Species Diversity and Distribution of Non-volant Small Mammal between Restoration, Boundary, Disturbed and Undisturbed Area in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

Deforestation in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia has increased significantly in the past few years to accommodate the growing population of Cameron Highlands. This led to a rapid urbanisation in Cameron Highlands which increased anthropogenic activities, causing degradation of the natural environment. Such environmental changes highlight the necessity of wildlife and resource inventories of available forested areas to improve existing conservation and management plans, especially for threatened taxa such as the non-volant small mammals. However, very few studies are known to focus on the effect of deforestation on non-volant small mammals, especially in the adjacent forest. This survey aimed to document non-volant small mammals from four habitat types (restoration areas, boundary, disturbed and undisturbed areas) of Terla A and Bertam, and undisturbed forest of Bukit Bujang Forest Reserve, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Samplings were conducted in two phases between August 2020 to January 2021. A total of 80 live traps were deployed along the transect lines in all three study sites, and 10 camera traps were set randomly in each forested area. Results demonstrated that species diversity (H') is higher at Terla A Forest Reserve compared to Bertam and Bukit Bujang Forest Reserve. In contrast, species diversity in the boundary area (S = 8, H' = 2.025) and disturbed forest area (S = 8, H' = 1.992) had similar number of species (S) compared to others study habitat; restoration area had the lowest species diversity (S = 3, H' = 0.950). Berylmys bowersi was the most captured species from trappings and Lariscus insignis was the most frequently recorded species from camera trappings for all study sites. The results of the survey provided new information on non-volant small mammals in Cameron Highlands for future research, conservation, and management.

Penebangan hutan di Cameron Highlands, Malaysia telah meningkat dengan ketara dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini bagi menampung populasi penduduk di Cameron Highlands yang semakin meningkat. Ini membawa kepada urbanisasi pesat di Cameron Highlands yang meningkatkan aktiviti antropogenik, menyebabkan kemerosotan alam sekitar semula jadi. Perubahan alam sekitar sebegini menyerlahkan keperluan hidupan liar dan inventori sumber kawasan hutan yang ada untuk menambah baik rancangan pemuliharaan dan pengurusan sedia ada, terutamanya untuk taxa yang terancam seperti mamalia kecil yang tidak terbang. Walau bagaimanapun, sangat sedikit kajian yang diketahui memberi tumpuan kepada kesan penebangan hutan ke atas mamalia kecil yang tidak terbang, terutamanya di hutan bersebelahan. Tinjauan ini bertujuan untuk mendokumentasikan mamalia kecil tidak terbang daripada empat jenis habitat (kawasan pemulihan, sempadan, kawasan terganggu dan tidak terganggu) Terla A dan Bertam, dan hutan tidak terganggu Hutan Simpan Bukit Bujang, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Persampelan telah dijalankan dalam dua fasa antara Ogos 2020 hingga Januari 2021. Sebanyak 80 perangkap hidup telah digunakan di sepanjang garisan transect di ketiga-tiga tapak kajian, dan 10 perangkap kamera ditetapkan secara rawak di setiap kawasan hutan. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa kepelbagaian spesies (H') adalah lebih tinggi di Hutan Simpan Terla A berbanding Hutan Simpan Bertam dan Bukit Bujang. Sebaliknya, kepelbagaian spesies di kawasan sempadan (S = 8, H' = 2.025) dan kawasan hutan terganggu (S = 8, H' = 1.992) mempunyai bilangan spesies (S) yang sama berbanding habitat kajian yang lain; kawasan pemulihan mempunyai kepelbagaian spesies yang paling rendah (S = 3, H' = 0.950). Berylmys bowersi adalah spesies yang paling banyak ditangkap daripada perangkap dan Lariscus insignis adalah spesies yang paling kerap direkodkan daripada perangkap kamera untuk semua tapak kajian. Hasil tinjauan memberikan maklumat baharu tentang mamalia kecil yang tidak terbang di Cameron Highlands untuk penyelidikan, pemuliharaan dan pengurusan masa hadapan.

Anticoagulant rodenticide use in oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia and hazard assessment to non-target animals.

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used worldwide for the control of rodent pests and are the main method of control of rat pest populations in agricultural areas. The main aim of this review is to discuss the risk of ARs to non-target wildlife in oil palm areas in Southeast Asia, mainly Indonesia and Malaysia. We discussed AR use in oil palm areas and toxicities of ARs on target and non-target animals. We also reviewed published literature on wildlife species reported in oil palm areas in Southeast Asia and utilizing this information, we assessed the hazard risk of ARs to non-target wildlife in oil palm plantations. ARs are a secondary exposure hazard to rodent-consuming mammalian carnivores, such as leopard cats and civets, and rodent-consuming raptors, such as barn owls. Consumption of dead poisoned prey puts scavengers, such as water monitors, at high risk for AR exposure. Domestic livestock and granivorous birds are at high risk for AR exposure via primary exposure to toxic bait, while omnivores such as macaques and wild pigs are at moderate risk for both primary and secondary exposure to ARs. The effects of ARs on barn owls have been well studied in the field and in laboratory secondary toxicity studies. Thus, the nest-box occupancy and reproductive parameters of local barn owl populations can be monitored as an indicator of the AR exposure level in the area. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: No clinical trials were involved in this study.

Biorational control programme for the German cockroach (Blattaria: Blattellidae) in selected urban communities.

This study assessed the effectiveness of a biorational control approach using 2% hydramethylnon gel bait on German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) in some residential and hospital buildings in South Western Iran. In total, three buildings consisting of 150 apartment units and 101 hospital units were monitored weekly via sticky trap for German cockroach infestations over a period of eight months. These infested units were randomly subjected to intervention and control treatments. Pamphlets and posters were provided and lectures were given to support the educational programmes as a tactic of the biorational system. Survey on cockroach index for intervention units showed 67-94% recovery to achieve clean level of infestation for intervention units of the residential buildings and 83% for the hospital. Mean percentage reductions for treatment groups throughout the 15-week treatment period were 76.8% for the residential buildings and 88.1% for the hospital, showing significant differences compared to the control groups. Linear regression of infestation rates were recorded weekly after treatment and their negative slope for treatment groups substantiated significant reductions for interventions. The results of this study showed that biorational control method, using gel bait, educational programmes and sanitation, is an effective way to manage German cockroach infestation.