West Peninsular Malaysia Research Articles

Molecular Phylogenetics and Phylogeography of Malaysian Mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences of the D-Loop Region

Two sympatric mousedeer species, Tragulus kanchil and Tragulus napu, inhabit the Malaysian tropical rainforests. Previous studies have established their phylogenetic relationships based on morphological variations; however, comprehensive genetic data have yet to be extensively used to relate the relationships especially from different populations. The main objectives of this study were to determine the phylogenetic relationships, population genetics, and phylogeography of mousedeer species based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial D-loop region. DNA from 32 mousedeer samples, representing various populations in Malaysia, was sequenced and analyzed using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, and Bayesian Inference approaches. The phylogenetic analyses showed two main clades representing the populations of T. kanchil and T. napu. The results also showed that the T. kanchil populations in Borneo was separated from Peninsular Malaysia taxa in MP and BI phylogenetic tree. However, Borneo population was nested in east population of Peninsular Malaysia in NJ tree. In addition, the T. kanchil population in Peninsular Malaysia further separated into east and west coast populations of Titiwangsa Range. It was supported with finding in population genetic relation that showed relatively low levels among population. This is expected because some of the populations are isolated geographically. The divergence of these populations is likely due to the Titiwangsa Range which acts as a barrier separating the east and west Peninsular Malaysia populations, and the South China Sea separates the populations of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Molecular clock tree reconstruction showed that the separation of T. kanchil and T. napu occurred around 17.11 million years ago (MYAs). Furthermore, the T. kanchil populations from the east and west Peninsular Malaysia showed a branching pattern from those of Borneo of about 11.04 and 9.14 MYAs, respectively. The results of this study increase our understanding of Malaysian mousedeer phylogeny and phylogeography.

From a biomonitoring checklist to effective coastal ecosystem management: A study in the selected coastal jetties of west Peninsular Malaysia

The present study aimed to provide a current (2022) checklist of benthic organisms found at the coastal jetties at Sungai Rambai Jetty and Pasir Panjang Jetty, in Negeri Sembilan of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 10 diff erent species of benthic organisms were collected near the Sungai Rambai fi shermen’s jetty, namely Periophthalmodon schlosseri, Parasesarma sp., Turritella sp., Chicoreus capucinus, Nerita balteata, Littoraria melanostoma, Littoraria scabra, Tubuca rosea, Tubuca sp., and Brachyuran crab. Six diff erent species of benthic organisms were found at the Pasir Panjang jetty. These included the Tachypleus gigas, Mactra violacea, Volegalea cochlidium, Diogenes sp., Murex trapa, and Tegillarca granosa. Although a traditional study, this study is a fundamental current baseline for future references and provided the most basic ground in choosing the potential biomonitors of chemical pollution in the coastal area of Negeri Sembilan. This would be an important information source for eff ective coastal ecosystem management in Malaysia.

A preliminary random checklist of benthic organisms in selected lakes of west peninsular Malaysia

The freshwater ecosystem (Kelana Jaya Lake, Seremban Lake Garden and Kanching Eco Forest Park) of west Peninsular Malaysia was the focus of the study's attempt to offer a current checklist of benthic organisms. Three benthic organisms were identified in the urbanized Kelana Jaya Lake, namely the red-rim melania (Melanoides tuberculata), apple snail (Pomacea sp.), and an Odonata damselfly nymph. Four different species were identified for Seremban Lake Garden: Hydrilla verticillata, Viviparus sp., nymph of Odonata, and Macrobrachium sp. The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium was the only genus identified for Kanching Eco Forest Park. Our attempts to promote aquatic ecosystem management and conservation in Malaysia can use the checklist of benthic creatures from the freshwater ecosystems as a continuous baseline for future reference.

DNA contamination and taxonomic diversity hinder eDNA research on freshwater stingray species: Comment on Lim & Then (2022)

Recently, Lim & Then (2022; Endang Species Res 48:43-50) used an environmental DNA (eDNA) PCR-based method for detecting the presence of an endangered species of freshwater stingray, Fluvitrygon kittipongi (Dasyatidae), in the Pahang River basin, east Peninsular Malaysia. For that, they designed a species-specific pair of primers to amplify a 196 base pair (bp) fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. Lim & Then (2022) reported positive detection of this species along an upstream stretch of the Pahang River during the inter-monsoon and the southwest monsoon seasons, with the PCR-amplified eDNA sequences identical to the reference COI sequences of F. kittipongi collected from the Perak River basin, west Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we argue that such positive results are likely the consequence of a DNA contamination because the 196 bp COI fragments of F. kittipongi from the Pahang River and the Perak River differ from each other by 4 nucleotide substitutions. The source of contamination in Lim & Then (2022) could have been the Perak samples the authors handled to develop the primers. We also briefly discuss the potential impact of the presumed co-occurrence of freshwater stingrays of the genus Fluvitrygon in the Pahang River on the specificity of the F. kittipongi-specific primers designed by Lim & Then (2022).

CYBERBULLYING BEHAVIOURAL INTENTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MALAYSIA

Objective: Cyberbullying is a new type of bullying activity due to the advancement of digital technology as compared to traditional bullying. This study aims to examine the influence of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control on cyberbullying behavioural intention on social media among adolescents and the mediating effect of empathy between these variables. The questionnaire survey was conducted mainly in West Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor, Penang, Ipoh and Johor Bahru) and a total of 219 respondents among adolescents were successfully collected. The data collected are being analysed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the use of the Partial Least Square approach (PLS). The results of the relationship between three independent variables on the mediating variable and cyberbullying behavioural intention as the dependent variable for this study. Attitude and perceived behavioural control have a significant relationship on cyberbullying behavioural intention (p < 0.05) and therefore H1 and H3 were accepted. In addition, attitude and perceived behavioural control (p < 0.05) have a significant relationship on empathy towards cyberbullying behavioural intention (p < 0.05), hence H4a and H4c were accepted. However, an insignificant result (p > 0.05) was identified for the subjective norm on cyberbullying behavioural intention and therefore, H2 is rejected. Furthermore, the results also show that subjective norm and empathy towards cyberbullying behavioural intention are insignificant (p > 0.05) and therefore H4b is rejected. Overall, all hypotheses are accepted except for H2 and H4b are rejected in this study. Furthermore, for future studies, it is recommended to include other components of empathy such as cognitive and affective, other personality traits of self-esteem and loneliness as the mediating effect that would give better insight towards cyberbullying behavioural intention in Malaysia during the pandemic situation.

Southern extension of the Paleotethyan zone in SE Asia: Evidence from the Permo-Triassic granitoids in Malaysia and West Indonesia

The consumption of the East Paleotethyan Ocean was the final step in creating the united SE Asia continent. However, uncertainties remain as to the significance of Paleotethyan-associated granitoids and when ocean closure finally occurred in west Indonesia and Malaysia. This paper presents new U-Pb geochronological, petrologic, elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic results for granitoids from west Kalimantan, West Java, Bangka-Belitung and Peninsular Malaysia. These granitoids are geochemically subdivided into the Eastern and Main Range granites. The Eastern granites include the granitoids from west Kalimantan, West Java and East Peninsular Malaysia and are dated at ~256–207 Ma, ~208–207 Ma and ~289–217 Ma, respectively. They have εNd(t) = +0.2 ~ −9.1, with two-peaks of +0.1 and −5.6, (206Pb/204Pb)i = 18.64–19.49, (207Pb/204Pb)i = 15.61–15.78 and (208Pb/204Pb)i = 38.56–39.47, and originated from a mixed source involving juvenile crust and Indochina basement. The Main Range granites occur in Bangka-Belitung (West Indonesia) and West Peninsular Malaysia, and have crystallization ages of ~226–198 Ma. They share the similar Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions with those in the South China and Inthanon Triassic granites, with 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0.70725–0.72652, εNd(t) = −5.6 ~ −10.8, ∆8/4 = 28.1–109 and ∆7/4 = 13.7–23.6, and were derived from a meta-greywacke source. Our data reveals the development of the Paleotethyan-associated Permo-Triassic granitoids in West Java, Belitung and west Kalimantan. The Bentong-Raub suture forms the East Paleotethyan suture boundary in Peninsular Malaysia, and extends southwards into the easternmost Bangka-Belitung Islands (and even West Java). To the north, it links to the Inthanon-Changning-Menglian suture in NW Thailand and SW China. It is concluded that the temporal pattern of the East Paleotethyan Ocean in west Indonesia and Malaysia correlates with that in NW Thailand and SW China. Its evolution switched from subduction to assembly of the Indochina-East Malaysia and Sibumasu at ~230 Ma. The Eastern granites might reflect active margin processes in response to the eastward subduction of the Paleotethyan Ocean, and the Main Range granites represent the post-collisional igneous rocks.

Birds diversity at Sabak Bernam granary of West Peninsular Malaysia

Paddy field ecosystem serves as critical feeding and nesting habitat for various birds, thus compensating the habitat loss and degradation of the natural ecosystem. We want to document the bird species abundance and composition at Sabak Bernam granary area, located in West Peninsular Malaysia. The species distribution pattern was known to associate with rice growing stages. Birds was observed with a week of survey in each rice growing phases using point-count method. Overall, 40 species and 23 families have been recorded from all growing phases. Ploughing phase showed the highest bird abundance (736 individuals), while, maturation phase showed the highest species richness (31 species) and reproductive phase recorded the highest species diversity (H = 2.474). Waterbirds were the most dominant family which consists of Ardeidae, Alcedinidae and Rallidae. Three migrant and one vagrant were recorded in this study. Insectivory was the most abundant guild, dominated by Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica). However, there were no significant differences between all feeding guilds at different phases (df = 3, p > 0.05). This study indicates that although several species were pest upon rice buds, many of them play a crucial role in paddy field ecosystem services, particularly for pest control, reduce weeds and scavenging on carcasses. Therefore, this man-made wetland habitat area able to harbour a great diversity of birds and indirectly give benefits to the farmers.

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

The pig-tailed macaque, Macaca nemestrina, which is distributed in Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra, has been the subject of unstable and changing taxonomic entity in the M. nemestrina group. This species is involved with a human-macaque conflict in Malaysia and at the same time played an important role in the ethnozoological culture of Malaysian. Even so, comprehensive phylogenetic, population genetics and biogeographical analysis of M. nemestrina in Malaysia are non-existent after decades of intensive research on the genus itself. Thus, we conducted the first comprehensive genetic study of M. nemestrina in Malaysia, based on three mitochondrial loci-Cytochrome b (567 bp), D-loop (398 bp), and COI (577 bp)-from 27 individuals representing Malaysia, plus an additional 26 sequences of Southeast Asian macaques from Genbank. Comparative biogeographical analysis in this study supports the positions of M. nemestrina in M. nemestrina groups as opposed to the silenus or Sulawesi groups. Results from this study also indicate that Bornean populations are the first extant lineages to separate from the other examined lineages of M. nemestrina, M. leonina, M. pagensis, and M. siberu in Southeast Asia. Molecular clock analysis suggested that M. nemestrina arrived in the Malay Peninsula about 0.32 million years ago (MYA). Our results indicate that the population of pig-tailed macaque from Perak (west Peninsular Malaysia) differs genetically based on all phylogenetic and population genetic analyses. Morphologically, Perak's pig-tailed macaque shows brighter coloration than M. n. nemestrina. Thus, we proposed a new subspecies for Perak's pig-tailed macaque as Macaca nemestrina perakensis distributed in the state of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. This research helps resolve the taxonomic position and population genetics of pig-tailed macaque in Malaysia, which contribute directly to conservation and management of the species in Malaysia.

Sea level prediction using ARIMA, SVR and LSTM neural network: assessing the impact of ensemble Ocean-Atmospheric processes on models’ accuracy

This study aims to integrate a broad spectrum of ocean-atmospheric variables to predict sea level variation along West Peninsular Malaysia coastline using machine learning and deep learning techniques. 4 scenarios of different combinations of variables such as sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, sea surface density, surface atmospheric pressure, wind speed, total cloud cover, precipitation and sea level data were used to train ARIMA, SVR and LSTM neural network models. Results show that atmospheric processes have more influence on prediction accuracy than ocean processes. Combining ocean and atmospheric variables improves the model prediction at all stations by 1- 9% for both SVR and LSTM. The means of R accuracy of optimal performing LSTM, SVR and ARIMA models at all stations are 0.853, 0.748 and 0.710, respectively. Comparison of model performance shows that the LSTM model trained with ocean and atmospheric variables is optimal for predicting sea level variation at all stations except Pulua Langkawi where ARIMA model trained without ocean-atmospheric variables performed best due to the dominating tide influence. This suggests that performance and suitability of prediction models vary across regions and selecting an optimal prediction model depends on the dominant physical processes governing sea level variability in the area of investigation.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A STUDY ON MANUFACTURING, SERVICE AND EDUCATION SECTORS IN THE WEST PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

The purpose of this study is to measure the knowledge management strategies and organizational performance in West Peninsular Malaysia utilizing a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The research method of this research is a solely quantitative method where the total sample size is considered 331 employing simple random sampling. For this research, the structural model exhibited the relationships among the variables. The findings reveal that, knowledge management structure is positively related to knowledge management strategy, same to knowledge management practice is positively related to knowledge management strategy. However, knowledge management structure was found not really positively related to organizational performance. Unexpectedly, knowledge management practice has not also found significant either in terms of positively related to organizational performance. On the other hand, knowledge management strategy is positively related to organizational performance as well as reciprocal relationship found between knowledge management structure and knowledge management practice. This research has contributed to the existing knowledge by providing an empirically validated model which could be used to predict the organizational performance as a whole. JEL: L10; L20; L60; O14 Article visualizations:

Exposure to Zoonotic West Nile Virus in Long-Tailed Macaques and Bats in Peninsular Malaysia.

Simple SummaryThe role of wildlife animals, such as macaques and bats, in the spreading and maintenance of deadly zoonotic pathogens in nature are documented in several studies. The present study substantially highlights the first evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, a mosquito borne virus in the Malaysian macaques and bats. Of the 81 macaques sampled, 24 of the long-tailed macaques were seropositive to WNV, indicating that they were exposed to the virus in the past. The long-tailed macaques were found in the mangrove forests located in the Central, Southern, and West Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile, five out of 41 bats (Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bats, Lesser Sheath-tailed Bats, and Thai Horseshoe Bats) that were found in the caves from Northern Peninsular Malaysia showed susceptibility to WNV. Therefore, a constant bio surveillance of WNV in the wildlife in Malaysia is a proactive attempt. This study was aligned with the Malaysian government’s mission under the Malaysia Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (MYSED) II (2017–2021) and the Ministry of Health priorities in order to enhance the regional capability to rapidly and accurately survey, detect, diagnose, and report outbreaks of pathogens and diseases of security concern.The role of wildlife such as wild birds, macaques, and bats in the spreading and maintenance of deadly zoonotic pathogens in nature have been well documented in many parts of the world. One such pathogen is the mosquitoes borne virus, namely the West Nile Virus (WNV). Previous research has shown that 1:7 and 1:6 Malaysian wild birds are WNV antibody and RNA positive, respectively, and bats in North America may not be susceptible to the WNV infection. This study was conducted to determine the status of WNV in Malaysian macaques and bats found in mangrove forests and caves, respectively. Archive sera and oropharyngeal swabs from long-tailed macaques were subjected to the antibody detection using WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and WNV RNA using RT-PCR, respectively, while the archive oropharyngeal and rectal swabs from bats were subjected to RT-PCR without serological analysis due to the unavailability of serum samples. The analysis revealed a WNV seropositivity of 29.63% (24/81) and none of the macaques were positive for WNV RNA. Meanwhile, 12.2% (5/41) of the bats from Pteropodidae, Emballonuridae, and Rhinolophidae families tested positive for WNV RNA. Here, we show a high WNV antibody prevalence in macaques and a moderate WNV RNA in various Malaysian bat species, suggesting that WNV circulates through Malaysian wild animals and Malaysian bat species may be susceptible to the WNV infection.

Postcolonial Civic Identity and Youth (dis)organizing Environment: A Growth into Citizenship Analysis

The fluid realities of youth in postcolonial nation-states can reflect changing and challenging landscapes. Their engagements with environment, for example, are not only elaborated in social, political, and economical contexts, but also generated through values, beliefs, and identities. This article adds to contemporary debates by positing that discussions on postcolonial civic identities have to be accompanied by youth narratives and their considerations on nature, time, and digital world(s) by taking Malaysian youths as examples. Specifically, it attempts to theorize youth civic identity within postcolonial context(s) by scrutinizing personal narratives that are symbiotically yoked with discourses on ecology and technology. Through administering personal narratives at a suburban district in West Peninsular Malaysia, this paper opens ‘windows’ into what it means for youths to participate in civic projects. Reading these narratives from the lens of growth into citizenship , their wide-ranging experiences in civic affairs can be understood in four ways, namely, recognition, responsibilities, reconciliation, and reciprocity. Two of these emerging themes, recognition and responsibilities, will be discussed in this article. Our attempt at depicting postcolonial civic identity, therefore, is part of a large-scale investigation on civic mindedness that will compel us to reflect on unofficial, continuous accounts of youth reflecting on a sense of belongingness and what the future might bring.

Rain Attenuation Prediction Model Assessment on 3-Year Ka-Band Signal of MEASAT-5 at Tropical Region Using 7.3-m Antenna

Satellite signal propagation at Ka-Band is more prone to weather effects than those with lower frequencies. The impact is more severe in the tropics because of its natural climate with heavy rainfall throughout the year. Rain attenuation prediction models developed in this region need to be evaluated to find the optimum model that suits the experimental parameter. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to evaluate ITU-R’s variation prediction models, namely Folasade, Renuka and Xiang Yeo models, including ITU-R P.618-13 model with data collected from MEASAT Ka-Band beacon live monitoring system from 2014 to 2016 in West Peninsular Malaysia using large-size antenna. The measured attenuation for an average of 3 years was 18.2 dB and 25.0 dB at 0.01% of the time at Cyberjaya and Rawang with the rain rate of 76.7 mm/h and 86.0 mm/h at the same percentage of time, respectively. As a result, ITU-R and other models overpredicted the attenuation compared to the measured data. This is because these models were derived from smaller-size antenna, while the measured data were from large-size antenna and higher elevation angle of 68.8°, which contributes to low attenuation on both sites. Therefore, ITU-R model was probed further, using Study Group 3 (SG3) data as the anchor parameters, and from the experiment, it was suggested that the ITU-R model is inappropriate to predict attenuation at elevation angle of higher than 54°. All the resultant graph and analysis were presented to support the facts.

Mercury and risk assessment from consumption of crustaceans, cephalopods and fish from West Peninsular Malaysia

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element and has no known biological functions in humans. This study measured total Hg and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in commonly consumed fish and seafood as well as to estimate the risk of Hg contamination through seafood consumption by Malaysians. The concentrations of total Hg and MeHg in 8 species of crustaceans (n = 15), 5 species of cephalopods (n = 12), and 29 species of fish (n = 78) from West Peninsular Malaysia are reported. Total mercury concentrations in crustaceans, cephalopods and fish were 0.033 ± 0.033 μg/g, 0.040 ± 0.025 μg/g and 0.106 ± 0.128 μg/g wet weight respectively. The proportion of methyl mercury in fish was 81–99% with a mean of 93 ± 5% (n = 15). Significantly higher mercury concentrations were observed in demersal fish, fish on higher trophic level and fish with body length of >20 cm. All fish and seafood were below the Malaysian Food Regulations of 0.5 μg/g wet weight mercury for fish and fishery products and 1.0 μg/g wet weight mercury for predatory fish. The consumption of fish from certain seafood species, however, should be taken into consideration to ensure that the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of MeHg does not exceed 1.6 μg/kg body weight/week.

Disturbance of Traffic Noise: Evaluation on the Effects and Management on Road Corridors

Several adverse of stimuli can cause annoyance due to the characterized by such effects of distraction on health and delay in activities. Noise annoyance mainly due to the increasing in traffic volume has recognized as important environmental stressor which associated to anxiety and depression. In this manner, it can impose serious damage to human wellbeing, human comfort ability and reduces labour productivity. Hence, this paper aims in evaluating the effects on traffic noise and managing the precaution on road corridors in order to reduce the traffic noise. This case study had been conducted at residential area which is located at Taman Mutiara Rini, residential area located in the southern region of West Peninsular Malaysia. The traffic noise index (TNI) and noise pollution level (NPL) were recorded for a whole day in order to evaluate noise performance with different time durations. From the study, it was shown that the noise level at the Mutiara Rini is above than 75 dBA at most of time which is exceed the permissible limit from the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of Environment (DOE). According to the guidelines, the maximum limitation for noise pollution during daytime at residential area is about 55 dBA. From the interviewed conducted, it shows that reduction on the traffic noise can be improved by proposing and providing the noise barrier which includes the restoration of trees and concrete wall which can reduce the effects on the traffic noise.

Investigation of Flash Flood Over the West Peninsular Malaysia by Global Positing System Network

Investigation of Flash Flood Over the West Peninsular Malaysia by Global Positing System Network

The Children’s Playgrounds in Apartments and Terrace Housing Areas: Places of Leisure or Failure?

Colourful playgrounds are made for the young children. But, aren’t they being provided for leisure or failure? This paper has conducted an assessment on the children’s playgrounds that located in the housing areas of apartments and terraces. Such study is ubiquitous in the developed world, however, in Malaysia this topic is neglected, the children’s playgrounds are presumed to be in good conditions because they were assessed at a distance. An observational survey was conducted on 57 children’s playgrounds in the playing areas of apartments and terrace housings scattered in several cities of West Peninsular Malaysia. The safety checklist and playground grading forms which were used as the main survey instruments was modified based on the original checklist from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and the grading system was adapted from the United States National Program for Playground Safety. The safety evaluations stressed on four elements; the surfacing materials, drainage, general hazards and equipment maintenance. The result, most of the playgrounds were struggled to comply with the safety checklists. Significant problems and faulty issues on equipment were composed in the form of graphical images to enhance the discussions. Half of the sampling population managed to get the minimum C grades and only to be rated as the average playgrounds. If Malaysia’s playgrounds are prioritized not on safety and neglecting their equipment maintenance, the number of failure playgrounds will surely increase and so does the playground accidents.

Lack of population genetic structure and host specificity in the bat fly, Cyclopodia horsfieldi, across species of Pteropus bats in Southeast Asia

BackgroundPopulation-level studies of parasites have the potential to elucidate patterns of host movement and cross-species interactions that are not evident from host genealogy alone. Bat flies are obligate and generally host-specific blood-feeding parasites of bats. Old-World flies in the family Nycteribiidae are entirely wingless and depend on their hosts for long-distance dispersal; their population genetics has been unstudied to date.MethodsWe collected a total of 125 bat flies from three Pteropus species (Pteropus vampyrus, P. hypomelanus, and P. lylei) from eight localities in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. We identified specimens morphologically and then sequenced three mitochondrial DNA gene fragments (CoI, CoII, cytB; 1744 basepairs total) from a subset of 45 bat flies. We measured genetic diversity, molecular variance, and population genetic subdivision (FST), and used phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses to quantify parasite genetic structure across host species and localities.ResultsAll flies were identified as Cyclopodia horsfieldi with the exception of two individuals of Eucampsipoda sundaica. Low levels of population genetic structure were detected between populations of Cyclopodia horsfieldi from across a wide geographic range (~1000 km), and tests for isolation by distance were rejected. AMOVA results support a lack of geographic and host-specific population structure, with molecular variance primarily partitioned within populations. Pairwise FST values from flies collected from island populations of Pteropus hypomelanus in East and West Peninsular Malaysia supported predictions based on previous studies of host genetic structure.ConclusionsThe lack of population genetic structure and morphological variation observed in Cyclopodia horsfieldi is most likely due to frequent contact between flying fox species and subsequent high levels of parasite gene flow. Specifically, we suggest that Pteropus vampyrus may facilitate movement of bat flies between the three Pteropus species in the region. We demonstrate the utility of parasite genetics as an additional layer of information to measure host movement and interspecific host contact. These approaches may have wide implications for understanding zoonotic, epizootic, and enzootic disease dynamics. Bat flies may play a role as vectors of disease in bats, and their competence as vectors of bacterial and/or viral pathogens is in need of further investigation.

A Method for Estimating the Regional Initial and Constant Loss for Design Flood Estimation in West Peninsular Malaysia

Floods are known as one of the world’s most frequent and devastating events. Techniques to predict and estimate the size of floods is depend on the availability of hydrological data. Using the conceptual of lump model, rainfall-runoff method is widely used in design flood estimation, which represents the input of rainfall and catchment characteristics such as rainfall depth, rainfall intensity, baseflow and losses. 7o calculate the catchments runoff, amount of losses shall be determine accurately by considering various source of the rainfall losses such as evaporation, inßltration, interception, depression storage and loss in groundwater recharge. In Malaysia, the common technique to estimate the hydrological losses is using initial and constant loss method. Furthermore, the value has been used in Urban Stormwater Manual for Malaysia (USMA) are adopted from the other literatures which is not represented the value from local catchment.7he objective of this study is to derive the initial and constant loss values using the data from selected local catchments in west Peninsular Malaysia. 7he calculated initial and constant loss will be further used to derive design flood discharge based on the design rainfall. An initial loss and constant loss model was examined in this study to observe the loss rate parameters in heterogeneous catchments and evaluate their signißcance as well as their potential influence on design peak floods. 7he study has been utilised the rainfall and runoff data from 113 storms over 15 catchments. 7he loss parameters were obtained from model optimi3ation using the HEC-HMS Modeling program. From the analyses, the median initial loss is 21.54mm with the standard deviation 7.85mm. 7he value shows higher than the value adopted in USMA. Meanwhile, the value for constant loss is 8.07mm which between the range of USMA. Based on the ßndings of design initial loss analyses, the values of initial loss were 49.3, 57.6, 64.1, 69.4, 73.3 and 76.6 for ARI 2,5,10,20,50 and 100, respectively. 7he percentage error between design initial loss and constant loss method and flood frequency method shows good results which are most of the percentage error less than 35%. It shows that the design initial loss and constant loss method produce reasonable accurate results when compared to the rainfall-runoff method and flood frequency method. Based on the ßndings, it can be suggested that the regional design initial loss and the constant loss rates would be able to serve reasonably well in determining catchment loss for the design purposes.

Geochemistry Properties of Southern Malaysian Organic Soil

Johore, the southern part of west peninsular Malaysia is found to be rich in peat soil, especially at the Pontian & Batu Pahat district. The physico-chemical properties of the peat soil at the region had been extensively studied by various researches but limited studies were based on the interface layer of peat soil and non organic soil. The behaviour of the interface layer soil is believed to be governed by its organic matter content. Three locations of Batu Pahat, namely Parit Nipah, Parit Sidek & Batu Puteh which are difference in terms of geography setting were chosen in this case study. The main objective of this study is to characterize the geochemistry properties of the organic soil as a guide of its engineering behaviour. The soil specimens were collected using peat auger and undisturbed sampler. The organic contents and types of organic were determined in laboratory based on Loss on Ignition at 440c, carbon content and its molecular functional group. The pH, sulphate content, chloride content and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the organic soil were also determined as a guide of its potential stabilization by using chemical stabilizer. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) were utilized to determine the bulk chemical composition of the soil and its functional group, respectively. The findings of this study are expected to give a better overview of organic soil which enable designer to have a better understanding when dealing with this kind of material.