Forestry Research Centre (FRC) - Sabah 49-72.pdf · Herbarium Management System (BRAHMS). Other...

Forestry Research Centre (FRC)3.2 Overview (Homathevi Rahman)

Botanical collections (Atsuko Takano* & Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Entomological collections (Yoshiaki Hashimoto & Takuj Tachi)

OverviewThe Forest Research Centre (FRC) (Fig. 3.2-1) is one of the divisionsunder the State Forestry Department, located at Sepilok, about 23 kmfrom Sandakan town, next to the Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve. In the

effort to promote and facilitate better management of forests in theState, the Division endeavors to further develop and apply knowledgeand technology to support conservation, management, development

and sustainable utilization of the forest.

Besides conducting intensive research and training programmes, the

centre is also strongly involved in developing and managing scientificreference collection facilities for forestry related research. FRC has twomain collection sections, the entomological museum collection and

the herbarium.

The entomological museum collection at the Entomology Section currently houses more than 110,000 mounted

insect specimens with more than 12,000 identified specimens either to generic or species level. The collection isstill expanding, especially on the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Formicidae collections. Besides the dry collection,this section also houses wet collection mainly the Isoptera and some of the larvae. The main objective of this

section is to curate insect specimens collected from the forests in Sabah. The museum has been the centre ofreference for various entomologists and students, either from local or foreign institutions. However, this sectionface some problems in managing their collections. These include collection safety, storage (at the moment wooden

cabinets are used), misidentifications and lack of parataxonomists and experts to help with identifications.

The herbarium currently houses about 240,917 specimen sheets of which almost 182,263 are Sabah collection,

among the largest collections in this region. The herbarium has been one of the best centre of botanical referencefor various researchers and students. At present, various activities are carried out to improve and standardize thecollections. One of it is to computerize all herbarium holdings using the programme, Botanical Research and

Herbarium Management System (BRAHMS). Other ongoing activities include improving the management ofherbarium records and preparing herbarium collection data to be accessible via internet.

Fig. 3.2-1. Insect exhibition room in FRC.

Forestry Research Centre (FRC)

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*JICA short-term expert, Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo, Japan

Herbarium (SAN) of FRC

CollectionsThe present holding is 173,917 accessions, totaling about 240,917 specimensheets, the country largest holdings (Fig. 3.2-2). Of these, almost 182,263

are Sabah collections. There are over 400 type specimens (Fig. 3.2-3). Inaddition, over 2,800 spirit collections (Fig. 3.2-4), 1,580 carpologicalspecimens (Fig. 3.2-5), 5,486 samples of wood sample collection (incl.

Dipterocarpaceae, Leguminosae, Sapotaceae, Ebenaceae, etc.) are storedseparately.

Sandakan Herbarium’s collections:

Number of species/taxon from Sabah(species/genus/family)

Angiosperms Dicots 5,554/1,146/155

Monocots 1,178/308/75Gymnosperms 49/12/6Ferns 613/148/28

Bryophytes, Algae 17/17/2Fungi poor

Exchange of specimens has been carried out with both local institutions (KEP, SAR) and overseas herbaria (A, AAU,

BISH, BO, BRUN, E, K, L, PHN, SING, WU).

The general mandate of the herbarium has been to document the woody flora of Sabah and Borneo.

The herbarium is managed by three scientific officers and about 15 research assistants (including part time staff).

Fig. 3.2-3. Type specimen.

Fig. 3.2-2. Preparation room of plants.

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Biological Collection Management in Sabah, Malaysia - How Do We Share Data?

Fig. 3.2-4. Carpological specimens.(Dry seed specimens)

Fig. 3.2-5. Wet specimens.


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Housing collection

The collection is housed in two levels of the building,

in which drawer compactorized storage system is

set (Fig. 3.2-6). The arrangement in each group is

alphabetical at all ranks, except in the genus Shorea

(Dipterocarpaceae) where arrangement follows

timber groupings. Type specimens are kept in a

separated drawer from general collection (Fig. 3.2-

7). Temperature and humidity in the room are

maintaineded by central control system.

Collection management

Each data of specimen is managed by card-system (Fig. 3.2-8). However, now all the data are moved to database

system (BRAHMS). The improvement is funded from SEABCIN project (South East Asian Botanical Collections

Information Network) (see next chapter). Three staff are engaged in data-input to BRAHMS with 4 PCs (Fig. 3.2-9).

Fig. 3.2-8. Cards for collection management. Fig. 3.2-9. PC room in SAN.

Fig. 3.2-6. Drawer. Fig. 3.2-7. Drawer for

type specimens.

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Fig. 3.2-11. Proportion of insect

specimens.

Fig. 3.2-10. Preparation room of insects.

Order Species Specimen Identification level

Lepidoptera 3,030 20,021 species level

Moths 2,340 14,221

Micromoths 345 2,298

Butterflies 345 3,502

Coleoptera 1,794 51,153 species level

Isoptera (Wet specimen) species level

Hymenoptera (excl. Formicidae) 267 4,119 species level

Formicidae 498 2,119 species level

Heteroptera 103 1,687 genus level

Homoptera 42 493 species level

Odonata 63 603 species level

Phasmida 47 319 species level

Orthoptera 30 379 Family level

Dictyoptera 26 387 Family level

Dermaptera 2 18 Family level

Nemroptera 9 41 Family level

Diptera 31 684 Family level

Total 6,005 82,622

Table 2-1. List of dry insect specimens in FRC.

Insect collection of FRC

Outline of collections

The Sabah Forest Research Center (FRC) in Sandakan houses

the largest insect collections in Sabah with about 110,000 insect

specimens. Most of these are satisfactorily curated and identified

to at least the family level. Being a Forest Research Institute, among

the early important collections here include a collection of termites

by R.S. Thapa. Other main insect collections are specimens of

Lepidoptera (Moths) and Coleoptera. The collection is managed

by 8 Staff of Entomology Section (Fig. 3.2-10).

Termites: Termite collection is stored in wet specimen. The main

collection consists of specimens of R.S. Thapa. This has resulted

in a monograph on the termites of Sabah that now serves as a major reference source for the study of oriental

termites. A total of 103 species and subspecies from 33 genera and 4 families are documented. Unfortunately,

holotype collections of these termites have been deposited in the Entomological Collections of the Forest Research

Institute, Dehra Dun, India while only paratypes and morphotypes were deposited in the Insect Collections of the

FRC, Sandakan.

Other insects: Other insect collection is stored in dry pinned specimen. There are 13 orders of insect, as shown in

Table 2-1. Most of the specimens of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera identified to at least the genus level,

but the others at the family level. At number of specimen and identification level, the poorest collection of them is

Diptera. Although Diptera is one of 4 biggest insect groups (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera),

Diptera collection here include only consists of 684 specimens and 16 families (Fig. 3.2-11).

Housing collection

Pinned specimens are kept in wooden cabinets (Fig. 3.2-12), and stored in

wooden drawers (Fig. 3.2-13). Some of the specimens are pinned in drawers

with unit-tray system (various sizes of unit trays made to fit into a drawer).

In collection room, 41 cabinets, which can store 26 drawers, are placed.

Temperature and humidity in the room are controlled by an air-conditioner and a

dehumidifier.


Specimens are classified into “order” and arranged into drawers by each group.

The arrangement under the “order” level is alphabetical at all ranks (i.e., family,

genus). Type specimens are scatterd into boxes with general specimens.

To manage collection, catalogue files are used (Fig. 3.2-14). However, in the

books only species name and placement information (drawer & box No.) are

kept. That is, management system for each specimen is not established.

Therefore, exact number of type specimens kept here cannot be grasped.

The facilities of collection management database, i.e., PC, Inter-net connecting

(ISDN), are set up in the room (Fig. 3.2-15), but database software has not been

introduced.

Fig. 3.2-12. Specimen drawer.

Fig. 3.2-13. Wooden cabinets.

Fig. 3.2-15. Internet connecter.Fig. 3.2-14. Catalogue file for collection management


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54


SEABCIN (South East Asian Botanical Collections Information Network) Project

2-7. Imporvement of dabase system in SAN

FRC Herbarium is currently involved in SEABCIN projects. This project provides Herbarium management-database

software (BRAHMS) and support improvement of collection management in the Herbarium (Fig. 3.2-16).

2-8. Outline of SEABCIN Project (Fig. 3.2-17)

Applicant: National Herbarium Netherlands, The Netherlands

Partners: EU Partners: University of Oxford Dept of Plant Sciences, UK

Asian Partners: Herbarium Bogoriensis, Indonesia; Philippine National

Herbarium, The Philippines; Forest Research Institute, Malaysia; Forest

Dept of Sarawak, Malaysia; Sandakan Herbarium, Malaysia; Forest

Herbarium, Thailand; together with Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Duration: 30 months

Programme Component: Information Society Interconnectivity In Agriculture

Project Abstract:

The collections stored in Leiden, the Netherlands and the regional herbaria of South East Asia represent the largest

and most fundamental source of botanical information for this biologically diverse region. This project will unite the

data of Leiden and 6 herbaria in South East Asia into a mega-database and it will set standards for data-entry. The

mega-database will be freely accessible worldwide and will be maintained by the 7 herbaria. The mega-database

will provide valuable information about botanical biodiversity (in terms of species) on various geographical levels

(from region as a whole, up to local level). Access to taxonomic information on the plant biodiversity of South East

Asia is crucial for the underpinning of sound measures to conserve, use in the long-term, and equitably share the

benefits of this rich, mega-diverse natural resource.

Objectives:

1) To develop the exchange of data between Herbaria in Europe and SE ASIA;

2) To provide increased access to data regionally and worldwide;

3) To further develop tools for participating Herbaria to maintain and upgrade local data;

4) To provide technical IT solutions to solve interoperability across databases;

5) To reach a consensus on data standards, data selection, user needs and legal issues.

Fig. 3.2-16. Data input operation to

BRAHMS.


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Fig. 3.2-17. Outline of SEABCIN

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Overview

Sabah Parks Natural Histroy Museum (SPM) is one of the sections under Research & Education Division of the

Sabah Parks, located at Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah (Fig. 3.3-1). In the effort to promote better management of state

national parks, the museum staff endeavor to research fauna and flora in the parks, and more to educate common

people on awareness of biodiversity and its importance (Fig. 3.3-2).

Besides conducting research, the museum is also involved in developing and managing collections of entomology,

botany and zoology. Number of the specimens housing here is 45,949 in entomology, about 25,000 in botany and

about 13,000 in zoology. The specimens are collected not only in Mt. Kinabalu Park, but also in the other parks. In

this point, the museum is not a merely collection center of Mt. Kinabalu, but of Sabah state.

The museum is the latest museum in Borneo. The collection was started in 1980s with a small collection of plants

and insects mostly for exhibit to public. In 1985, the collection was expanded in terms of quantity. In 1988 collection

of amphibians and reptiles were made to initiate faunal collection. During this time the ‘Ecology Section’ at Kinabalu

Park handle the collection. In 1994 the Ecology Section was expanded into Research & Education Division. More

staff employed to this division. In 1995 the collections were moved to a new building.

Fig. 3.3-1. Kinabalu park museum. Fig. 3.3-2. Exhibition of Kinabalu museum.

3.3 Sabah Parks Natural History Museum (SPM)Overview (Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Botanical collections (Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Zoological collections (Takuji Tachi)Entomological collections (Homathevi Rahman)

Therefore, the collection housing here is not so big, but is perhaps

one of the best reference collection in Sabah. The specimens, except

for insects, are mostly identified to species level, and include nearly

all species known to occur in Sabah. For example, 89 frog species

(2,978 specimens) are stored here, which is almost 100 % of total the

species in Sabah, and about 60% in Borneo (Fig. 3.3-3).

The collection is also the best collection in the point of data manage-

ment. The data of almost all specimens have been registered in

Micro Excel sheets, producing output fundamental lists of collection

(Fig. 3.3-4).

The only weakpoint for the museum may be that specimens collected

from the parks except Mt. Kinabalu are not many. To establish function

of collection center for Sabah parks, it is need to collect and store

more specimens from all of the parks.

Fig. 3.3-3. Frog collection.

Fig. 3.3-4. Data Management.

Sabah Parks Natural History Museum (SPM)

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Herbarium of SPM

3-1. Outline of collections

The present holding is about 24,916 specimens (Table 3-1), of which about 50% is collected in Kinabalu Park and

the rests are collected from the other parks. There are 5 holotype specimens in this collection, of which 4 specimens

are orchid and 1 is oak. Most of the specimens are satisfactorily curated and identified to at least the genus level

(Fig. 3.3-5) (60% is identified at species level, and 90% at genus level). In addition to collection of specimen, the

herbarium starts to gather taxonomic references (Fig. 3.3-6), i.e., description papers for species of Sabah flora.

3-2. Housing of collection

The collection is housed in a level of the building, in which 160 steel drawers are set (Fig. 3.3-7). The arrangement

in each taxonomic group is in alphabetical order. Type specimens are kept in same drawers with general collections

(Fig. 3.3-8). Temperature and humidity in the room are maintained by dehumidifier.

Table 3-1. Number of animal specimen housed at SPM.

Family Genus Species Specimens

Angiosperma 169 1,069 2,485 21,633

Gymnosperma 40 168 691 1,993

Ferns 1 606 32 152

Fungi 1 418 32 152

Moss 18 25 3 54

Wet-specimen 1,022

24,916

Fig. 3.3-5. Specimen of Herbarium. Fig. 3.3-6. Collection of taxonomic references.

Fig. 3.3-7. Drawers of collection room. Fig. 3.3-8. Type specimen sheets.

3-3. Collection management

5 workers, 2 permanent and 3 part-time staff, are in-charge to

manage the herbarium collection. Each data of specimen is

managed by notebooks (Fig. 3.3-9). However, now all the data

are moved to Microsoft Excel sheets (Fig. 3.3-10). Data format of

the sheets is as shown below:

- Specimen Registration number

- Family name

- Species name

- Detector name & date (Taxonomist name identifying a

given specimen)

- Collection date

- Collection locality

- Collector

- Altitude

- Habitat (Forest type)

The data sheets include not only basic collection data, but also

ecological and taxonomic information. However, it is to be

regretted that information about type of specimen, i.e., Type

specimen, General specimens, etc., is not included. For the

“registration number” of specimen, field collection number is

used, so that the registration number is not uniform, for example,

Sabah park’s collections with “SP XXX” and R. Jaman’s

collections with “RJ XXX”. In Excel sheets, therefore, the

registration number is supplemented with ID-number. About 70%

of all specimens housing here, and almost 90% of identified

specimen, have recorded into Excel sheets. The data-input is

made by two people, and also assisted by in-coming students

from UMS, UKM, UPM and UNIMAS.

Fig. 3.3-9. Note-book for collection management.

Fig. 3.3-10. Data-input into Excel sheet

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Zoological collection of SPM

3-4. Outline of collections

The Zoological museum (Fig. 3.3-11) has the largest animal collections

in Sabah. The total number of specimens is about 13,000, which include

vertebrates (mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, tortoises, frogs,

tadpoles, and fresh-water fishes) and invertebrates except for insects

(i.e., crabs, prawns, and snails) (Table 3-2). They are collected not

only within Kinabalu Park, but also from other parks. In the collection,

3 holotype and 5 paratype specimens are included. They are all frog

species, Ansonia anotis, Leptolalax arayai and Leptolalax maurus.

Most of the specimens have been identified to species level, mainly

by foreign researchers. The percents of identified specimens at

species level are 99% in mammals, 90% in birds, 95% in frogs, 80%

in snakes, 80% in lizards. The best reference collection in the museum

may be frog collection, which was established in collaboration with

Drs. Inger and Matsui. The collection included 89 species (2,978 adult

specimens and 2,665 tadpole specimens). This is approximately 60%

of the frog species recorded in Borneo.

Fig. 3.3-11. Animal specimen Room.

Table 3-2. Number of animal specimen housed at SPM.

Species Wet Dry Exhibition Total number of specimens

Mammalians 116 975 420 107 1502

Aves 254 789 907 102 1798

Reptilians (lizard) 50 606 1 9 616

Reptilians (snake) 92 418 18 8 444

Reptilians (tortoise) 7 23 - 6 29

Amphibians (frog) 89 2978 - - 2978

Amphibians (tadpole) 34 2665 - - 2665

Fishes (fresh-water) 52 2370 - - 2370

Invertebrates (crab) - 128 - - 128

Invertebrates (prawn) 2 96 - - 96

Invertebrates (snail) 10 8 111 - 119

Bone & husk 19 - 41 - 41

Total 725 11,056 1,498 232 12,786

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Housing collectionAnimal collections are stored in two room, the wet and the dry specimen room.

Frogs, fish and lizards are stored in jars with alcohol, and housed in woodenshelves in the wet specimen room (Fig. 3.3-12). Skins and snails are housedin wooden drawers in the dry specimen room (Figs. 3.3-13, 3-14). The stuffed

specimens for exhibition are kept in large shelves (Fig. 3.3-15). The number ofthe shelves and drawers is 504 in wet and 108 in dry specimen room. Theboth specimens are arranged in alphabetical at all taxonomic ranks, except

for exhibition specimens. Type specimens, wet specimens of frog, are kept inan attache case and stored separately in a drawer from general collections.Temperature and humidity in each specimen room is controlled by an air-

conditioner and a dehumidifier. In addtion, the museum preserves specimensfor DNA studies, which are stored in a refrigerator (Fig. 3.3-16).

Collection managementEach data of specimen is recorded in logbooks (Fig. 3.3-17). However, now almost all the data have moved toMicrosoft Excel sheets. The data include not only basic collection data, but also ecological and morphplogical data

of specimens. Data format of the sheets is as shown below:

Specimen Registration number (SP XXXXX)

Scientific nameCommon name (Enghish name)Collection date

Collection localityZone (area corde)Collector

AltitudeHabitatBody size, weight, sex, etc.

Fig. 3.3-16. Specimen for DNA studies. Fig. 3.3-15. Exhibition specimen.Fig. 3.3-14. Snail specimen.

Fig. 3.3-12. Wet specimens.

Fig. 3.3-17. Logbook.

Fig. 3.3-13. Dry specimen.

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Insect collection of SPM


The Entomological museum was initiated in 1980 with about 200 specimens, consisting mainly moths and beetles,

which were used as exhibit materials for the public. The establishment of the Ecology Section at Kinabalu Park in

1980 has intensified research activities and triggered a systematic collection of insect specimen. Some significant

collaboration research works in the field of entomology between the Sabah Parks with UKMS, Sabah Museum and

German Society for Tropical Ecology were also in favour to the establishment of the collection. Insect collection was

the only faunal collection of Ecology section in the early 1980s. The specimens collection was deposited in a

smaller room and comprehensively expanded, as research activities was extensively carried out not only within

Kinabalu Park but further extended to other parks throughout Sabah. Nineteen type specimens, including 5 holotypes,

are kept in this museum. At the moment 4 staffs (1 permanent and 3 temporary) manage the entomology section.

The museum collection currently houses about 45,949 insect specimens of 19 orders. One of the largest collection

of its kind in Sabah apart from Sabah Forestry Research Center collection in Sandakan. This includes a wide range

of insects order such as Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Diptera and

Odonata. Types of collection vary in the forms of wet and dry specimen collection stored in wooden cupboard. List

of dry and wet insect collection is as shown in Table 3-3:

Table 3-3. List of dry insect specimen in SPM.

Order Dry specimen Exhibition specimen TotalWet specimen

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Lepidoptera 14,328 - 161 15,896

Coleoptera 13,797 1,473 95 13,958

Hymenoptera 3,660 6,917 64 10,641

Heteroptera 1,037 107 5 1149

Homoptera 853 59 7 919

Orthoptera 669 1 14 684

Odonata 492 60 8 616

Diptera 272 341 - 560

Dictyoptera 255 95 3 353

Phasmida 228 - 16 244

Isoptera 66 119 - 185

Megaloptera 47 - - 64

Neuroptera 32 - - 32

Dermaptera 12 - - 12

Mecoptera 3 - - 3

Ephemeroptera 2 - - 2

Microlepidoptera 21 - - 21

Aquatic insects 176 80 - 256

Lepidoptera from Japan 362 - - 362

Total 36,312 9,264 373 45,949

Most of the specimens are identified at least to genus level. Majority of the collections comprised of Coleoptera and

Lepidoptera specimens.

Housing Collection

Pinned specimens are kept in specimen boxes, stored in wooden enclosed

drawers and arranged in cabinets (Figs. 3.3-18, 3-19). Wet collections are kept in

jars and placed on wooden shelves with minimal opening to protect from excessive

lights (Figs. 3.3-20, 3-21).

In collection room there are 28 cabinets used for storing the specimens. Hygrometer is used to monitor temperature

and humidity in the room. At present, temperature and humidity is maintained at 23oC and 58%, respectively.

Collection Management

Specimens are classified into ‘order’ and arranged in drawers according to groups. All identified specimens are

labeled by the following format: order/year collected/individual number e.g. CO/90/03465.

Data of all the existing specimens in the collection were properly recorded in logbooks and also in excel format.

Data in excel format includes information such as order, family, subfamily, species no., genus, species, locality,

zone, altitude, collector, date and box number for each species. However, database software has not been introduced.

Fig. 3.3-19. Drawers

Fig. 3.3-18. Dry specimen box

Fig. 3.3-20. Wet specimens

Fig. 3.3-21. Shelves

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Overview

The Sabah Museum (SM) was officially opened in 1965. In 1981, the museum came under the Ministry of Community

Services, and later in 1982, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. In 1984, the museum was moved to a

new building, located at its present site.

The museum collects and preserves ethnographic, archaeological, historical, numismatic, art-historical, botanical,

zoological and mineralogical collections from all over Sabah. The biology specimens holding in the museum are

more than 19,000 in zoological collection and more than 13,000 in botanical collection (including living plants in

botanical garden).

The zoological collection here is one of the largest animal collections in Sabah. Especially, there are 277 species

and 2,436 specimens in birds, 133 species and 2,443 specimens in mammals, which are approximately 50% of

bird species and 60% of mammal species recorded in Borneo.

In the botanical collection, there are about 7,300 specimen sheets, 118 wet specimens and 93 carpological

specimens, which are all ethnobotany plants, i.e. medical and food plants in Sabah. The museum collects not only

the specimens but also records about their pharmaceutical information.

Fig. 3.4-1. Storage building of Sabah museum.

3.4 Sabah Museum (SM)Overview (Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Botanical collections (Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Zoological collections (Takuji Tachi)Entomological collections (Homathevi Rahman)

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Ethnobotany Herbarium of SM


The present holding is about 7,300 specimen sheets (Fig. 3.4-2), 118 wet specimens and 93 carpological specimens

(Fig. 3.4-3), which are all ethnobotany plants in Sabah. Most of the specimens are satisfactorily curated and

identified to at least the genus level (about 300 species). The collection here has no type specimens.

Housing of collection

The collection is housed in a level of the building, in which steel drawers are set (Fig. 3.4-4).

The arrangement in each taxonomic group is alphabetical at all ranks. Temperature and

humidity in the room are maintained by an air-conditioner.


Four researchers are charged in management of the herbarium collection (Fig. 3.4-5).

Each data of specimen is managed by logbook (Fig. 3.4-6). However, the data of 6,999

specimens are entered to Microsoft Access. Data format of the sheets is as shown

below:

EMS Number (Ethnobotany Museum Sabah:

Specimen Registration number)

Family name

Species name

Detector name (Taxonomist name identifying a given specimen)

Local name

Collection date

Collection locality

Collector

Habitat (Forest type)

Altitude

Note: Pharmaceutical information

Fig. 3.4-4. Drawer.

Fig. 3.4-3. Carpological specimens.Fig. 3.4-2. Specimen sheet and logbook.

Fig. 3.4-5. A herbarium staff.

Fig. 3.4-6. Logbooks for specimen management.

Sabah Museum (SM)

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Animal collection (Zoology Section) of SM (except insects)


The Sabah Museum zoological collection (Zoology) (Fig. 3.4-7) was formerly known as the Natural History Section

with the establishment of the Sabah Museum in 1963. Since then, this section has developed into one of the main

sections of the Sabah Museum that involves in the preservation of the

natural heritage of Sabah. This section has one of the largest animal

collections in Sabah with more than 19,000 specimens that comprise

mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes and insects (Table 4-1). They

are headed by a curator (vacant), assistant curator, 2 museum assistants,

one junior M.A., 2 field M.A. and 3 daily paid staff.

Most of the specimens were identified to species level by curators. The

reference collections stored here are rich in birds and mammals

specimens. Each collection is 277 species in birds and 133 in mammals,

and shows approximately 50% and 60% recorded in Borneo. Fig. 3.4-7. Zoological section.

Housing collection

Animal collections except insects: They are stored and managed in

wet and dry specimens in same room. Amphibians, lizards and part

of birds are stored in jars with alcohol, and housed in wooden shelves

(Fig. 3.4-8). Most of the birds and mammals are stored as skin

specimens. They are wrapped in plastic and housed in wooden

drawers (Fig. 3.4-9, 4-10). The number of the drawers is 546 in dry.

Type specimens (only paratypes) are scattered into the reference

collection.

Temperature and humidity are managed by an air-conditioner and a

dehumidifier control in collection room.

Table 4-1. Number of animal collection in Sabah museum.

Class Family Species Specimens

Aves 57 277 2,436

Mammals 26 133 2,443

Amphibians 5 57 4,048

Reptiles 10 50 1,755

Fishes 24 155 2,587

Insects 129 901 5,509

Total 251 1,573 18,778

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Fig. 3.4-8. Drawers.


In Zoological Section, each data of all specimens was managed by species using notebooks, but have been moved

to Microsoft Excel sheets (Fig. 3.4-11). Data format of the sheets is as shown below:

Specimen Registration number (NH XXXX)

Scientific name

Collection data

Collection locality

Collector

Body size, weight, sex, etc.

Fig. 3.4-10. Dry specimens.

Fig. 3.4-11. Data sheets.

Fig. 3.4-9. Wet Specimens.

Sabah Museum (SM)

67

Insect collection of SM

Outline of collection

The Sabah Museum entomological collection (Fig. 3.4-12) was

initiated since 1969 consisting mainly Lepidoptera and Coleoptera,

which were used for research purpose. After 1997 some significant

collaboration research work in the field of entomology between the

Sabah Museum, JOCV and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Sabah

were also in favour to the establishment and maintenance of the

collection. At the moment two staffs (1 permanent and 1 temporary)

manage the entomology section.


The museum collection currently houses about 6,000 insect specimens of 12 orders, 129 families and 901 species

(Table 4-2). This includes a wide range of insects order such as Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera,

Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Diptera and Odonata. Types of collection vary in the forms of wet (only ants) and dry specimen

collection stored in wooden cupboard (Fig. 3.4-13).

Most of the specimens are identified at least to genus and family level. Majority of the collections comprised of

Coleoptera and Lepidoptera specimens.


Pinned specimens are kept in specimen boxes, stored in wooden enclosed drawers

and arranged in cabinets. Wet collections are kept in jars and placed on wooden

shelves with minimal opening to protect from excessive lights.

In collection room there are 9 cabinets (4 small and 5 big ones) used for storing the

specimens. Temperature and humidity are maintained at 25oC and 58%, respectively.

Fig. 3.4-12. Insect specimens.

Fig. 3.4-13. Drawer.

Order Family Species Specimens

Coleoptera 44 288 2,468

Homoptera 42 518 1,922

Diptera 1 1 63

Hymenoptera 5 7 45

Others 30 86 671

Total 129 901 5509

Table 4-2. Number of Families, species and specimens.

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OverviewUniversiti Malaysia Sabah or UMS was established in November 1994.

Shortly thereafter, the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation(ITBC) (Fig. 3.5-1), then recognized as a Unit, was formed. Thefounding of the Institute has allowed for local scientists to work more

closely together to explore the diverse and vast centre of naturalresource of the Tropical Rain Forest.

To be a research and reference centre in the field of tropical biologyand conservation and the node for database for the purpose ofmanagement and assessment, ITBC has started collecting

specimens of flora and fauna beginning with the expedition (MaliauBasin in May 1996, Tabin Expedition in 1997, Klias-Binsulok in 1999,Imbak Valley in 2000, Kinabatangan and Crocker Range in 2002).

These collections are gradually building up as more and more fieldworks are being carried out. The number ofeach collection is about 43,000 of insects, about 26,300 of animals other than insects and about 6,100 of plants atpresent. All specimens collected are housed at BORNEENSIS for the use by local and international researchers.

The numbers of these collections, such as ants, termites, beetles, bats, frogs, snails, and mosses, have beenincreasing by expeditions conducted every year. These collections of ants, termites, flies, snails, frogs and mosses

have many specimens and will be one of the best reference collections in Borneo. The equipments such ascompactor system, scanning electron microscope, DNA experiment facilities and so on, are well arranged at ITBC,UMS to perform specimen management and taxonomic study.

However, there are some common problems in each collection. The most important ones are the level of identificationand the collection management. They look to be lack of experts and parataxonomists. Introduction to a database

and the standardization of specimen management are also needed.

Fig. 3.5-1. Institute for Tropical Biology

and Conservation (ITBC).

3.5 Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC)Overview (Takuji Tachi)Botanical collections (Yoshiaki Hashimoto)Zoological collections (Takuji Tachi)Entomological collections (Takuji Tachi)

Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC)

69

Herbarium of ITBC


The present holding is about 6,144 specimens, of which 55% is

non-vascular plant (Bryophyta) (3,360 specimens) and 45% is

vascular plant (2,784 specimens) (Fig. 3.5-2). In the collection,

there are 4 type specimens, which are all moss species. Most of

the specimens are satisfactorily curated and 63% of specimens

are identified to at least the genus level.


The collection is housed in a room of the institute building, in which steel drawers of compacter system (45 lines X

3 drawers) are set (Fig. 3.5-3). Temperature and humidity in the room are maintained by central control system.

This collection room is established in 2002 (Fig. 3.5-4). At present, all specimens are being transferred and

rearranged into the room from its temporal storage room. The arrangement in each taxonomic group is planned to

be on alphabetical at all ranks.


One researcher and 1 research assistant are in charge of the herbarium management. Specimen data (Fig. 3.5-5)

is managed by Microsoft Excel. However, only 10% of non-vascular plant specimen (342) and 63% vascular plant

specimens (1,744) have recorded. Data format of Excel sheets is as shown below:

Collector Number

Family name

Species name

Collection locality

Collector

Fig. 3.5-5. Specimen label.

Fig. 3.5-3. Drawers. Fig. 3.5-4. Herbarium.

Fig. 3.5-2. Specimen sheets.

70


Zoological collection of ITBC


The ITBC, UMS has one of the largest animal collections (Fig. 3.5-6) in

Sabah. Collection stored here includes mammals, birds, reptiles,

amphibians, fresh-water fishes and snails. Almost all specimens are

collected from various localities in Sabah (Crocker Range, Trusmadi and

Kinabatangan) by scientists and staffs. The total number is about 110,000

specimens, including wet and dry specimens (Table 5-1), but the

collections of mammals and reptiles are not so good, compared with the

species number already recorded from Sabah. Most of them have been

identified to species level by mainly foreign researchers (JICA expert etc.)

as follows: mammals - 100%, birds - 50%, frogs - 100%, Reptiles - 20%,

and snails - 95% etc.

Snail collection has many specimens and is very high in identification level. It is the best reference collections in

Sabah.

Fig. 3.5-6. Animal specimen room.

Table 5-1. Number of animal specimen housed at ITBC.

Housing of collectionZoological collections are housed in two or more rooms, wet and dry

specimens rooms. In wet specimen room it is equipped with compactorsystem, while in dry specimen room it is temporarily prepared steel cabinetsand is going to be set up compactor or steel drawer in near future. Lizards,

fishes, and frogs are stored in jars with alcohol, and housed in compactor of wetspecimen room (Figs. 3.5-7, 5-8).

Fig. 3.5-7. Wet specimen. Fig. 3.5-8. Wet specimens room.

Class Species Wet Dry Total number of specimens

Mammalia 55 649 63 712

Aves 101 450 43 493

Reptiles 20 116 0 116

Amphibia (frog) 84 1,904 0 1,904

Fresh-water 47 3,145 0 3,145

Mollusc 250 5,040 36,220 77,480

Total 864 17,568 36,326 110,220

Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC)

71

Skins and snails are stored in cabinets of dry specimen room (Figs. 3.5-9, 5-10), and stuffed specimens for

exhibition are held in another dry specimen room.

Although the collection management is ordered taxonomically in snails (Fig. 3.5-11), it is not arranged yet in other

groups. Regarding frogs collection, almost all specimens are not arranged according to taxonomic group instead

localities such as Crocker Range and Tawau. Temperature and humidity in each specimen rooms are managed by

control system.


One staff is in charge in the management of wet and dry specimen rooms. Each data of specimen was managed

by notebooks. However, all the data have moved to Microsoft Excel sheets. BORNEENSIS number is used in the

registration. Data format of the sheets is as shown below (Fig. 3.5-12):

KELAS (CLASS)

ORDER (ORDER)

FAMILI (FAMILY)

SPESIES (SPECIES)

(ENGLISH NAME)

LOKALITI (LOCALITY)

PENGUMPUL (COLLECTOR)

TARIKH (DATE)

NO. BORNEENSIS

Fig. 3.5-9. Dry specimens. Fig. 3.5-10. Dry specimen cabinets.

Fig. 3.5-11. Dry snails collections.

Fig. 3.5-12. Specimen data.

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