Azniza Mahyudin

This study presents the first confirmed records of Mops johorensis (Dobson, 1873) (Chiroptera, Molossidae) from Borneo. Specimens were recorded at three sites: Sabah (Sungai Kangkawat, 50 m a.s.l) and Sarawak (Lubok Antu, 30 m a.s.l and Mount Penrissen, 1200 m a.s.l). Echolocation analysis revealed site-based variation in call frequencies. Morphological comparisons showed subtle differences between Bornean and Peninsular populations. Genetic analysis using the mitochondrial COI gene showed minimal divergence between Bornean and Peninsular individuals. Spatial modelling identified hotspots for Molos-sidae in northern Sabah and central Sarawak, with habitat suitability strongly influenced by bat and cave density, climate, and land use.

The study on bat diversity in Sekar Imej Conservation Area (SICA) was conducted during the Sekar Imej Conservation Area Scientific Expedition from 19 September 2022 to 24 September 2022. Harp traps and mist nets were used to capture bats with placements along forest trails in Kibundu, Gerowong, and Monjuk for six consecutive nights. Species identification was performed on-site through morphological examinations of the forearm, ear, hindfoot, and tail (when available), with measurements recorded in millimeters (mm). Additionally, the bats were weighed in grams and their reproductive stages were noted. The study recorded nine bat species, belonging to four families: Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, and Vespertilionidae. From the Kibundu trail, Rhinolophus trifoliatus, Kerivoula intermedia and Kerivoula pellucida were collected, while Hipposideros cervinus, Kerivoula papillosa and Balionycteris maculata were recorded at Gerowong trail. At Monjuk trail, five species were recorded: Cynopterus brachyotis, Balionycteris maculata, Rhinolophus borneensis, Hipposideros cervinus and Kerivoula whiteheadi. These results will support the Sekar Imej Estate management in improving and expanding their conservation efforts and management strategies for bats and other wildlife in the landscape.

Insectivorous bats spend approximately half of their lives in the roost. Most of them are cave-dwelling and use the caves as roosting grounds. Roosts are important for mating, hibernation, rearing young, and a place to socialise, while providing protection from predators in a thermo-stable environment. This study aims to assess the diversity of insectivorous bats at Madai caves in Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sabah over a temporal period of 8 years. The sampling of bats was conducted twice i.e. in August 2010 and in December 2018. Harp traps and mist nets were used to sample bats in all sampling sessions. Eighteen species of bats, including two fruit bats, Cynopterus brachyotis and Rousettus spinalatus, were identified from the study site. Four insectivorous bat species were found in both years consistently i.e. Hipposideros cervinus, Rhinolophus creaghi, R. philippinensis, and Chaerephon plicatus. The species list in 2010 and 2018 differed by more than 50%, which may be a cause of concern and warrants further investigation. Most of the listed species are categorised as Least Concern, under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, except for Rousettus spinalatus, Hipposideros ridleyi and Miniopterus schreibersii which are listed as vulnerable. Only Hipposideros dyacorum is protected under Sabah Wildlife Enactment (1997). These findings will assist policymakers in making decisions on the importance to conserve the natural habitats of bats.

Morus alba L. (M. alba) is a highly adaptable plant that is extensively incorporated in many traditional and Ayurveda medications. Various parts of the plant, such as leaves, fruits, and seeds, possess nutritional and medicinal value. M. alba has abundant phytochemicals, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols, anthocyanins, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and volatile aromatic compounds, indicating its excellent pharmacological abilities. M. alba also contains high nutraceutical values for protein, carbohydrates, fiber, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals, as well as a low lipid value. However, despite its excellent biological properties and nutritional value, M. alba has not been fully considered as a potential functional food ingredient. Therefore, this review reports on the nutrients and bioactive compounds available in M. alba leaves, fruit, and seeds; its nutraceutical properties, functional properties as an ingredient in foodstuffs, and a microencapsulation technique to enhance polyphenol stability. Finally, as scaling up to a bigger production plant is needed to accommodate industrial demand, the study and limitation on an M. alba upscaling process is reviewed.

Biosphere reserves, designated under The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Man and Biosphere Programme, aim to sustainably integrate protected areas into the biological and economic landscape around them by buffering strictly protected habitats with zones of limited use. However, the effectiveness of biosphere reserves and the contribution of the different zones of use to protection is poorly known. We assessed the diversity and activity of bats in the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR) in Sabah, Malaysia, using harp traps, mist nets and acoustic surveys in each zone—core, buffer, transition and in agricultural plots outside of the reserve. We captured 30 species, bringing the known bat fauna of CRBR to 50 species, half of Borneo’s bat species. Species composition and acoustic activity varied among zones and by foraging ensemble, with the core and buffer showing particular importance for conserving forest-dependent insectivorous bats. Frugivorous bats were found in all zones but were the most abundant and most species-rich ensemble within agricultural sites. Although sampling was limited, bat diversity and activity was low in the transition zone compared to other zones, indicating potential for management practices that increase food availability and enhance biodiversity value. We conclude that, collectively, the zones of the CRBR effectively protect diversity, but the value of the transition zone can be improved.