Borneo Science | The Journal of Science and Technology

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY STUDY OF SCHISMATOGLOTTIS FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS IN SABAH USING INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACER REGION

Nurul Hasanah Harisin — 2023-09-30

The Schismatoglottideae tribe, primarily in Borneo, is notably diverse within the Araceae family. It encompasses various rainforest herbs, adapting to terrestrial, lithophytic, and rheophytic habitats. The Schismatoglottis genus, with over 175 species, mostly exclusive to Borneo due to geological preferences, stands out. A study aimed to understand genetic relationships among Schismatoglottis species from Kadamaian-Kinabalu Park, Kionsom Recreational Area, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area, Mensalong Forest Reserve, Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tawau Hills Park, and Mantailang Crocker Range Park. The Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of twelve Schismatoglottis species were sequenced. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried-silica-gel leaf tissue using a commercial kit
(Promega, USA). ITS region lengths ranged from 528 bp to 708 bp. BLAST analysis accurately identified species within the Schismatoglottis genus (95% to 98% similarity). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a highly supported sister clade, uniting Schismatoglottis porpax species from Mensalong and Kionsom, despite differing elevational habitats. This pioneering study delves into Schismatoglottis phylogenetics, particularly in Sabah, with seven of the twelve species showing potential for new species classification, pending further research.

ZERO-INFLATED POISSON TRANSMUTED WEIGHTED EXPONENTIAL DISTRIBUTION: PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS

Shamsul Rijal Muhammed Sabri — 2023-11-30

Count observations with high frequencies of zero counts abound in diverse fields. In
actuary science, for example, insurance claims are often underreported, leading to a higher frequency
of zero counts. This invariably reduces the mean and leads to over-dispersion. Different techniques to
model such occurrences exist. This study uses the cubic rank transmutation map to compound the
weighted exponential distribution and obtain a new count distribution in the mixed Poisson paradigm.
The zero-inflated form of the proposition is obtained along with some mathematical properties. Simulated skewness, kurtosis, and dispersion index for the new distributions reveal they are suitable for model dispersed observation with positive skewness. Five datasets with high frequencies of zero counts are used to assess the performance of the new distribution along with some popular count distributions by using the maximum likelihood for parameter estimation. Results show that the natural form of the new proposition performs creditably better than its zero-inflated forms, even when there is a higher proportion of zero counts. The classical negative binomial distribution is also observed to outperform its zero-inflated form in most cases. In contrast, the zero-inflated Poisson distribution better fits the datasets than the classical Poisson distribution.

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL SALT LICKS IN SEGALIUD LOKAN FOREST RESERVE, SANDAKAN, SABAH MALAYSIA

Siti Nur Anisa Mohamad Maidin — 2023-11-30

Mineral licks are important for animals, especially wildlife, to nourish their diets, not only
in terms of supporting their mineral intake deficiencies but also in regulating toxins in their bodies. This
study characterised the geochemical properties of salt licks located in Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve
(SLFR). Soil samples were collected from five selected salt licks in the study area. The physico-chemical
results show that the pH of the salt-lick soil varied from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. The percentage
of moisture content and organic matter ranges from 25.22% to 44.78% and 0.95% to 7.83, respectively.
The electrical conductivity reading ranges from 48.59 μS/cm to 260.88 μS/cm. The soil samples were
digested using aqua regia and analysed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry
(ICP-OES). The concentrations of Ca (1101.92 mg/kg–11551.64 mg/kg), K (910.27 mg/kg–2355.41
mg/kg), Na (106.36 mg/kg–727.34 mg/kg), and Mg (1442.14 mg/kg–5305.13 mg/kg) in the five salt licks
varied considerably and were higher than in the control soil samples. High chemical concentrations in
salt licks are due to the pH of soils, which ranges from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLID ON THE SURFACE WATERS OF KUALA PERLIS, PERLIS

Hashim A R — 2023-11-30

Rivers are vital water sources for human existence and environmental health.
Due to freshwater scarcity, monitoring river water quality is crucial, especially concerning
total suspended solids (TSS), which pose potential risks to health and the environment.
Despite this importance, there is a lack of assessment of spatiotemporal TSS variation in
Malaysia, particularly in Sungai Kuala Perlis. This study aims to evaluate spatial-temporal
TSS variations in the surface water of Kuala Perlis, Perlis. Sampling points were GPS recorded in December 2021. Five sites were established for morning, afternoon, and
evening sampling. Water samples were collected and subjected to gravimetric analysis using
the American Public Health Assessment (APHA) standard. ANOVA (p=0.05) in SPSS
version 26 found TSS ranges of 110.67 mg/L -177.67 mg/L, 27.67 mg/L – 132 mg/L, and 78
mg/L – 304.67 mg/L for morning, afternoon, and evening, respectively. Surprisingly, no
significant mean TSS differences were found for temporal (p>0.05) or spatial (p>0.05)
variations. Factors influencing TSS variation such as water flow, salinity, and
anthropogenic activities, were discussed. These findings inform researchers, governments,
and NGOs for future planning in Kuala Perlis, promoting river health and eco-friendly
management

CURRENT PROBIOTICS APPLICATION FOR AQUACULTURE FEED: A REVIEW

Sui Sien Leong — 2023-11-30

Probiotics are a helpful alternative that can be used to increase aquaculture output in a sustainable way. For probiotics to have the desired effects when applied to a certain aquaculture species, first, the proper strain and dosage must be chosen. The second, probiotics can be given intravenously, orally, or as feed additives, the last of which is frequently employed in aquaculture. Probiotics application in aquaculture production provides several advantages, including enhanced stress tolerance, enhanced disease resistance, enhanced immunological defence against infections, enhanced disease performance, and enhanced feed utilization. To improve the economic performance of the aquaculture species, probiotics can be used at the farm level. This review seeks to assess the current apprehension of probiotics as fish-feed supplements in aquaculture, types of probiotics, administration methods, mechanism of action, benefits, and effects. It also constrains the approach of contribution probiotics application to the aquaculture activities which enhance the fish health and growth based on the results of experimental studies.