An Ecological and Molecular Study of Elusive Western Tarsier Cephalopachus bancanus in Malaysian Borneo

Nur Mukminah, Naharuddin (2017) An Ecological and Molecular Study of Elusive Western Tarsier Cephalopachus bancanus in Malaysian Borneo. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

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Abstract

Borneo is one of the biodiversity hotspots that various studies on different taxa have been conducted since lots of endemic species were discovered. The evolution history such as the existence of refugia in Borneo has been identified as the main phenomenon for the high endemism of species. The informations on the ecology and molecular genetics are crucial for better understanding of the current distribution, sociobiology, conservation status and evolution during early stages of primate divergence. The study on the ecology and molecular genetics of the Western Tarsier, Cephalopachus bancanus, was conducted from year 2013 until 2016. A total of 49 individuals of C. bancanus were recorded from Sarawak and Sabah. Based on the results, C. bancanus is mainly found inhabiting mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF), kerangas forest and peat swamp forest. This is most probably due to the plenty of food resources and suitable vegetation conditions provided to C. bancanus. The frequency of the acoustic call for an individual of this species recorded in Mulu NP was 70 kHz. This study showed lack of morphological variations existing between the populations from the southern and central Sarawak. On the contrary, the individual from the northern Sarawak was isolated from that of the southern and central Sarawak. This was probably due to the vegetation and habitat differences and geographical barriers. The D-loop gene of 511 base pairs from a total of 30 individuals of C. bancanus was successfully sequenced. Besides, COI gene with the size of 399 base pairs from a total of 31 individuals of C. bancanus was sequenced. While Cyt b gene with the size of 288 base pairs from 22 individuals of C. bancanus was sequenced. The phylogenetic relationships inferred from these mitochondrial genes showed that all the sequences of C. bancanus in Sarawak formed a monophyletic group. Most of the C. bancanus sequences in Sarawak were in their unique haplotypes. Only individuals from southern and central Sarawak shared the same haplotype groups. The only individual from northern Sarawak population was in its unique haplotype group. There were no phylogeographic patterns being observed in Dloop, COI and Cyt b genes of the sequence samples of C. bancanus in Sarawak. Likewise, less variation observed in the genetic structure of C. bancanus among the population in Sarawak. The habitat fragmentation and habitat loss may restrict the migration of the C. bancanus. Hence, low gene flow was observed among the C. bancanus populations. The estimated divergence time of C. bancanus in Borneo was during the late Miocene epoch which is around 7 Mya. The dispersal of C. bancanus in Borneo is possibly affected by the harsh environment during late Miocene. For future study, more ecological parameters should be added and different molecular markers should be tested.

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