted in the paper
is the degree of endemism reaching 23%. Evident from the findings are existence of taxonomically
isolated species such as Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859), Onychothemis coccinea (Lieftinck, 1953)
and Onychothemis testacea (Laidlaw, 1902). The Action Plan proposed by Moore (1997), regarded
these dragonflies as priority species from the Oriental region apt for further study and conservation
action. Implications for potentially endangered, threatened or vulnerable species status within the
study area are also evaluated. The paper concluded that among other suggestions there should be an
initiative to create odonate refuges as these creatures resembled natural flagships for raising public
awareness of the importance of conserving forests, aquatic habitats and biodiversity.

Keywords: odonata, status records, endemics, conservation, common names, montane

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini meliputi aspek fauna, pemilihan habitat dan ciri ekologi pepatung yang terdapat
diperhutanan Bukit Fraser dan juga dipromosikan penggunaan nama-nama am. Sehingga kini, dua
puluh enam spesies daripada lapan kumpulan famili telah dikenalpasti dari rekod kini dan lampau.
Beberapa ekozon yang terdapat pada habitat berbukit ini telah disenaraikan bersama-sama dengan
spesies yang terkandung di dalamnya. Adalah diketahui bahawa kepelbagaian spesies pada latitud
tinggi adalah agak kurang, namun apa yang ditonjolkan adalah tahap endemisme yang ketara
mencapai sehingga 23%. Yang lebih menarik adalah wujudnya spesies yang tersisih secara taksonomi
seperti Devadatta argyoides (Selys, 1859), Onychothemis coccinea (Lieftinck, 1953) dan Onychothemis
testacea (Laidlaw, 1902). Pelan Tindakan yang telah disyorkan oleh Moore (1997) menekankan
pentingnya spesies tersebut untuk benua Oriental di mana memerlukan kajian lanjut dan harus kekal

49
diabadikan. Implikasi spesies yang dianggap mencapai tahap terancam juga dinilai. Sebagai rumusan
adalah dicadangkan bahawa pihak bertanggungjawab harus mengambil inisiatif untuk mengekalkan
kawasan pemuliharaan Odonata. Serangga ini berperanan sebagai penunjuk asli dalam meningkat
kesedaran awam dalam kepentingan konservasi hutan, habitat akuatik dan biodiversiti.

Kata kekunci: odonata, rekod status, endemik, konservasi, nama tempatan, montane

INTRODUCTION

Malaysian forested areas of Tropical Evergreen Forest comprised of 72% and most of these remained
as protected forest reserves constituted of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves.
While most abundant are the lowland dipterocarp forests there are a few peaks which extend from
800m to 1700m above sea level. Frasers Hill, a century old hill resort is one of these montane forests
and has been gazetted as a wildlife reserve. Such status of protection is valid only for the flora and fauna
but not the land. Among the many natural attractions are 260 species of residential and migratory
birds and 884 plants of which 23 species are endemic . If bird watching seemed a mild activity, one can
venture into trekking through the Bishop, Hemmant, Maxwell, Mager, Kindersley, Abu Suradi Trails
and the longest is Pine Tree Trail. The Jeriau waterfall is the most famous attraction in Fraser’s Hill but
due to the development, the waters have turned muddy and silty causing an impact on the faunistic
community inhabitants.

To date, no studies has been done in the ecozones to examine the effects of human activities
such as touristic impacts, siltation, temperature increase in streams of logged areas which are affecting
the dragonfly populations although there are realization of dragonflies are imperiled (Norma-Rashid,
2007c). What would be beneficial is a long-term monitoring work conducted to enable quick detection
of fluctuations in dragonfly species composition, abundance and distribution (Clark & Samways, 1996;
Corbet, 1999; Hämäläinan, 2000; Kinvig & Samways, 2000; Moore, 1997). Dragonflies are reputed
for their migratory and dispersal abilities thus increased inventory efforts would especially assist in
enhancing our knowledge of isolated species which range widely across zones (Corbet 1999, Norma-
Rashid et al., 2008a). Norma Rashid & van Tol (1995) documented 24 added species and subspecies
to the list of Odonata for Peninsular Malaysia and subsequently, work on Malaysian dragonflies
escalated.

Under the present scenario no dragonfly species in Malaysia are considered to be Species
at Risk which in my opinion, is misleading. What more accurate is insufficient information on the
population, distribution and ecological needs of local species to enable determination of local status
records. This paper reports the first attempt in classifying odonate species status locally and thus with
vast implications pointing toward potential future efforts in monitoring and conservation.

STUDY SITES & METHODS

Table 1 shows 6 study localities together with GPS readings that were sampled for Odonata in July
2008. These areas ranged from fast flowing waters (Jeriau and Sg. Pecah Batu), small slow streams
(Girdle Road and Valley Road), trickling waters (Bishop Trail) to ponded freshwater bodies (Allan’s
Lake).

50
Table 1: Site localities for Odonata sampling in Bachok, Kelantan

Habitat Gps reading

1 Melawi N 03°43’507’’ / E101°42’681’’
2 MARDI Station N 03°43’117’’ / E101°44’743’’
3 Beach front (Permai Resort) N 03°42’953’’ / E101°44’854’’
4 Inland Village (lily pond) N 03°42’872’’ / E101°44’466’’
5 Kuala Tok Bali N 03°42’809’’ / E101°43’951’’
6 Semerak – Sg. Petai N 03°42’933’’ / E101°44’294’’

Collection of adult species and later preserved for storage followed standard sampling and
processing protocols (Norma-Rashid, 2007a). No attempt were made to abide by fixed sampling
transects or duration of collection time since the intention of work is an inventarization survey with
interest to assess species ecological needs and local status but not to contrast species diversity or
abundance between habitats.

RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS

Figure 1 shows prior reports on Fraser’s dragonflies before leading to the present study reported
in this paper. A list of Fraser’s dragonflies with vernacular names included is depicted in Table 2.
The current survey resulted in 18 species from 8 family groups. Although such statistics are not
reflecting an exhaustive survey but this is not surprising as low number of species were known to
occur in higher latitudes (Corbet, 1999). What need to be highlighted are the presence and findings of
keystone species for typical of montane environment, some with rare status, such as Ceriagrion fallax
pendleburyi, Calicnemia chaseni, Calicnemia rectangulata, Drepanosticta silenus and Orthetrum
triangulare malaccense. These biotic gems have distinct ecological needs and thus to ensure their
survival would mean having to conserve the habitat characteristics where they thrived (Clark &
Samways, 1996; Norma-Rashid, 2003; Sahle’n & Ekestubbe, 2001). Among the family groups found,
the skimmers (Family: Libellulidae) are the most predominant, comprising of 45%. This finding is a
common occurrence in odonate samplings (Norma-Rashid, 1998; Norma-Rashid & Sofian-Azirun,
2007b; Norma-Rashid et al. 2008b).

Figure 1: The roadmap of initial published work reporting on Fraser’s Odonata before the present
survey by the author in July 2008

51
 Table 2: List of Odonata from Fraser’s Hill with common names included, current status species records, contrasting present and previous collections.
Legend as below table

Kemp & Kemp

Family & NYR Kalkman Current Status of Common
6 – 7 Feb
Species List 9-13 July 2008 7 – 8 July 2002 Species Names
1989
Sub-Order: Zygoptera
Amphipterygidae (1)
Devadatta argyoides (Selys) X C; Mal & Thai,Sg Bamboo Relicts

Coenagrionidae (2)
Ceriagrion fallax pendleburyi Laidlaw X X Uncommon; Thai Tawny Pond Damsels

Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur) X X Widespread SEA Common Bluetail

Platycnemididae (4)
Calicnemia chaseni (Laidlawi) X UC, Mal & Thai Chilli Featherlegs
X
Calicnemia rectangulata Laidlawi X UC; endemic Bi-color Featherlegs
Coeliccia erici Laidlawi X X X X UC, Mal & Thai Bi-spotted Featherlegs

52
Indocnemis orang Förster widespread Orang Damsel

Platystictidae (3)
Drepanosticta fontinalis Lieftinck X X Rare; endemic Blue-tip Forest damsels

*Drepanosticta pan Laidlaw X X X Poorly known, endemic Common Forest damsels

Drepanosticta silenus Laidlaw X X Rare; endemic Spined Forest damsels

Chlorocyphidae (1)
Aristocypha fenestrella (Rambur) Oriental Broad Asian Jewels

Euphaeidae (1)
Euphaea ochracea Selys X X C; widespread Coppertone Gossamerwings

Calopterygidae (3)
Echo modesta Laidlawi X X Mal, Thai & Burma White-nosed Jewelwings

Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus) X X Widespread SEA Green Broad Jewelwings

 Vestalis amethystina Lieftinck X X C; Mal & Thai Amethys Jewelwings

Sub-Order: Anisoptera

Libellulidae (11)
Crocothemis servilia (Drury) X X C; Widespread SEA Eastern-scarlet Darter

Neurothemis fulvia Drury X X Common Concaved Coppertone

Onychothemis coccinea Lieftinck X X Mal, Indon Citron-forest Skimmer

Onychothemis culminicola Förster X X Mal, Thai & Burma Red-forest Skimmer

Orthetrum testaceum (Burmeister) X Common Orange Skimmer

Orthetrum triangulare malaccense Förster X Endemic Triangle Skimmer

Orthetrum glaucum (Brauer) Common Asian / Brown-banded Skimmer

Orthetrum luzonicum (Brauer) X C; Widespread SEA Luzon Skimmer

53
Tetrathemis irregularis hyalina Kirby X X Mal & Thai Hyalina Darter

Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) X C, Globally widespread Globe Skimmer

Trithemis aurora (Burmeister) X X C; Widespread SEA Down Dropwing

Total species 18 8 9

Legend: NYR refers to author initials and present report, previous work by Kalkman, V. (2002) and Kemp R.G. & G.S. Kemp. (1989) were used for contrasts.
Values in brackets (), indicated total numbers for specific Family groups, presence of odonates ( ) and absence as (X). Abbreviations used for species
status; C=common, UC=uncommon, for country abbreviations; Mal=Malaysia, Thai=Thailand, Indon=Indonesia, Sg=Singapore and SEA=South East Asia. The
symbol (*) indicates a specimen NYR examined in Leiden Natural History Museum in October 1994 with collection note label as; Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, Sg.
Tras. 14/7/63.
 It is important to promote public awareness and appreciation for dragonflies and thus the
usage of common names are very much encouraged (Norma-Rashid, 2007a; 2007b) and included
here (Table 2). The interest for dragonflies has been encouraging which has attracted local and foreign
workers especially concentrated in touristic spots (Norma-Rashid & van Tol, 1995), Fraser’s Hill being
one such highlight. Between both Kalkman (2002) and Kemp & Kemp (1989) they both added another
8 species which brought the current odonate diversity for Fraser’s Hill to 26 species. Although it is not
an impressive figure but more importantly from the total, more than 23% are endemics and all the
forest damsels (Family: Platystictidae) are endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. The rest of the species
are shared with the neighbouring countries (Norma-Rashid et al., 2008; Tsuda, 2000) such as Burma,
Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand or more widespread throughout South East Asia (Table 2).

It is worth highlighting in both 2002 and 2008 odonate samplings, the absence of 6 species
Echo modesta, Neurobasis chinensis, Vestalis amethystina, Crocothemis servilia, and Neurothemis
fulvia as in Table 2. Although rather premature to claim disappearance of the species and signaling
alarm signals for habitat destruction but a cautionary note of all 3 species of the jewelwings (Family:
Calopterygidae) can reflect early warning signals of habitat deterioration as reported for Singapore
with the vanishing of Neurobasis chinensis (Norma-Rashid et al., 2008). Additionally, Norma-Rashid
(1995) made an interesting discovery of a historical specimen from Fraser’s Hill, discovered dated back
in 1963 within the Museum collection of Leiden, Drepanosticta pan which is an endemic and poorly
known species (Orr, 2005). Further work is needed to confirm the status or fate of this species. Such
effort would very much support a global strategy, Dragonfly Action Plan prepared by the IUCN/SSC,
Odonata Specialist Group (Moore, 1997) responsible for the listing of odonate priority species targeted
for conservation action. Listings for the Oriental Region Malaysia included, are the species: Devadatta
argyoides (Selys, 1859), Onychothemis coccinea Lieftinck, 1953, Onychothemis culminicola Förster,
1904 and Onychothemis testacea Laidlaw, 1902. The group’s task encompassed conservation plans
of threatened dragonflies by promoting creation and sustenance of nature reserves and conserving
important habitats.

Although recent inventories have increased our knowledge regarding a number of species habitat
requirements but yet our understanding of the needs for most species remains rudimentary, and
more ecological studies would be of enormous benefit (Kinvig & Samways, 2000; Norma-Rashid,
2003). Here an attempt is made to characterize the ecological features as matched to the diversity of
odonate species (Norma-Rashid, 1995b). I am proposing here 3 types of montane ecozones which are
being colonized by specific dragonfly populations (Figures 2 to 4). Such distinct categories are divided
into:

• Montane Ecozone Type 1 – open rivers and fast flow waters attracting the listed odonates as
in Figure 2

• Montane Ecozone Type 2 – small streams with specific substrate types (which may comprised
of boulders, pebbles, sandy, leaf litter or muddy bottom substrate) refuges for an array of
different species of dragonflies and damselflies

• Montane Ecozone Type 3 – ranging from sluggish to stagnant water bodies inhabited by
mostly Libellulidae and minority zygopterans.

54
Figure 2: The relationships between physical characteristics of Montane Ecozone Type 1 with their
specific odonate inhabitants

Figure 3: The relationships between physical characteristics of Montane Ecozone Type 2 with their
specific odonate inhabitants

55
Figure 4: The relationships between physical characteristics of Montane Ecozone Type 3 with their
specific odonate inhabitants

Finally, it is hoped that with inputs from diverse authorities but with one goal gearing towards
conserving natural heritage, there should be concerted effort as suggested in Figure 5 to:

• increased inventory efforts

• long-term monitoring studies creating awareness in species composition, abundance and

population fluctuations

• examining the effects of human activity and

• initiative to create odonate refuges.

56
Figure 5: The scope of work suggested for implementation of concerted effort to conserve dragonflies
or any form of priority species

These creatures resembled natural flagships essential for raising public awareness on the
importance of conserving forests, aquatic habitats and biodiversity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my appreciation to my Wans, UM grant and team especially my able assistant,
Mohaiyidin and also, my thanks goes to Jabatan PERHILITAN for a great, well done, in organizing both
field expeditions and then the seminar presentations

57
 REFERENCES

Balmford, A. & Gaston, K. J. 1999. Why biodiversity surveys are good value. Nature 398: 204–205.

Clark, T. E. & Samways, M. F. 1996. Dragonflies (Odonata) as indicators of biotope quality at the Kruger
National Park, South Africa. Journal of Applied Ecology 33: 1001-1012.

Corbet, P. S. 1999. Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata. New York: Cornell University Press,
Ithaca.
Hamalainan, M. 2001. Regional Reports - Prepared for discussion at IUCN meetings at Novosibirsk and
Gallivare, Leiden. 

Kalkman, V. 2002. From cool hill resorts to humid rainforest: an odonatological trip to Peninsular
Malaysia (July 2002). Agrion, 8(2). www.africa-dragonfly.net.

Kemp R. G. & Kemp, G. S. 1989. Some dragonfly records from the states of Pahang and Perak, West
Malaysia. Notulae Odonatologica 3(3): 37-40.

Kinvig, R. G. & Samways, M. J. 2000. Conserving dragonflies (Odonata) along streams running through
commercial forestry. Odonatologica 29: 195-208.

Moore, N. W. 1997. Dragonflies: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Odonata
Specialist Group.

Norma-Rashid, Y. & Tol, V. 1995a. New records of odonata for West Malaysia. Notulae Odonatologica
4(6): 101-103.

Norma-Rashid, Y. 1995b. A dynamic encounter with the odonates in Sungai Selieh, Kelantan, Peninsular
Malaysia. Wallaceana 76: 17-22.

Norma-Rashid, Y. 1998. Animals of Malaysia: dragonflies & damselflies. In The Encyclodpedia of

Malaysia - Wildlife of Malaysia (3) 104-105. Editions Didier Millet. Singapore.

Norma-Rashid, Y. 2003. Life history and a unique habitat choice of Indocnemis orang from Malaysia.
Entomologia Sinica 10(2): 115-119.

Norma-Rashid, Y. 2007a. Dragonflies – museum repositories and common names. Journal Science
15(1): 36 - 40.

Norma-Rashid, Y. & Sofian-Azirun, M. 2007b. Common dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata)
at Hulu Selai, Endau-Rompin, Johor, Malaysia. In: The Forests and   Biodiversity of  Selai,
Endau-Rompin (eds. H. Mohamed and M. Zakaria Ismail). ISBN 978-083-42197-0-3.

Norma-Rashid, Y. 2007c. Dragonflies in peril? Malaysian Naturalist 61: 10-11.

Norma-Rashid, Y., Cheong, L. F., Lua, H. K. & Murphy, D. H. 2008a. The dragonflies (Odonata) of
Singapore: Current Status Records and Collections of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity
Research. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. Singapore.21pp. ISBN 978-981-08-
1745-9. Uploaded 07. Nov. 2008. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/rmbrbooks/ Dragonfly_of_
Singapore.pdf. 27pp

Norma-Rashid, Y., Sofian-Azirun, M., Rosli, R. & Rosli, H. 2008b. Dragonflies on the islands in the
Stratits of Malacca. Malaysian Journal of Science 27(3): 105-111.

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Orr, A. G. 2005. Dragonflies of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History
Publications (Borneo).

Sahle’n. G. & Ekestubbe. 2001. Identification of dragonflies (Odonata) as indicators of general species
richness in boreal forest lakes. Biodiversity and Conservation 10: 673-690.

Tsuda, S. 2000. A distributional list of world Odonata. Privately Published. Osaka.

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60
 7
DIVERSITY OF EDIBLE RARE FRUIT SPECIES IN SUNGAI KEJAR, ROYAL BELUM FOREST RESERVE,
PERAK, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Mohd. Nor Faizal, G., Masrom, H., Omar, Y., & Gerten, D.

Strategic Resources Research Centre, MARDI,

43400 Serdang

mnfaizal@mardi.gov.my

ABSTRACT

Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Hulu Perak is rich in their biodiversity and natural heritage. The edible
rare fruit species in The Royal Belum Forest Reserve are diverse and evenly distributed. Sixteen rare
fruits species were found and identified in this area during our inventory expedition in August 2008.
Unfortunately, most of the rare fruit species did not bearing any fruits or flowers during this expedition
as the fruiting season was already over between May and July. Leaves of all identified rare fruits
species such as Bouea oppositifolia (remia), Bouea macrophylla, Artocarpus scortechnii were collected
for herbarium specimens.

Keywords: edible fruits, diversity, Royal Belum State Park, fruiting, distribution

ABSTRAK

Taman Negeri DiRaja Belum yang terletak di dalam daerah Hulu Perak amat terkenal dengan
kekayaan biodiversiti dan sumber alam semulajadi. Kepelbagaian dan taburan spesies buah-buahan
nadir yang terdapat di kawasan ini adalah amat menarik. Sebanyak 16 spesies buah-buahan nadir
telah ditemui dan dikenalpasti di kawasan ini semasa ekspedisi inventori yang dijalankan pada bulan
Ogos 2008. Walau bagaimanapun, kebanyakan spesies buah-buahan nadir ini tidak mengeluarkan
sebarang bunga ataupun buah kerana musim buahan yang telah berlalu antara Mei dan Julai. Daun
bagi kesemua spesies buah-buahan nadir seperti Bouea oppositifolia (remia), Bouea macrophylla
(kundang), Artocarpus scortechnii (terap nasi) ini dikumpulkan dan kemudiannya dijadikan sebagai
spesimen herbarium.

Kata kekunci: buah-buahan boleh dimakan, kepelbagaian, Taman Negeri DiRaja Belum, buahan,
taburan

61
 INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is rich in its diversity of tropical genetic resources. Besides the few cultivated species, there
are many other species that are growing wild and underexploited; and their economic potential is still
unknown. Realizing the importance of these wild and rare fruit species, efforts were made to collect,
conserve and evaluate them for greater utilization in the future.

The Royal Belum Forest Reserve was found to be rich in fruit tree species (Salma et al.
1997). In the second scientific expedition to Royal Belum Forest Reserve in May till June 1998, led by
Malaysian Nature Society, indigenous rare fruit species were collected along the trails of Sungai Lebur,
Sg. Beruak, Sg. Semilang, Sg. Kobu, around the hill and along the ridge behind the base camp. During
this latest expedition in August 2008, led by PERHILITAN, the survey was conducted along 3 trails
established along the base camp and Sungai Kejar, and also behind the base camp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During the field survey, two transects were selected and botanized (Figure 1). Plant listing and
collection were also made along Sungai Kejar. Rapid assessment technique was used during the
survey to record the species composition and diversity according to methods proposed by Bridson
and Forman, (1992). Herbarium specimens were also collected for plant bearing flower and seed,
while voucher specimens were collected for plants that were not flowering or fruiting. Taxonomic
notes and habitat types were also recorded. All vouchers and herbarium collections were lodged and
identified at the MARDI Herbarium. The checklist was generated from voucher specimens, herbarium
records and sighted records.

Figure 1: A sketch of the studied area in basecamp at Sungai Kejar, Taman Negeri Di Raja Belum,
Hulu Perak

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The edible rare fruits tree species in this area are diverse with a total of 16 species representing 12
genera and 7 families (Table 1 and Appendix 1). Almost all the species found are related to important
cultivated crops. The seven most diverse families documented here are Euphorbiaceae (5 species, 2
genera), followed by Anacardiaceae (5 species, 4 genera), Moraceae (3 species, 1 genus), Sapindaceae
62
(1 species, 1 genus), Podocarpaceae (1 genus, 1 species), Meliaceae (1 species, 1 genus) and
Lechytidaceae (1 species, 1 genus). The genus Artocarpus was represented by three species, genus
Bouea by two species and Baccaurea by three species. The other genera Mangifera, Dracontomelon,
Pometia, Elateriospermum, Lepisanthes, Spodocarpus, Aglaia and Barringtonia were each represented
by a single species.

From sixteen edible species recorded here, eight species were newly recorded and were not
found during the first expedition in 1998, which indicates that high diversity and wide distribution of
rare fruit species. Five species were considered common, as they were found in high numbers along
the trails. During the first scientific expedition, Salma et al. (1997) reported that most of the wild fruit
trees were fruiting in August and September, indicating that the fruiting season is later in that year. In
this second scientific expedition, none of the rare fruit species were found fruiting or flowering as the
fruiting season was earlier, from May to July for this year.

Table 1: List of Edible Rare Fruit Species recorded at Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum Forest Reserve

Family Species Status

Anacardiaceae Bouea macrophylla Common

Bouea oppositifolia Moderate

Mangifera spp. Few

Lepisanthes rubiginosa Few

Dracontomelon sp. Few

Euphorbiaceae Elateriospermum tapos Moderate

Baccaurea brevipes Few

Baccaurea parvifolia Few

Baccaurea macrocarpa Common

Moraceae Artocarpus lanceifolius Common

Artocarpus rigidus Common

Artocarpus elasticus Common

Sapindaceae Pometia pinnata Few

Podocarpaceae Podocarpus borneensis Few

Meliaceae Aglaia spp. Few

Lechytidaceae Barringtonia racemosa Few

63
 CONCLUSIONS

There were many wild and rare edible fruit tree species in The Royal Belum Forest Reserve. Since the
main aim was to document and collect seeds for germination, the correct timing of the expedition was
very critical to ensure the fruits availability. Although many species were found in this forest reserve,
no seeds were collected because none of the rare species was flowering and fruiting.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank the Director of Strategic Resources Research Centre, and the Deputy
Director of Bioresource Management and Utilisation Programme, SR01, Strategic Resources Research
Center for their permission to join the expedition. We also wish to thank Miss Syarifah Khadiejah and
PERHILITAN for their hospitality and help during our expedition at Royal Belum Forest Reserve.

REFERENCES

Bridson, D. & Forman, L. (eds.) 1992. The Herbarium Handbook. Revised edition. Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew.

Salma, I., Rukayah, A., Muhammad, O. & Masrom, H. 1997. Fruit trees in Temenggor Forest Reserve,
Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Malay. Nat. J. 50: 141-147.

Soepadmo, E., Wong, K. M. & Saw, L. G. 1996. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. Kuala Lumpur:
FRIM.

Ong, H.C. 2004. Buah-Khasiat Makanan dan Ubatan. Kuala Lumpur: Utusan Publication Sdn. Bhd.

64
Appendix I: Examples of edible rare fruits tree species recorded in Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum Forest
Reserve

Artocarpus scortechinii Artocarpus rigidus

Bouea macrophylla Artocarpus elasticus

Baccaurea macrocarpa

65
 8
A SURVEY OF MACROFUNGI AT SUNGAI KEJAR, TAMAN DIRAJA BELUM, GERIK, PERAK

Thi Bee Kin & Lee Su See

Mycology and Pathology Unit, Biodiversity Division,

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM),
52109 Kepong, Selangor

thibeekin@frim.gov.my

ABSTRACT

A survey of the macrofungal diversity at Sungai Kejar, Taman DiRaja Belum was carried out during the
Biodiversity expedition to Taman DiRaja Belum organised by the Department of Wildlife and National
Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) between 18th and 20th August 2008. The results from this
expedition and previous Scientific Expedition at the same location in 2007 organised by the Forestry
Department, Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM) are discussed here. From the two expeditions, a total of 117
samples were collected from lowland dipterocarp forest. Of these, 32 specimens were from Agaricales
(5 families), 27 from Polyporales (4 families), 17 from Russulales (2 families), 6 from Pezizales (1
family), 5 from Hymenochaetales (1 family), 4 from Xylariales (1 family), 3 from Boletales (2 families),
2 from Cantharellales (2 families) and 1 from Gomphales (1 family). Twenty specimens have yet to
be assigned to any genera or family and the identification of the specimens are on-going. Members
from the family Xylariaceae were found only during the second expedition but not on the first while
members of the Hymenochaetaceae were only found during the first expedition. This is probably due
to different in fruiting seasons of the macrofungi. Collections required to be carried out repeatedly
over a period of several years to obtain a better understanding of the macrofungal diversity at Sungai
Kejar in particular, and Taman DiRaja Belum, in general. The data need to be collated into FRIM’s
database and specimens are kept in the fungal herbarium in FRIM.

Keywords: macrofungi, Taman DiRaja Belum, Sungai Kejar, mushroom, distribution, diversity

ABSTRAK

Kajian kepelbagaian makrofungi di Sungai Kejar, Taman DiRaja Belum telah dijalankan semasa
ekspedisi Inventori Kepelbagaian di Taman DiRaja anjuran Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan
Taman Negara (PERHILITAN) bermula 18 hingga 20 Ogos 2008. Hasil kajian dari ekspedisi ini dan juga
Ekspedisi Saintifik di lokasi yang sama pada tahun 2007 anjuran Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung
Malaysia (JPSM) dibincangkan. Daripada dua ekspedisi ini, sejumlah 117 spesimen telah dikutip dari
hutan dipterokap pamah. Daripada jumlah ini, 32 spesimen adalah daripada Agaricales (5 famili), 27
daripada Polyporales (4 famili), 17 daripada Russulales (2 famili), 6 daripada Pezizales (1 famili), 5

67
daripada Hymenochaetales (1 famili), 4 daripada Xylariales (1 famili), 3 daripada Boletales (2 famili), 2
daripada Cantharellales (2 famili) dan 1 daripada Gomphales (1 famili). Dua puluh spesimen lagi akan
dimasukkan ke dalam genera atau famili tertentu di mana pengecaman spesimen masih dijalankan.
Ahli-ahli daripada famili Xylariaceae ditemui semasa ekspedisi kedua tetapi tidak ditemui semasa
ekspedisi pertama manakala ahli-ahli daripada Hymenochaetaceae hanya dijumpai semasa ekspedisi
pertama. Ini mungkin disebabkan musim pembuahan makrofungi yang berbeza. Pengutipan perlu
dijalankan berulang kali dalam tempoh beberapa tahun berturut-turut untuk mendapat pemahaman
yang lebih jelas tentang kepelbagaian makrofungi terutamanya di Sungai Kejar dan Taman DiRaja
Belum secara umumnya. Data yang diperolehi akan dikumpul semak di dalam pangkalan data FRIM
dan spesimen pula disimpan dalam herbarium kulat di FRIM.

INTRODUCTION

Fungi are among the most diverse groups of living organisms. It is conservatively estimated that there
are 1.5 million fungal species in the world (Hawksworth & Rossman, 1997). Macrofungi or larger
fungi are species that have visible structures which produce spores (fruiting bodies), for example,
mushrooms and puff balls. Diversity of macrofungi appears to be highest in the tropics and subtropics
(Lodge et al., 1995). However, the macrofungal diversity of Malaysia is still not well documented and
many Malaysian fungi remain to be discovered. It has been estimated that up to 70% of the fungi in
Malaysia have yet to be discovered and described. So far about 3000 species of fungi, including both
macro- and microfungi have been reported for Malaysia (Jones, 2007).

Belum, consisting of Temenggor Forest Reserve and Belum Forest Reserve, was proposed
as a national park or protected area in 1968 (Davison, 1995) and is one of the largest biologically
diverse areas in Malaysia. The whole of Taman DiRaja Belum or Royal Belum, however, is located
within the Belum Forest Reserve which has a total area of 134,167 ha (Figure 1). Several study visits
have been made to Belum to collect fungi in 1993, 1994 and most recently in 2007 and 2008. During
the Malaysian Nature Society’s Malaysian Heritage and Scientific Expedition to Belum between 1993
and 1994, surveys of fungi were made at the Sungai Halong and surrounding areas of the Temenggor
Forest Reserve at the southern part of Belum in July 1993 and April 1994 (Lee & Salmiah, 1994; Lee et
al., 1995). More recently collections were made around Sungai Kejar in the Royal Belum area during
the Royal Belum II expedition organised by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM)
in June 2007 and during the “Inventory of Biodiversity to Taman DiRaja Belum” expedition organised
by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in August 2008. These expeditions were conducted
to study the biodiversity of the northern part of Belum. During both expeditions, we participated in
the inventory of the macrofungi as apart of the FRIM fungal inventory project to document fungal
diversity in Peninsular Malaysia. The preliminary findings on the macrofungi collected from Sungai
Kejar are presented in this paper.

68
 Figure 1. Location of Taman DiRaja Belum or Royal Belum in the northern part of Perak

COLLECTING SITE, MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sungai Kejar (N5˚ 48’ E101˚25’) is located in Taman DiRaja Belum, in the northern part of Perak.
Macrofungi were collected along the Sungai Kejar trails and around the base camp during two separate
trips made between 19–20 June 2007 and 18–20 August 2008. The specimens were labelled with
field number and photographed, and their habitats recorded in the FRIM field collection book with
corresponding latitude, longitude and altitude using GPSmap 76CSx (Garmin).

For identification of macrofungi, the macroscopic characters of the fresh fruiting bodies are
first examined and described (Figure 2). The colour of the cap and basidiocarps were made according
to the Flora of British Fungi Colour Identification Chart (Anonymous, 1969) and The Online Auction
Color Chart (Anonymous, 2004). Spore prints were also made (Figure 2) for microscopic analysis and
later examination. The specimens were then dried in a ventilated portable oven at 45˚C overnight and
then stored in ziplock plastic bags containing silica gel. The dried and labelled specimens are kept in
the fungal herbarium at FRIM. Identification of the specimens using appropriate keys is on-going. The
data will be compiled as part of the FRIM fungal inventory project.

69
Figure 2: Describing macrofungi: making spore print (left), data entry in computer (right) and specimens
ready for drying (centre)

ResultS and Discussion

A total of 117 specimens were made from Sungai Kejar during the two expeditions. Nineteen
families were collected and identified. Of these, 32 specimens were from Agaricales (5 families),
27 from Polyporales (4 families), 17 from Russulales (2 families), 6 from Pezizales (1 family), 5
from Hymenochaetales (1 family), 4 from Xylariales (1 family), 3 from Boletales (2 families), 2 from
Cantharellales (2 families) and 1 from Gomphales (1 family) (Table 1). Twenty specimens have yet
to be assigned to any genera or family and the identification of the specimens are on-going. All
the collections were made from lowland dipterocarp forest. Some of the macrofungi collected are
illustrated in Appendix 1.
The majority of the macrofungi collected were members of the Agaricales which is the
largest order of mushroom forming fungi (Table 1). The families Mycenaceae with 10 specimens,
Marasmiaceae and Tricholomataceae with 9 specimens each contributed to the large collection of
this order. In an earlier study at Belum, over 150 macrofungi were collected around Sungai Halong
and the surrounding areas in Temenggor Forest Reserve, where members of the Agaricales were the
second largest group of fungi collected after the Polyporales (Lee et al., 1995).

Members of the Polyporales, also known as bracket fungi made up the second largest group
collected at Sungai Kejar. Some of these are shown in Figure 4. Of these bracket fungi, species of
Microporus (family Polyporaceae) were the most common with at least five species being collected.
Members of the Polyporaceae are common in any ecosystem, often producing large, visible, perennial
fruiting bodies. They are ecologically important as the main decomposers of dead wood (Gibertoni
et al., 2007) and in the forest nutrient recycling system (Gilbertson, 1980). The common polypores,
Pycnoporus sanguineus, Stereum ostrea, Microporus xanthopus and Trametes sp. had also been
collected from Temenggor Forest Reserve by Lee et al. (1995) in the earlier expedition to Belum.

The third largest group collected consisted of members from the order Russulales. Pezizales
made up the fourth largest group and the Hymenochaetales the fifth largest group. This was followed
by Gomphales, Xylariales, Boletales and Cantharellales.

70
 The largest number of macrofungi collected during the August 2008 expedition was from the
family Russulaceae with 7 specimens while in the June 2007 expedition it was the Polyporaceae with
19 specimens. The many colourful but difficult to identify Russula species (Figure 4) have yet to be
determined to species due to a lack of keys for this family in the tropics.

Members from the family Xylariaceae were found in August 2008 but not in June 2007
showing the variability of fungal fruiting. Xylariaceae is a common family of the ascomycetes in the
tropics and can be found growing on woody substrates such as on twigs, branches, and tree trunks.
Members of the Hymenochaetaceae were only found on the first trip.

Most of the fleshy fruiting bodies are ephemeral and have unpredictable basidiomata
development. Generally their growth depends on the weather conditions. It is best to make collections
at the beginning of the wet season after relatively dry periods of several weeks (Corner, 1935 and
1988, Lee et al., 2002).

The specimens reported here only represents a small proportion of the fungi to be found in
the area as only two short visits were made over 2007 and 2008. However, the information obtained
has contributed to a better knowledge of the fungi of Malaysia in general and the Sungai Kejar area
in Taman DiRaja Belum in particular. Repeated collections over several years and at different times of
the year are needed to obtain a clearer picture of fungal distribution and fungal diversity in any area
(Lee et al., 2002).

CONCLUSIONS

Different species of macrofungi were found in Sungai Kejar, Royal Belum, Perak. Most macrofungi
show a pronounced periodicity or seasonality where the sporocarp formation is restricted to a certain
time of the year. Further collections are needed for the discovery of new macrofungal species and
fungal distribution patterns in Belum area.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Department of Wildilfe and National Parks,
Peninsular Malaysia and Forestry Department, Peninsular Malaysia for organizing the expedition to
The Royal Belum forest reserve. This study was funded by research grant Vote 20300202022 from the
Malaysian government.

71
Table 1: Macrofungi collected from the Sungai Kejar area, Taman DiRaja Belum during the expeditions
organised by JPSM in 2007 and PERHILITAN in 2008

No. of No. of
Order Family Genus specimens specimens
in 2007 in 2008

Agaricales Agaricaceae Agaricus sp. 1 -

Coprinus sp. 1 -

Lepiota sp. - 1

Hygrophoraceae Hygrocybe sp. 1 -

Marasmiaceae Marasmius sp. 7 2

Mycenaceae Filoboletus manipularis 1 2

Filoboletus sp. 1 -

Mycena sp. 4 2

Tricholomataceae Termitomyces sp. 1 1

Tricholoma sp. - 4

Unknown 2 1

Boletales Boletaceae Boletus sp. 1 -

Sclerodermataceae Scleroderma sp.
1 1

Cantharellales Cantharellaceae Cantharellus sp. - 1

Clavulinaceae Clavulina sp.
1 -

Gomphales Clavariaceae Ramaria sp. - 1

Hymenochaetales Hymenochaetaceae Phellinus lamaensis 1 -

Phellinus senex 1 -

Phellinus sp. 1 -

Phylloporia spathulata 2 -

Pezizales Sarcoscyphaceae Cookeina sp. 3 2

Cookeina sulcipes 1 -

72
Polyporales Fomitopsidaceae Fomitella rhodophaea 1 -

Ganodermataceae Amauroderma rugosum/subrugosum 1 -

Amauroderma sp.

Ganoderma australe 3 -

Rigidoporus microporus/lineatus 2 -

Meripilaceae Earliella scabrosa 1 -

Lentinus sp.

Polyporaceae Microporellus sp. 1 -

Microporus affinis - 1

Microporus vernicipes 1 -

Microporus vinosus 3 -

Microporus xanthopus 1 -

Microporus sp. 2 -

Polyporus grammocephalus 3 -

Pycnoporus sanguineus 1 -

Trametes scopulosa 1 -

Trichaptum durum

Genus unknown 2 -

1 -

1 -

1 -

Russulales Russulaceae Lactarius sp. - 1

Russula sp. 3 6

Stereaceae Stereum ostrea 6 1

Xylariales Xylariaceae Xylaria sp. - 4

Unknown 17 3

Total specimens 83 34

73
 REFERENCES

Anonymous. 1969. Flora of British fungi colour identification chart. Edinburgh, London: Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office.

Anonymous. 2004. The Online Auction Color Chart. www.OnlineAuctionColourChart.com.

Corner, E. J. H. 1935. The seasonal fruiting of agarics in Malaya. Gardens’ Bulletin, Straits Settlements
9: 79-88.

Corner, E. J. H. 1988. Higher fungi. In: Key Environments: Malaysia. G. Gathorne-Hardy, Earl of
Cranbrook (ed.). United Kingdom: IUCN, pergamon Press, Oxford.

Davison, G. W. H. 1995. Belum: a rainforest in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society.

Gibertoni, T. B., Santos, P. J. P. & Cavalcanti, M. A. Q. 2007. Ecological aspects of Aphyllophorales in the
Atlantic rain forest in northeast Brazil. Fungal Diversity 25: 49-67.

Gilbertson, R. L. 1980. Wood-rooting fungi of North America. Mycologia 72: 1-49.

Hawksworth, D. L. & Rossman, A. Y. 1997. Where are all the undescribed fungi? Phytopathology 87(9):
888-891.

Jones, E. B. G. 2007. Introduction to Malaysian fungal diversity. In: Malaysian Fungal Diversity. Jones,
E. B. G., Hyde, K.D. & Vikineswary, S. (eds.). Pp. 1-24. Mushroom Research Centre, University
of Malaya and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia.

Lee, S. S. & Salmiah, U. 1994. Ectomycorrhizal and wood inhabiting fungi in Belum: Preliminary findings.
Belum Expedition Workshop – 26 March 1994.

Lee, S. S., Helmut, B. & Salmiah, U. 1995. Some fungi of the Sungai Halong and surrounding areas,
Temengor Forest Reserve, Hulu Perak, Malaysia. Malaysia Nature Journal 48: 147-155.

Lee, S. S., Watling, R. & Noraini Sikin, Y. 2002. Ectomycorrhizal basidiomata fruiting in lowland rain
forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques 274(4): 33- 43.

Lodge, D. J., Chapela, I., Samuels, G., Uecker, F. A., Desjardin, D., Horak, E., Miller, O. K., Jr., Hennebert,
G. L., Decock, C. A., Ammirati, J., Bursal, H. H., Jr., Kirk, P. M., Minter, D. W., Hailing, R., LaessØe,
Mueller, G., Huhndorf, S., Oberwinkler, F., Pegler, D. N., Spooner, B., Petersen, R. H., Rogers, J.
D., Ryvarden, L., Watling, R., Turnbull, E. & Whalley, J.S. 1995. A Survey of patterns of diversity
in non-lichenized fungi. Mitt. Eidgenöss. Forsch.anst. Wald Schnee Landsch 70(1): 157-173.

74
Appendix 1: Some species of the macrofungi collected from Sungai Kejar, Taman DiRaja Belum, Perak
(Photo credit: Thi Bee Kin)

Russula sp. Russula sp.

Russulaceae Russulaceae

Russula sp. Lentinus sp.

Russulaceae Polyporaceae

Pycnoporus sanguineus Microporus xanthopus

Polyporaceae Polyporaceae

75
 Filoboletus manipularis Termitomyces sp.
Mycenaceae Tricholomataceae

Scleroderma sp. Xylaria sp.

Sclerodermataceae Xylariaceae

Cookeina sp. Stereum ostrea

Sarcoscyphaceae Stereaceae

76
 9
PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY SCREENING OF PLANTS COLLECTED FROM KUALA
KENIAM, TAMAN NEGARA, PAHANG

Nor Hadiani Ismail, Faridahanim Mohd Jaafar1, Norizan Ahmat1, Rohaya Ahmad1, Noor Hana
Hussain1 and Shamsul Khamis2
1
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA,
40450 Shah Alam, Selangor

Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia,

2

43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor

norhadiani@salam.uitm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Tropical plants with diverse chemical complexities are undoubtedly the most important natural
resource in the search for bioactive natural products with potential use in pharmaceutical
applications and healthcare. Seventy-six plant species of interest from twenty-five families were
collected during two phytochemical expeditions in Kuala Keniam, Pahang. The plants were from
family Rubiaceae, Annonaceae, Lecythidaceae, Myristicaceae, Tiliaceae, Rosaceae, Moraceae,
Ulmaceae, Menispermaceae, Euphobiaceae, Lauraceae, Ebenaceae, Verbanaceae, Myrsinaceae,
Simaroubaceae, Leeaceae, Rutaceae, Melastomaceae, Sterculiaceae, Celastraceae, Commelinaceae,
Burseraceae, Convolvulaceae, Guttiferae and Pandanaceae. The plants were screened on site for
presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. Several plants with high content of alkaloids and flavonoids
were found. Alkaloids and flavonoids are classes of compounds with many therapeutic activities such
as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and others. A total of 143 extracts produced from various
parts of the plants were evaluated for free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities. Several
plants with strong free radical scavenging activity and good antimicrobial activity were identified.
Detailed phytochemical studies of the potential plants may lead to the isolation of interesting bioactive
molecules which may become a platform for development of various useful commercial healthcare
products and pharmaceuticals form our tropical plants.

Key words: phytochemical, biological activity, tropical plant, bioactive, Kuala Keniam, therapeutic

77
 ABSTRAK

Tumbuhan tropika dengan kompleksiti kimia yang pelbagai merupakan sumber semulajadi penting
dalam pencarian sebatian semulajadi bioaktif  yang berpotensi untuk digunakan dalam bidang
farmaseutikal dan penjagaan kesihatan. Sejumlah 76 spesies tumbuhan daripada 25 famili telah
dikumpul sepanjang dua ekspedisi fitokimia di Kuala Keniam, Taman Negara Pahang. Tumbuhaan
tersebut tergolong daripada famili Rubiaceae, Annonaceae, Lecythidaceae, Myristicaceae,
Tiliaceae, Rosaceae, Moraceae, Ulmaceae, Menispermaceae, Euphobiaceae, Lauraceae, Ebenaceae,
Verbanaceae, Myrsinaceae, Simaroubaceae, Leeaceae, Rutaceae, Melastomaceae, Sterculiaceae,
Celastraceae, Commelinaceae, Burseraceae, Convolvulaceae, Guttiferae dan Pandanaceae. Tumbuhan
tersebut seterusnya disaring di lapangan untuk menguji kehadiran alkaloid dan flavonoid. Beberapa
tumbuhan dengan kandungan alkaloid dan flavonoid yang tinggi ditemui. Alkaloid dan flavonoid
adalah kelas sebatian yang mengandungi banyak aktiviti terapeutik seperti antioksidan, antimikrob,
antikanser dan lain-lain lagi. Sejumlah 143 ekstrak dihasilkan daripada pelbagai bahagian tumbuhan
dan seterusnya diuji untuk  mengenalpasti aktiviti perencatan radikal bebas dan aktiviti antimikrob.
Beberapa tumbuhan dengan  aktiviti perencatan radikal bebas yang kuat dan aktiviti antimikrob yang
baik telah dikenalpasti. Kajian lanjut mengenai fitokimia tumbuhan yang berpotensi boleh membawa
kepada pemencilan molekul-molekul bioaktif menarik untuk digunakan sebagai landasan bagi
perkembangan pelbagai produk penjagaan kesihatan dan farmaseutikal komersil daripada tumbuhan
tropika kita.

Kata kekunci: fitokimia, aktiviti biologi, tumbuhan tropika, bioaktif, Kuala Keniam, terapeutik

INTRODUCTION

The use of certain plants is important in traditional medicine practice and in assisting primary
healthcare in many parts of the world. Phytochemical investigations on plants used in traditional
medicine are targeted towards isolation and discovery of biologically active compounds. Biologically
active chemical constituents isolated from these plants used in traditional medicine may be a source
of new medicinal agents.

Malaysia is located in tropical belt has been classified as one the mega biodiversity country.
It is estimated that there about 10000 species of higher plants and about 2000 species of lower
plants available in Peninsular Malaysia with approximately 16% of these claimed to be used for
medicinal purposes (Latiff et al., 1984). Our rich tropical rain forests represent an enormous reservoir
of chemically diverse molecules with potential therapeutic activity waiting to be discovered. Taman
Negara, a protected tropical forest basically is still unexploited and has great potential for discovery
of important useful chemical compounds. Usage of plants by the locals and ethnic community forms
the basis of ethnobotanical information of the flora, however the reliability of the ethnobotanical
information as such the medicinal claims need to be supported by scientific data if these resources
were to be developed into important useful healthcare products.

In the development of therapeutically useful natural products, phytochemical investigation

of the endemic plants is a critical and essential step. In this work, a botanical survey followed by
phytochemical and biological screening of plants endemic to Kuala Keniam, Taman Negara was
conducted. Flowering plants were collected and documented. Parts of collected plants were screened
on-site for presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. For biologcal testing, the plant materials were extracted
using organic solvent and the extracts subjected to antioxidant assay and antimicrobial assay.

78
 MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection and Site Description

Random collection was conducted during the expedition. Fresh specimens were collected, identified
and deposited at the Herbarium Institute of Bioscience, UPM and UiTM. Three collection sites covered
during the expeditions are as follows:

1. Main trail to Gua Luas, UiTM Research Station, Sg. Keneyam, Taman Negara, Pahang; 165 m
asl; N040 31’ 04.2’’, E1020 28’ 28.5’’; 12/7/2007.

2. Off trail of main trail to Gua Luas, UiTM Research Station, Sg. Keneyam, Taman Negara,
Pahang; 165 m asl; N040 31’ 04.2’’, E1020 28’ 28.5’’; 13/7/2007.

3. Riverside of Sg. Keneyam, Taman Negara, Pahang; 165 m asl; N040 31’ 04.2’’, E1020 28’ 28.5’’;
14/7/2007.

On-site Phytochemical Screening

Phytochemical screening was conducted according to methods described by Said et al. (1990) and
Goh et al. (1993).

Alkaloids Screening: Plant sample was ground and soaked in ammonical chloroform. After
10 minutes, the extract was transferred into a test tube. Then, an equal volume of 5% hydrochloric
acid was added to the extract. The presence of alkaloids was detected using Mayer’s reagent with the
formation of a white precipitation.

Flavonoids Screening: The alcoholic extract (5 ml, corresponding to 1 g of plant material)

was treated with a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid and magnesium turnings (0.5 g). The
presence of flavonoid is indicated by formation pink or magenta-red coloration within 3 minutes.

Extraction

Different parts of the plant (stems, leaves and roots) collected were chopped, dried and milled. Each
sample was soaked successively with dichloromethane and methanol. The solvents were removed
using the rotary evaporator to give the crude extract.

Antioxidant Assay

Anti oxidant properties of the extract were measured based on the ability to scavenge
diphenylpycrylhydrazine (DPPH) radicals. The stock solution of the extracts was prepared at 1 mg/ml
in methanol. The stock solution was diluted to varying concentrations in 96-well microtiter plate and
5 µl of DPPH solution (prepared at 10 mg/ml) was added to each well. The plate was shaken gently to
ensure thorough mixing before placed in the dark. After standing for 30 minutes, the absorbance of
the solution was read using an ELISA reader at wavelength 550 nm. Percent inhibition was calculated.
The IC50 value was determined as the concentration of each sample required to give 50% inhibition of
the control. All test and analyses were run in triplicates and averaged.

79
Antibacterial Assay

The antibacterial activities of the extract were tested against 12 bacteria species, namely Bacillus subtilis,
Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Salmonella typhi, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The bacteria species were obtained from Microbiology
Department, UiTM culture collection.

The assay was conducted using disc difussion method. Between 3 to 5 isolated colonies of
bacteria grown on Mueller Hinton agar were selected and innoculated into 5 mL of Meuller Hinton broth
and incubated at 35oC for 18-24 hours. Culture was then adjusted to 0.5 MCFarland standard using Meuller
Hinton broth. A sterile cotton swab was dipped into the adjusted broth and then streaked over entire
surface of the Meuller Hinton agar plate. As soon as the plate surface was dry empty discs were placed on
the agar plate using sterile forceps and immediately 10 µl of the plant extracts from stock solution of 10
mg/ml were pippetted onto the disc to give a final dosage of 100 µg. For positive control disc containing
10µg of streptomycin was placed at the center on the agar plate surfaces. The agar plate was inverted and
incubated at 35oC for 18-24 hours. After incubation, the diameter of inhibition zones was measured.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 50 species from 34 genera and 19 families of flowering plants were collected throughout
the expedition comprising of Rubiaceae (20 species), Euphorbiaceae (4 species), Annonaceae and
Myristicaceae (4 species respectively) and other families.

Phytochemical screenings were carried out on the plants for the presence of flavonoid and
alkaloid. Several plants gave positive results for the presence of flavonoid and a few showed high
content of alkaloid. Leaves of Urophyllum sp. and Knema glauca of Rubiaceae exhibited highest content
of flavonoid (4+) followed by stem of Knema glauca, leaves of Antidesma microphyllum and stem of
Baccaurea racemosa of Euphorbiaceae, fruit of Disoxylum cauliflorum (Meliaceae) and leaves of Leea
indica (Leeaceae) which indicated 3+ for the presence of flavonoid. Presence of 2+ flavonoid was detected
in Myrsetia malayana (stem and fruit), Opphiorrhiza communis (stem) and leaves of Psycothria sp. which
belong to Rubiaceae family. Other plants that displayed similar content of flavonoid are Antidesma
velotinosum (leaves), Barringtonia macrostachya (fruit) and Labisia pumila (leaves) of Euphorbiaceae,
Lechitidaceae and Myrcinaceae respectively. Besides that, several plants exhibited the presence of 1+
contents of flavonoid. They are Argostemma hookeri (leaves and stem), Myrcetia malayana (leaves),
Psycothria ridleyi (stem), Urophyllum sp. (stem and fruit) and Saprosa pubescens (fruit) from the
Rubiaceae family. Eventhough the leaves and stem of Knema glauca displayed high content of flavonoid,
the fruit part exhibited only low content of flavonoid indicated as 1+. Other plants that indicated low
content of flavonoid (1+) included Horsefiedlia polyspherula (stem), Antidesma coriaceum (stem), A.
japonicum (leaves, stem and fruit), A. microphyllum (stem and fruit), A. velotinosum (stem), Baccaureae
sumatrana (stem), Litsea sessiliflora (leaves and stem), L. umbellata (leaves and stem), Prunus lamponga
(fruit), Diospyros clavigera (leaves and stem), Microdesmis caseariifolia (leaves) and Leea indica (stem).

As for the screening of alkaloid, no plants indicated presence of 4+ alkaloid. Only the leaves
of Lasianthus constrictus displayed strong presence of alkaloid indicated as 3+. The stem and root of
Lasianthus constrictus on the other hand, showed relatively low content of alkaloid (1+). Psycothria sp.
(leaves and stem) and Urophyllum hirsutum (leaves) exhibited moderate presence of alkaloid classified
as 2+ and Timonius wrayi (leaves and stem), Knema malayana (leaves), Burkillanthus malacensis (stem)
and Eurocoma longifolia (leaves) displayed low content of alkaloid regarded as 1+. Table 1 listed all the
species collected with the alkaloid and flavonoid content of the plant parts.

For antibacterial screening, a dosage of 100 µg of each plant extract was subjected to disc
diffusion antibacterial assay using 12 bacteria strains. Inhibition zones of 10 to 15 mm are regarded as

80
moderate activity where as inhibition zones of more than 15 are considered strong. Inhibition zones of 7-10
mm are considered weak. Two plant species from genus Knema, which are Knema Malayana and Knema
glauca were found to possess promising antibacterial activity. Stem of Knema malayana was moderately
active against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae
with inhibition zones of 10 to 13 mm. The leaves extract of these plant species are also moderately active
against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis and
Streptococcus pyogenes. The leaf extract of Knema glauca is moderately active againts Bacillus subtilis. Leaf
extract of Psychotria malayana is active against Enterococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
pneumonia while the stem extract is active against Bacillus subtilis. Stem extract of Orophea enterocarpa
Maingay is active against Streptococcus pneumonia where as leaf of Trivalvaria nervosa inhibit the growth
Bacillus subtilis. Leaf extract of Antidesma coriaceum was also found active against Bacillus subtilis. Knema
malayana that exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity is the only plant that showed activity against
gram-negative bacteria.

The anti oxidant activity of the plant extracts were evaluated based on their radical-scavenging
capabilities and were determined from the reduction of the optical absorbance at 550 nm due to scavenging
of stable free radical of diphenyl-p-picrylhidrazine (DPPH). Inhibition concentration at 50% (IC50) of less than
30 µg/ml in the DPPH assay are considered as strong free radical scavenger, 30 to 100 µg/ml considered
moderate and more than 100 µg/ml, weak or no activity (Abas et al., 2006). From this collection, 12 extracts
were found to strong free radical scavengers, 9 extracts were moderate while others exhibited weak or no
activity. The stem extract of Horsfiedlia polyspherula, leaf extract of Psychotria malayana and stem extract
of Horsfieldia tomentosa are particular strong free radical scavengers with IC50 of less than 10 µg/ml. Table
2 listed the IC50 of all the extracts considered possessing strong activity.

CONCLUSION

Our previous studies on Malaysian traditional medicinal plants in the family of Rubiaceae, Annonaceae
and Apocynaceae has resulted in the isolation of interesting and new biologically active compounds,
illustrating the potential of our tropical plants as sources of new medicinal agents (Ismail et al., 1997
and Ahmad et al., 2005). This phytochemical survey provides information useful in the selection
of more plants for detailed chemical and biological activity studies which will eventually lead to
information on the chemical constituents data of the endemic plants.

REFERENCES

Abas, F., Lajis, N. H., Israf, D.A., Khozirah, S. & Umi Kalsom, Y. 2006. Antioxidant and Nitric Oxide
Inhibition Activities of Selected Malay Traditional Vegetables. Food Chemistry 95: 566-573.

Ahmad, R., Shaari, K., Lajis, N. H., Hamzah, A. S., Ismail, N. H. & Kitajima, M. 2005. Anthraquinones
from Hedyotis capitellata. Phytochemistry 66: 1141-1147.

Goh, S. H., Soepadmo, E. & Chuah, C. H. 1993. Phytochemical Guide for Malaysian Flora, Institute of
Advance Studies. Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Malaya.

Ismail, N. H., Ali, A. M., Aimi, N., Kitajima, M., Takayama, H. & Lajis, N. H. 1997. Anthraquinones from
Morinda elliptica. Phytochemistry 45(8): 1723-1725.

Latiff, A., Ismail, G., Omar, M., Said, I. M. & Kadri, A. 1984. A multi-variate Approach to the Study of
Medicinal Plants in Malaysia. J. Singapore Natl. Acad. Sci 13: 101-105.

Said, I. M., Din, L. B., Shamsuddin, M. W., Zakaria, Z., Yusoff, N. I., Suki, U., Manap, A., Ibrahim, A. Z. &
Latiff, A. 1990. A Phytochemical Survey of Ulu Kincin, Pahang, Malaysia. Malaysian Natural
Journal 43: 260-266.
81
 Table 1: List of plants collected in Kuala Keniam and their alkaloid and flavonoid contents

UiTM Vernacular Plant Alkaloid Flavonoid

Species Family
No. name part Content Content
1 Horsfieldia tomentosa Warb. Penarahan Myristicaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
2 Barringtonia macrostachya (Jack) Putat Lecythidaceae Leaf - -
Kurz
Stem - -

Fruit - ++
3 Knema malayana Warb. Penarahan Myristicaceae Leaf + ++++

Stem - +++

Fruit - +
4 Psycothria sp. not known Rubiaceae Leaf ++ ++

Stem ++ -

Root - -
5 Lasianthus constrictus Wight Sekentut Rubiaceae Leaf +++ -

Stem + -

Root + -
6 Urophyllum villosum Wall. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -

Roof - -
7 Urophyllum hirsutum (Wight) Hook.f. not known Rubiaceae Leaf ++ -

Stem - -

Fruit - -
8 Psychotria malayana Jack not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
9 Orophea enterocarpa Maingay ex Mempisang Annonaceae Leaf - -
Hook.f. & Thomson
Stem - -
10 Trivalvaria nervosa (Hook.f. & Thom- Mempisang Annonaceae Leaf - -
son) J. Sinclair
Stem - -
11 Lasianthus maingayi Hook.f. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
12 Saprosma pubescens Ridl. var. Sekentut Rubiaceae Leaf - +
Pubescens
Stem - -
13 Microcos laurifolia (Hook. ex Mast.) Cenderai Tiliaceae Leaf - -
Burret
Stem - -
14 Timonius wrayi King & Gamble Timon Rubiaceae Leaf + -

Stem + -

82
15 Psychotria triceps (Ridl.) I.M. Turner not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
16 Psychotria ridleyi King & Gamble not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
17 Psychotria malayana Jack not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
18 Argostemma hookeri King not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
19 Prunus lamponga (Miq.) Kalkman Gegatal Rosaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -

Fruit - +
20 Diplospora malaccensis Hook.f. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
21 Artocarpus glaucus Blume Terap Moraceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
22 Popowia pisocarpa (Blume) Endl. Mempisang Annonaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
23 Gironniera parvifolia Planch. Hampas Ulmaceae Leaf - -
tebu
Stem - -

Fruit - -
24 Fibraurea tinctoria Lour. not known Menispermaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
25 Antidesma velutinosum Blume Bruni Euphorbiaceae Leaf - ++

Stem - +
26 Urophyllum sp. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - ++++

Stem - +

Fruit - +
27 Polyalthia hookeriana King Mempisang Annonaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
28 Litsea sessiliflora Hook.f. Medang Lauraceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
29 Diplospora malaccensis Hook.f. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
30 Baccaurea sumatrana Müll.Arg. Rambai Euphorbiaceae Leaf - -
hutan
Stem - +

Fruit - ++
31 Litsea umbellata (Lour.) Merr. var. Medang Lauraceae Leaf - +
umbellata
Stem - +

83
32 Knema glauca (Blume) Warb. Penarahan Myristicaceae Leaf - ++++

Stem - +++

Fruit - +
33 Antidesma coriaceum Tul. Bruni Euphorbiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - +
34 Diospyros clavigera C.B. Clarke Kayu arang Ebenaceae Leaf - +

Stem - +

Fruit - -
35 Dysoxylum cauliflorum Hiern Bekak Meliaceae Leaf - -

Stem - +

Fruit - +++
36 Antidesma japonicum Siebold & Bruni Euphorbiaceae Leaf - +
Zucc.
Stem - +

Fruit - +
37 Lasianthus sp.A not known Rubiaceae Leaf - +

Stem - -
38 Clerodendrum laevifolium Blume Lampin Verbenaceae Leaf - -
budak
Stem - -
39 Lasianthus sp.B not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
40 Burkillanthus malaccensis (Ridl.) Lelimau Rutaceae Leaf - -
Swingle hutan
Stem + -

Fruit - -
41 Microdesmis caseariifolia Planch. not known Pandaceae Leaf - +

Stem - -

Fruit - -
42 Ophiorrhiza communis Ridl. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - +

Fruit - -
43 Mycetia malayana (Wall. ex Ridl.) not known Rubiaceae Leaf - +
Craib
Stem - ++

Fruit - ++
44 Horsfiedlia polyspherula (Hook.f.) J. Penarahan Myristicaceae Leaf - -
Sinclair var. sumatrana (Miq.) W.J.
de Wilde Stem - +
45 Psydrax sp. not known Rubiaceae Leaf - -

Stem - -
46 Baccaurea racemosa (Reinw.) Müll. Rambai Euphorbiaceae Leaf - -
Arg. hutan
Stem - +++

84
 47 Antidesma microphyllum Hemsl. Bruni Euphorbiaceae Leaf - +++

Stem - +

Fruit - +
48 Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Mali-mali Leeaceae Leaf - +++

Stem - +
49 Eurycoma longifolia Jack Tongkat ali Simaroubaceae Leaf + -

Stem - -
50 Labisia pumila (Blume) Fern.-Vill. var. Kacip fati- Myrsinaceae Leaf - ++
Pumila mah
Stem - -

Table 2: Plant samples possessing strong free radical scavenging activity

Plant Sample Part IC50 (µg/ml)

Horsfieldia tomentosa Warb. Stem 5.73

Microcos laurifolia (Hook. ex Mast.) Burret Stem 13.6

Prunus lamponga (Miq.) Kalkman Leaf 28.2

Stem 15.6
Gironniera parvifolia Planch. Stem 14.6

Antidesma velutinosum Blume Stem 5.9

Horsfiedlia polyspherula (Hook.f.) J. Sinclair var. sumatrana Stem 1.6

(Miq.) W.J. de Wilde
Knema glauca (Blume) Warb. Stem 27.4

Psydrax sp. Leaf 22.4

Psychotria malayana Jack Leaf 3.9

Stem 29.7
Urophyllum sp. Stem 10.8

85
86
 10
PARTIAL PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE
FROM MYTUS VITTATUS

Mohd Khalizan Sabullah & Mohd Yunus Abd. Shukor

Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomoleculer Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia,

43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor

ejanz_sart2@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate acetylcholinesterase enzyme from brain tissue of ‘Baung’
(Mytus vittatus) that has potential as biomarker for insecticide pollutant type of carbamate and
organophosphate. The fish sample was obtained from National Park, Pahang. The brain has
been homogenized then partially purified using procainamide sephacryl S-1000. From the test
indicated that the optimum activity of acetylcholinesterase at the temperatures ranges from 25oC
to 30oC while optimum assay at pH 7 in which Tris-HCl as preference buffer. The specific substrate
show acetylthiocholine iodide (ATC) as preferable substrate for Mytus vittatus AChE followed by
propionylthiocholine iodide (PTC) and butylthiocholine iodide (BTC) with Km value of 0.0127, 0.0243,
and 0.0279, while Vmax value are 404.39, 352.37 and 286.24, respectively. AChE has been tested by
exposure with 1 mg/L insecticide in which carbamate type exhibit inhibition more than 50%.

Key words: baung, Mytus Vittatus, carbamate, organophosphate, acetylcholinesterase

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji potensi enzim acetylcholinesterase daripada tisu otak Baung
(Mytus vittatus) sebagai petanda biologi untuk pencemaran racun serangga jenis carbamate dan
organophosphate. Sampel ikan telah diperolehi daripada Taman Nagara Pahang. Tisu otak telah
dihomogenkan dan ditulenkan separa dengan menggunakan procainamide sephacryl S-1000. Ujian
menunjukkan aktiviti optima acetylcholinesterase adalah pada julat suhu daripada 25oC ke 30oC
sementara cerakinan optima adalah pada pH7 yang mana HCL adalah cecair penimbal paling sesuai.
Substrat spesifik tersebut menunjukkan acetylthiocholine iodide (ATC) adalah substrat yang paling
sesuai untuk AChe Mytus vittatus, diikuti oleh propionylthiocholine iodide (PTC) dan butylthiocholine
iodide (BTC) dengan nilai Km 0.0127, 0.0243, dan 0.0279; sementara nilai Vmax adalah 404.39, 352.37
dan 286.24. AChe telah diuji dengan pendedahan kepada 1ml/L racun serangga yang mana jenis
carbamate menunjukkan perencatan sebanyak lebih daripada 50%.

Kata kekunci: baung, Mytus Vittatus, carbamate, organophosphate, acetylcholinesterase

87
 INTRODUCTION

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme present in nerve tissue, muscles and red blood
cells. AChE plays an important role in neurotransmission at cholinergic synapses as catalyst for
rapid hydrolysis of neurotransmitter acetylcholine to acetate and choline (Massoulié et al., 1993
and Hsiao et al., 2004). This process will prevent acetylcholine to accumulate in neurotransmitter.
The anticholinesterase chemical such organophosphate and carbamate interact by binding to AChE
to inhibit the metabolism (Aldridge and Reiner, 1969). The application of AChE for identification
of pollution has been developed (Matozzo et al., 2005; Narbonne et al., 2005) to replace the very
expensive, long time detection and high skill instruments (e.g. HPLC, inductive couple plasma and
gas chromatography) and can be used to test directly in the field. Carbamate and organophosphate
are widely applied in agriculture to control the pest activity such insects, acaris and nematodes. If
there no established technique in applying these compounds, the populations of non-target organism
especially wild life will be affected (Talesa et al., 1997), and the target species may become lethal
(Alfthan et al., 1989).

In this study, the partial purified AChE from the brain of Mytus vittatus was tested to determine
the enzyme parameter of the optimum assay. This information can be used as a basis to test the
suitability of AChE from this species to be used in inhibitive assays for xenobiotic compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Specimens and extraction

Mytus vittatus is a local fresh water fish species obtained from the Kuala Atok, National park, Pahang.
The brain of fish was dissected out and weight. The sample was homogenized using an Ultra-Turrax
T25 homogenizer in 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0 with the estimates the ratio 1:5 (w/v) and
kept in ice. The extract was centrifuged for one hour at the speed of 30,000 r.p.m. at 4oC.

Purification process and enzyme determination

In partial purification process by using affinity chromatography, the matrix was washed with 5 batch
volume of 20mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH7.5. Next, the extract was loaded onto the affinity
matrix, followed by 3 batch of washing buffer (20mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH7.5). Each 1 ml
fraction were collected and put in each eppendorf tube and kept in ice cube. Next, 3 batch volume
of eluting buffer (20mM sodium phosphate buffer pH7.5 containing 1.0M sodium chloride buffer)
loaded directly onto the matrix. Subsequent fractions of 1ml were collected into eppendorf tubes. The
Ellman method (Ellman et al., 1961) and Bradford method (Bradford, 1976) were employed to assay
the enzyme and determine protein content for each fractions. The fraction exhibited higher activity
was pooled in cold condition then continued for optimization process.

Optimization of enzyme parameter

AChE was tested by incubating the sample in different buffers for determination of optimal pH. The
buffers used were 0.1M acetate buffer (pH 3.0, pH 4.0, pH 5.0 and pH 5.5), 0.1M sodium phosphate
buffer (pH 5.0, pH 6.0, pH 7.5 and pH 8.0) and 0.1M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.0, pH 8.0, pH 9.0 and pH
10.0). Optimal temperature was determined by incubating each Mytus vittatus AChE in different
temperatures at 15oC, 20 oC, 25 oC, 30 oC, 40 oC and 50 oC where above 50 oC AChE is considered
denatured.

88
Substrate specificity

Rate of hydrolysis of each of three substrates, acetylthiocholine iodide (ATC), butyrylthiocholine

iodide (BTC) and propionylthiocholine iodide (PTC) was measured using a microplate reader at the
wavelength of 405nm. The kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were determined by computer analysis
of Lineweaver–Burk using Graphpad Prism 5.

The effect of inhibitor

AChE was assayed according to the modified method of Ellman et al. (1961), where it was exposed
with 1 mg/L of carbamate (Propoxur, Methomyl, Bendiocarp, Carbofuran and Carbaryl) and
organophosphate (Trichlorfon, Chlorpyrifos, Parathion, Dimethote, Acephate, Diazinon and Malation)
compounds.

Statistical analysis

Each test was run in triplicate then standard deviation of each means was calculated. Comparisons of
biochemical data between two mean points was made using Student T-test while differences among
groups were tested using ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s multiple comparison tests using GraphPad
Prism version 4.0 software.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Partial purification

The partial purification process by affinity chromatography gel (Procainamide sephacryl S-1000) was
used (Forget et. al., 2002) to purify the soluble AChE from each sample. Data indicate that during
washing stage (Fraction 1 to 6 in Figure 1) the non bounded proteins were washed out from the
column. During the eluting stage (Fraction 7 to 12 in Figure 1), the AChE was removed from the column
by the changing of ionic strength to favor elution caused by 1.0M Sodium Chloride. The highest peak
shown in Figure 1 indicated that the AChE is completely eluted as a partial purified in concentrated
form. Table 1 show every purification step has been assay to determine the specific enzyme activity
where the activity is increasing to the final step using affinity chromatography at approximately 4.57
fold purification and a good yield of nearly 41.38 %.

89
 Figure 1: The combination of two graph which are enzyme activity (U) and protein content (mg)
determined from acetylcholinesterase source from Mytus vittatus

Table 1: The purification table of various procedure of AChE from Mytus vittatus. Total activity (U) is
equal µmole/min

Specific Percentage
Total Total
enzyme Purification Yield
Procedure Activity Protein
activity fold
(U) (mg)
(U/mg) (%)
Extraction 962.27 8.62 111.63 1 100
Centrifugation (10 000g,
571.09 2.33 245.10 2.19 59.35
4oC, 1 hour)
Affinity chromatography
398.23 0.78 510.67 4.57 41.38
(Procainamide sepcah-
ryl S-1000)

90
Optimal temperature

Figure 2 shows the total activity of AChE tested by incubating in different temperatures. The result
shows at low temperature the activity of enzyme was low because of the AChE retardation. The AChE
activities increasing slowly due to the effective collision to become enzyme-substrate complex until
achieve the optimal activity at 25oC. AChE becomes slowly denatured by increasing the temperature
because the thermal energy is not enough to disturb all part of enzyme until the vibration by thermal
energy enough to obstruct the covalent bond which maintaining the 3D structure. Once the enzyme
becomes denatured, the activity becomes negligible.

Figure 2: Determination of optimal temperature for the activity of AChE from Mytus vittatus with
mean point of triplicate assay and Y error bars indicate standard deviation (STDEV) of means

Optimal pH

The total activity of three different buffer solutions at different pH is drawn in Figure 3 to determine
the appropriate condition for assaying the sample. The result indicate that the activity of the enzyme
influenced by pH level. Change in pH level caused to change of the charge that affects the hydrolysis of
substrate or the interaction of enzyme – substrate complex. Alteration of pH may induce repulsion of
each charge that caused enzymes become unfold. The optimum activity of the enzyme for this assay
is achieved at pH 7.

91
 Figure 3: The total activity of AChE from Mytus vittatus at different pH profile with mean point of
triplicate assay and Y error bars indicated standard deviation (STDEV) of means

Substrate specificity

Substrate studies suggested that Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) is used to determine the sensitivity
to the substrate and maximal velocity (Vmax) is used to determine the activity of partial purified AChE
in hydrolyze three different substrates. The sample exhibit highest Vmax value toward hydrolysis of ATC
substrate followed by PTC and BTC. These tests also prove the AChE highly specific toward ATC where
the enzyme-substrate complex is bound very tightly as the first substrate reacting to form the product
by indication of Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) which determine the lowest value followed by PTC
and BTC. The calculation of Vmax app/Km app ratio represent for catalytic efficiency determination. ATC
exhibit the highest ratio value as indicated in Table 2.

Table 2 : The comparison of Vmax and Km of three different substrates. Vmax displayed as the maximal
velocity of AChE activity while Km is the value of substrate specificity towards AChE.

Substrate Vmax app Km app (mM) Vmax app/Km app (mg- R2 Value
1
m-1 )
(µmol/min/mg)
ATC 404.39 0.0127 31.841 x 103 0.9892
BTC 286.24 0.0279 10.259 x 103 0.9965
PTC 352.37 0.0243 14.500 x 103 0.9594

92
Inhibitor test

Acetylcholinesterase has been tested by exposing it with 1mg/L of xenobiotic compound to determine
the inhibition ability which caused no reaction of DTNB with thiocholine and no yellow production
of 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoate. The sensitivity of AChE activity from Mytus vittatus incubated in 1mg/L
of insecticides is shown in Figure 4. The percentage activity of AChE is significantly different among
insecticides (carbamade and organophosphate) and control. Carbamate exhibited highest inhibition
more than 50% compared to organophosphate. Carbamate is considered as hazardous to several
organisms due to rapid and long time effects compared to organophosphate.

Figure 4: Determination of sensitivity of AChE activity from Mytus vittatus incubated in 1mg/L of
insecticides with mean point of triplicate assay and Y error bars was indicated standard deviation
(STDEV) of means

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the local fish species (M. vittatus) has a potential as new source of biosensor of
anticholinesterase chemicals. This result will be used for future study to test and compare the activity
of purified AChE in the field.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Department of Wildlife & National Parks (PERHILITAN) for their
support and assistance in Kuala Tahan Wildlife Inventory 2008.

93
 REFERENCES

Aldridge, W. N. & Reiner, E. 1969. Acetylcholinesterase. Two types of inhibition by an organophosphate

compound: one formation of phosphorylated enzyme and other analogous to inhibition by
substrate. Biochem Journal 115: 147-162.

Alfthan, K., Kentta¨maa, H. & Zukale T. 1989. Chracterization and semiquantitative estimation of
organophosphorous compounds based on inhibition of cholinesterases. Anal Chim Acta 217:
43 – 51.

Bradford, M. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of
Protein-Dye Binding. Anal. Biochem 72: 248-254.

Ellman, G. L., Courtney, D. K., Andres, V. & Featherstone, R. M. 1961. A new and rapid colorimetric
determination of acetylcholinesterase activity. Biochem. Pharmacol 7: 88–95.

Forget, J., Livet, S. & Leboulenger, F. 2002. Partial purification and characterization of Acetylcholinesterase
from the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis (poppe) Comp Biochem Physiol C 132: 85-
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