1. From the early morning of 5th May to the late evening of 7th May, more than 130 scientists from the local universities (UM, USM, UPM, UKM, UMT, UiTM, UTM, UPSI), research institutes (FRIM, SIRIM) and government departments (PERHILITAN, Forestry departments, Botanic Gardens Putrajaya, NAHRIM) took part in the Scientific Expedition of Pulau Pangkor. It was efficiently and systematically organised by the Forestry Department of Perak & Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia.
2. This time no geologists took part as the rock formation of Pulau P)angkor is not interesting - they are all granites.
3. Dr. Wan Ruslan of USM surveyed the water quality of small rivers and streams and concluded that it belongs to Class 1 - hence very clean. The researchers from NAHRIM also surveyed the water resources. Apologies from the team of Dr. Mohd Kamil of UPM whose vehicles went into trouble at Slim River, hence it was hauled back to the campus.
4. The fauna teams had their day. The team Dr. Shahrul Anuar (USM) caught and observed many species of bats and other non-volant small mammals in their harp traps and mist nets. The teams from FRIM led by Ms Azlin and PERHILITAN led by Ms Rahmah observed the avifauna. All of us were amazed by the behaviour of the hornbills which waited to be fed early in the morning by the spoilers. Dr. Norhayati Ahmad (UKM) surveyed the amphibians and reptiles.
5. Dr. Y F Ng (UKM) surveyed the thrips, Dr. C Y Choong (UKM) surveyed the odonates, Dr. Fauziah Abdullah (UM) surveyed the beetles, Azman of Forestry Department Pahang and Mr. Chooi (UPM) surveyed the spiders, Mr Cheong (UPM) surveyed the termites, the team from UKM caught the moths and butterflies.
6. Haji Ahmad Zainudin (Putrajaya) and Kak Fah (UPM) surveyed the higher plants, Dr. Rusea Go (UPM) and Mr A Rhman Jalil (Pahang) surveyed the orchids, Mr. Tajuddin (UPM) collected the medicinal plants, Dr. Haja Maideen surveyed the pteridophytes, Cik Gu Nasir (ULP Kepong) and Ranger Salleh (Terengganu) surveyed the dipterocarps, Dr. Wan Juliana surveyed the mangroves and Dr. Mohd Nizam (UKM) studied the forest structure.
7. Mr Azid Adam (Perak) surveyed the Balau Putih (Shorea lumutensis) in Sungai Pinang Forest Reserve especially in Compartment 2 and 5. The Forestry Depantment intends to carry out a 100% inventory of the species. It is an endemic species found only in Pulau Pangkor, Lumut and Segari Melintang. Cik Gu Nasir casted some doubts on its present distribution as he thinks the species also occur in Terengganu and Johor. Accordingly, the species is closely related to Shorea cuspidatum, if not conspecific with it.
Details of their findings will be featured in my future postings.
2 comments:
no lumut people this time...
Incidently, Dr Haja Maideen did study the moss flora of Pulau Pangkor for his BSc dissertation and that work had been published. Dr. Haja did some fern collection this time.
En. Damanhuri had other more important academic committments.
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