Asteraceae is one of the invasive plant family. Invasive plants have more ability in tolerating high temperatures with the role of the Hsp70 mechanism. The Hsp70 gene is conserved in cells as a form of adaptation to some environmental stresses, one of which is temperature stress. The difference of average temperature between Universitas Indonesia-Depok (28.6 °C) and Cibodas Botanical Garden (20.06 °C) become the basis of this research to see the level of Hsp70 gene expression in Ageratum conyzoides and Synedrella nodiflora . RNA isolation from the leaf tissues was carried out using modified CTAB method followed by cDNA synthesis. The cDNA obtained is then amplified by PCR using a Hsp70 primer from Arabidopsis thaliana . The results of this research using in silico techniques showed a partial amplification of the Hsp70 gene and the presence of nucleotide variations in Universitas Indonesia-Depok and Cibodas Botanical Garden at the positions number 110 ( Ageratum conyzoides ) and 108 ( Synedrella nodiflora ). These variations resulted in different amino acids but did not change the protein structure prediction of the samples.

The temperature of earth surface is generally different according to altitude. Universitas Indonesia (UI) is located at 50–140 masl with an average temperature of 28.6 °C, while Kebun Raya Cibodas (KRC) located at 1.300–1.425 masl with an average temperature of 20.06 °C. Temperature differences are thought to affect plant responses, such as the expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 genes. The research aims to find out the expression of Hsp70 genes on Emilia sonchifolia and Sphagneticola trilobata collected from UI and KRC. The study was conducted by isolating RNA from young leaves, which then converted into cDNA. The cDNA product was further amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Hsp70 Arabidopsis thaliana primer. The amplification products were then sequenced and analyzed by in-silico. The results of amplification show that there is a band with approximately 250 bp in all samples which is thought to be a partial product of the Hsp70 gene. The sequencing results show that PCR amplification product is Hsp70 partial gene with a nucleotide variation in the 65 th base which has no effect on amino acid changes. The results indicate that Hsp70 gene is expressed in Emilia sonchifolia and Sphagneticola trilobata grown in UI and KRC.

Forest fires can cause direct mortality to wildlife, and the associated habitat damage can reduce carrying capacity and population densities. However, little is known about long‐term responses of animals to fire in the wet tropics. From 2000‐2015, we examined siamang ranging patterns in habitat damaged by fire to assess the effects on these arboreal frugivores. We mapped home ranges (HR) of seven siamang groups inhabiting contiguous HR 3‐5, 10‐12, and 17–18 years post‐fire. We predicted that if habitat connectivity or quality improved over time in burned areas, HR should become larger and centroid locations should shift toward recovering areas. Since territoriality constrains siamang ranging, we examined effects of social and habitat factors on ranging. By 18 years post‐fire, tree density in the burned area had returned to the 1997 baseline, but composite LandSat images indicated that tree species composition differed in burned and unburned forest. Our data and the associated models indicated that HR sizes in burned forest increased over time whereas those in unburned forest did not. Centroid locations moved little (15.5 ± 6.9 m y −1 ) and their movement appeared to be predominantly influenced by social factors, although HR centroids in burned habitat shifted further into the burned area while those in adjacent unburned forest did not. In a large burned area unused by siamangs before 2012, two new groups were observed 15‐17 years post‐fire, although one subsequently disappeared. This is the first study of the long‐term effects of fire on small ape habitat use. By 18 years post‐fire, siamangs had incorporated some burned areas into their HR, but did not use heavily damaged areas. Reduced frugivore densities in burned areas may inhibit forest regeneration by disrupting seed dispersal.

Animal ConservationVolume 24, Issue 2 p. 149-152 Letters To The EditorFree Access Planning to remove UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sumatra from being 'In Danger' T. Setyawati, T. Setyawati orcid.org/0000-0001-7775-1548 Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorS. Nando, S. Nando Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorW. Marthy, W. Marthy orcid.org/0000-0002-7511-290X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorN. Andayani, N. Andayani orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-193X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this author Sheherazade, Sheherazade orcid.org/0000-0002-0070-250X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Linkie, Corresponding Author M. Linkie mlinkie@wcs.org orcid.org/0000-0002-0679-3684 Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, Indonesia Correspondence Matthew Linkie, Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, Indonesia. Email: mlinkie@wcs.orgSearch for more papers by this author T. Setyawati, T. Setyawati orcid.org/0000-0001-7775-1548 Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorS. Nando, S. Nando Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorW. Marthy, W. Marthy orcid.org/0000-0002-7511-290X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorN. Andayani, N. Andayani orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-193X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this author Sheherazade, Sheherazade orcid.org/0000-0002-0070-250X Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, IndonesiaSearch for more papers by this authorM. Linkie, Corresponding Author M. Linkie mlinkie@wcs.org orcid.org/0000-0002-0679-3684 Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, Indonesia Correspondence Matthew Linkie, Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesia Program, Bogor, Indonesia. Email: mlinkie@wcs.orgSearch for more papers by this author First published: 13 August 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12626AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Protected areas are a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. They form the basis of national strategies for meeting Convention on Biological Diversity and climate change targets. UNESCO has afforded World Heritage Site (WHS) status to 213 natural sites, primarily protected areas, in recognition of their outstanding universal value. However, 17 of these sites are currently inscribed on the 'World Heritage in Danger' list because their integrity and functioning are primarily threatened by anthropogenic threats (UNESCO, 2019). Infrastructure development, notably roads and dams, is the highest ranked threat, accounting for 25% of the inscriptions, including the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS) in Indonesia, which has been on the Danger List since 2011 (Fig. 1). Figure 1Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Natural World Heritage Sites (WHS) on the 'Danger List', their period of inscription and number of major direct and indirect threats, which are ranked by their occurrence in all natural WHS (bar graph inlay). The threats are labelled as deforestation/illegal logging (a), infrastructure development (b), poaching/hunting (c), security problems (d), increased human population/settlement (e), key species severely threatened (f), mining (g), invasive species (h), illegal/over-fishing (i), pollution (j), grazing/cattle ranching (k), tourist related activities (l), deterioration of aquatic ecosystem (m), natural disaster/microclimate change (n), drug trafficking (o), disease (p), fires (q), and conservation status declined (r) [Data source:whc.unesco.org/en/danger.] [Colour figure can be viewed at zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com] The TRHS encompasses a cluster of three national parks (Bukit Barisan Selatan, Kerinci Seblat and Gunung Leuser) covering 2.5 million hectares of rainforest or >4 million hectares with their intact forest landscapes (Fig. 2). These landscapes contain 85% of all Sumatran orangutans Pongo abelii, 65% of Sumatran tigers Panthera tigris sumatrae, 55% of Sumatran elephants Elephas maximus sumatrensis, the only viable population of Sumatran rhinos Dicerorhinus sumatrensis and a wealth of biodiversity (UNESCO, 2011; Fig. 3). Figure 2Open in figure viewerPowerPoint The outstanding universal value of the 25,000km2 Leuser Ecosystem, with Gunung Leuser National Park in its core (credit: Eleanor Briggs, WCS). [Colour figure can be viewed at zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com] Figure 3Open in figure viewerPowerPoint A rare record of a male-female pair of Critically Endangered adult Sumatran tigers camera-trapped inside Gunung Leuser National Park in 2017 (credit: Gunung Leuser National Park authority-WCS). [Colour figure can be viewed at zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com] In 2013, the IUCN conducted a monitoring mission to assess the state of the TRHS, including threats and the required corrective measures (IUCN, 2013). From this, criteria for the 'Desired State of Conservation for the Removal of properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger' (DSOCR) were developed and ratified by the WHS Committee in 2014 and upheld by an IUCN monitoring mission in 2018 (IUCN, 2018). This describes 12 broad ranging corrective measures, including closing/rehabilitating mines, improving species monitoring and managing the wider landscape. Here, we focus on the measure concerning road development. Based on discussions with colleagues from the ministries of National Development and Planning (BAPPENAS), Public Works and Housing (PUPR) and Environment and Forestry (MoEF), we present three new types of action that are urgently needed to mitigate this threat (Alamgir et al., 2017). Firstly, we recommend establishing a multi-agency government body consisting of these three ministries and mandated to address the DSOCR criteria and, more broadly, road construction through forest areas. This would raise awareness of the TRHS issues that require an inter-agency response, share responsibility among ministries and improve their communication and coordination on this critical issue. Kerinci Seblat National Park provides an example of how this could work. In 2012, local governments proposed nine new roads that, if realized, would fragment the TRHS into ten sections. Despite the roads lacking the required environmental impact assessment and national government approval, partial construction of five began anyway. In 2018, the national park authority assessed all nine road proposals to determine their need and conformity to the prevailing MoEF regulations. The park authority held a workshop in 2019 with local government, Fauna & Flora International (long-term national park partner), UNESCO, WCS and, for the first time, the three ministries (MoEF, BAPPENAS and PUPR). This produced a set of joint recommendations to: halt road construction because of the predicted detrimental impacts; undertake road impact assessments and formulate appropriate mitigation actions; and, engage the Coordination Ministry of Human Empowerment and Culture, as the responsible party for the WHS. Secondly, improve the design and implementation of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) on infrastructure development in forest areas to ensure that they are conducted to a high standard. SEAs are crucial in informing the development of provincial spatial plans and medium-term (5-year) economic development plans, which govern the fate of vast areas of forest (GoI, 2009). The SEAs are monitored by the government's Corruption Eradication Commission, thereby giving them extra weight. To ensure consistency and standards are met, the Government of Indonesia should develop an accredited training syllabus (including training of trainers) that becomes a mandatory part of provincial government annual work plans and budgets. This would empower provincial agencies to run their own trainings and independently conduct high-impact SEAs. Gunung Leuser National Park provides a recent example of how this could work. Figure 4Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Aerial photograph, taken by a drone, of the Karo-Langkat road that bisects the North Sumatra province section of Gunung Leuser National Park (credit: Gunung Leuser National Park authority). [Colour figure can be viewed at zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com] The 2013 and 2018 IUCN missions highlighted two national roads and one provincial (Karo-Langkat) road that required immediate attention because they bisected Gunung Leuser National Park, including areas frequently used by tiger, elephant and/or orangutan (Fig. 4). The 5-km Karo-Langkat road had existed as a gravel path, until it was tarmacked by the army in 1982. The road then became derelict and naturally reforested until it was reopened and resurfaced in 2011 by the North Sumatra provincial government (Sloan et al., 2018). As a step to address this issue, the national park authority is working with PUPR to ensure that the UNESCO-requested SEA and mitigation plan is prioritized in its 2020–2021 work plan and budget. Thirdly, we welcome the issuance of the MoEF regulation on road construction in forest areas in 2019 (MoEF, 2019). In relation to this, we encourage related ministries to work together to broaden this regulation to cover all infrastructure, and elevate it to an overarching cross-sector policy, such as Presidential regulation, that supersedes all existing ministerial regulations and inconsistencies. The past removal of 15 natural WHS from the danger list took, on average, 9 years (ranging from 2 to 21 years; UNESCO, 2019). This included corrective measures such as road closure in Iguaçu National Park (Brazil, 'in danger' from 1999 to 2001), minimizing environmental damage from a constructed road in Sangay National Park (Ecuador, 1992–2005) and rerouting a planned road in Simien National Park (Ethiopia, 1996–2017) (Figure 1). The three TRHS protected areas span 7 provinces, each with its own subnational government that repeatedly propose new roads, dams and geothermal plants, which are at odds with central government policy and the DSOCR. The challenges are stark, but if they are to be effectively tackled, then an inter-ministerial body must play a central role in ensuring that infrastructure development adheres to national law, ideally as a new presidential regulation. This approach is broadly applicable across Indonesia's other forest-rich provinces, such as West Papua, Papua and North Kalimantan, where >5000 km of roads are planned for construction or being constructed (Alamgir et al., 2019; Sloan et al., 2019). References Alamgir, M., Campbell, M.J., Sloan, S., Goosem, M., Clements, G.R., Mahmoud, M.I. & Laurance, W.F. (2017). Economic, socio-political and environmental risks of road development in the tropics. Curr. Biol. 27, R1130– R1140. CrossrefCASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Alamgir, M., Campbell, M.J., Sloan, S., Suhardiman, A., Supriatna, J. & Laurance, W.F. (2019). High-risk infrastructure projects pose imminent threats to forests in Indonesian Borneo. Sci. Reports 9, 140. CrossrefPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar GoI. (2009). Government of the Republic of Indonesia (GoI) Law No. 32/2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, Articles 15–16. Jakarta, Indonesia. Google Scholar IUCN. (2013). State of conservation of the properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. 16–27 June 2013. UNESCO. Google Scholar IUCN. (2018). Report of the IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Indonesia), 5–16 April 2018. UNESCO. Google Scholar MoEF. (2019). Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No.P.23/Menlhk/Setjen/Kum. 1/6/2019 concerning Strategic Roads in Forest Areas. Jakarta, Indonesia. Google Scholar Sloan, S., Campbell, M.J., Alamgir, M., Collier-Baker, E., Nowak, M.G., Usher, G. & Laurance, W.F. (2018). Infrastructure development and contested forest governance threaten the Leuser Ecosystem, Indonesia. Land Use Policy 77, 298– 309. CrossrefWeb of Science®Google Scholar Sloan, S., Campbell, M.J., Alamgir, M., Engert, J., Ishida, F.Y., Senn, N., Huther, J. & Laurance, W.F. (2019). Hidden challenges for conservation and development along the Trans-Papuan economic corridor. Environ. Sci. Policy 92, 98– 106. CrossrefWeb of Science®Google Scholar UNESCO. (2011). https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1167.pdf. Google Scholar UNESCO. (2019). https://whc.unesco.org/en/danger/. Google Scholar Volume24, Issue2April 2021Pages 149-152 FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation

Fish substitution in fish fillet products is a concern in food safety and sustainability. There are many reports about the mislabeling problem in fish fillet products. DNA-based identification plays an important role in food safety and traceability. The use of advanced techniques of barcode using multiplex PCR for species identification substitution from fish fillet products are demonstrated in this study. The primer was designed from three different species that are usually labeled in fish fillet products. Each pair of primers were designed to amplify different PCR products that are specifically recognized as different species. We found 11, 6 and 0 samples labeled as Tilapia, Pangasius, and Snapper respectively. This method is suggested for rapid identification because it is efficient and accurate.

Introduction of alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) into a new range of its distribution has been reported in several freshwater ecosystems. The presence of alligator gar in Indonesia has been recorded in Jakarta during big flood in 2007. The concern about introducing this species is because of its predatory behavior and can impact the trophic system in freshwater ecosystem in its non-native range. Here, we demonstrated two methods, conventional and kit method, to maximize eDNA concentration in addition to detect the presence of alligator gar in freshwater ecosystem. We used mesocosm study to mimic the real condition of freshwater system in tropic region. We found that both methods can extract eDNA from water samples. The kit showed better yield of eDNA with average concentration 62.28 ± 22.27 ng/μL than conventional method with average concentration 19.35 ± 9.89 ng/μL. Another advantage of the kit method was better purity of eDNA, with average purity 1.92 ± 0.05 compared to conventional method with average purity 2.23 ± 0.42. The better concentration and purity of eDNA could be advantageous for further analyses such as PCR and DNA sequencing.

Abstract Camera trapping was applied for assess the diversity and activity pattern of wild cats in Way Kambas National Park on May 2013 to May 2014. Fifty-seven cameras were systematically set within 480 km2 area covering a total of 4,610 trap nights. Of 4,017 recorded videos, four wild cats species were capture and identified, those are sumateran tiger (Pathera tigris sumatrae), clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), leopard cat (Pardofelis marmorota) and marbled cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). The highest capture rate (video per 100 trap nights) was sumatran tiger and leopard cat (0.87) followed by marbled cat (0.11) and clouded leopard (0.09). Sumatran tiger and marbled cat were cathemeral. Sumatran tiger was found active during both day (51.6 %) and night (48.4 %) with its highest activity was between 05.00 – 06.00 hours and 05.00 – 06.00 hours, whilst marbled cat was active during the day (41.2 %) and night (58.8 %) with it highest activity found between 12.00 to 02.00 hours and 05.00 – 06.00 hours. The other two cat species, leopard cat and marbled cat were mostly nocturnal with the highest activity recorded at 05.00 – 06.00 hours and 21.00 – 22.00 hours for clouded leopard and 05.00 – 06.00 hours for leopard cat. Our study demonstrates that the Way Kambas National Park is an important habitat for wild cats in Sumatra, although the presence of other rarer cat species in the park, such as golden cat and flat-headed cat still needs to be confirmed by further long-term monitoring study.

Efficiency and quality on the result of DNA extraction determined the success of species identification using DNA. High concentration and good purity of DNA are the basic principle for choosing the appropriate extraction method. The objective of this research is to find an effective and efficient method from two different rapid DNA extractions, KAPA Express Extract Kit (KAPA Biosystem) and Chelex® 100 (Biorad). We used each method to extract 44 fish fillet samples from Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi) modern retail and traditional markets. We found the KAPA Express Extract Kit (KAPA Biosystem) had fast extraction time approximately 15 minutes for PCR-ready DNA faster than 20 minutes using the Chelex® 100 (Biorad) method. All the PCR-ready DNA are visualized with gel electrophoresis and both method resulted in positive DNA bands. We propose the use of KAPA Express Extract Kit (KAPA Biosystem) than the Chelex® 100 (Biorad) method because the fast and easily to use for the next analyses such as PCR and DNA sequencing.

Conserving large carnivores that live in close proximity to people depends on a variety of socio‐economic, political and biological factors. These include local tolerance toward potentially dangerous animals, efficacy of human–carnivore conflict mitigation schemes, and identifying and then addressing the underlying causes of conflict. The Leuser Ecosystem is the largest contiguous forest habitat for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. Its extensive forest edge is abutted by farming communities and we predict that spatial variation in human–tiger conflict (HTC) would be a function of habitat conversion, livestock abundance, and poaching of tiger and its wild prey. To investigate which of these potential drivers of conflict, as well as other biophysical factors, best explain the observed patterns, we used resource selection function (RSF) technique to develop a predictive spatially explicit model of HTC. From 148 conflict incidences recorded from 2008 to 2018 across the Leuser Ecosystem, the areas that were closer to villages and with lower occurrence of wild prey were most susceptible to tiger attacks. From 18 districts monitored, 6 stood out for having disproportionately high levels of HTC. We recommend that these areas be prioritized with increased support from conflict mitigation teams to prevent further injuries to people, livestock or tigers; district governments address one underlying cause of HTC by supporting improved animal husbandry practices, such as tiger‐proof livestock pen construction; and, an increase in ranger patrol effort to recover wild prey populations. This type of priority setting approach has wide application for better determining the required management response to reduce conflicts between people and large carnivores in both tropical and temporal landscapes.

Abstract Introduction of non-native species threatens the life of many aquatic organisms. Successful eradication efforts of non-native species include early detection, but currently no traditional monitoring techniques have been successful. New approaches using environmental DNA (eDNA) are beginning to be used as a complement for traditional monitoring methods. We tested the efficacy of eDNA methods for detecting alligator gar in an artificial pond in Depok, Indonesia. Water samples (200 mL) were collected and filtered through a 0.45 µ nitrate cellulose filter. The results show that eDNA was detected in three out of four samples throughout the 1-month study period. We found that eDNA from alligator gar can be detected using water samples and should be considered as a complementary method to traditional sampling approaches. Further studies are necessary to employ eDNA detection of alligator gar in the field.

Mislabeling of fish fillet product is one of the key issues in food safety and sustainability. Species identification is an important step of fish fillet traceability and DNA barcoding has been proved as a standard method. Fourty seven 47 fish fillet products were collected from modern and traditional markets in the Jabodetabek area. DNA barcoding was used to analyze the compliance of the product label. This research also highlighted that near threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN), and critically endangered (CR) species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction have been used as a substitution in fish fillet product. The application of DNA mini-barcoding gives better resolution in species identification for commercial species. From this research, we found that there are some mislabeled fish fillet products, including blue shark meat that is listed as Near Threatened in IUCN Red List in one of the products.

The early detection and assessment of aquatic species distribution is important in studying conservation and management. However, due to high costs and ineffective conventional methods, this is difficult in developing regions. Molecular genetic studies have led to advanced technology to allow researchers to monitor the presence of trace DNA levels found in the environment. In this study, we show that sediment can be used as an environmental DNA sample to detect the presence of an invasive species, the Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula). Samples were processed directly using the FastDNA Spin Kit for soil, followed by other downstream applications, including PCR and sequencing. Amplified DNA fragments and sequence analysis revealed successful identification of the Alligator gar. Despite the environmental conditions, which tend to be warmer than typical eDNA samples, the high DNA concentrations in sediment samples allowed the reliable detection of this invasive species.

Elephas maximus sumatranus is a subspecies of asian elephant occurred on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Listed as critically endangered species and separate evolutionary significant unit, making them a high priority population for conservation. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) are causal factors underlying the decline of elephant population in Sumatra. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) is one of national park where located in Lampung Province and had resident population of Sumatra's elephant. The genetic information especially genetic variation should be known from this population to create better conservation management. We collected 52 faecal samples from three locations at BBSNP (Way Nipah, Sukaraja Atas, and Pemerihan). Then, extracting DNA from dung, PCR amplifying and sequencing with average product of 576bp D-Loop mitochondrial DNA. Two haplotypes, BT and BS, were identified from three locations at BBSNP. From this study we suggest that the genetic variation from three locations at BBSNP was low.

Habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, poaching and human elephant conflict (HEC) have resulted in a decline of sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) population and placed it into one of critically endangered animals. Basic information such as sex, age and spatial distribution on the existence of sumatran elephant are needed to prevent sumatran elephants from extinction through good conservation management. We collected 52 faecal samples from Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) and determined the sex, age and spatial distribution. Sumatran elephant sex was genetically determined based on the gel electrophoresis of 3 genes (PLP1, AMELY2 and SRY1) on sex chromosomes amplified by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Age was determined by measuring the mean of boli circumferences. Spatial distribution obtained from mapping coordinate of samples using Quantum GIS. The results of the age-sex identification of the sumatran elephant faecal samples in BBNSP showed that the samples were dominated by 30.8 % sub-adult male, following by 21.2 % sub-adult female, 13.5 % adult females, 9.6 % adult male and 5.8 % juvenile male. However, 19.2 % sex of the samples could not be confirmed. Both, female and male faecal samples were mainly found in shrubby dry farmland area.

Widespread species found in disturbed habitats are often expected to be human commensals. In island systems, this association predicts that dispersal will be mediated by humans. We investigated the biogeographical relationships among populations of a widespread tree skink that inhabits coastal forest and human‐cultivated plantations in Southeast Asia. We sought to determine whether populations of the emerald tree skink, Lamprolepis smaragdina, dispersed via mechanisms that were not human‐mediated (‘natural’ dispersal) or whether dispersal was mediated by humans. The latter scenario predicts low levels of genetic differentiation across a species' range, coupled with a genetic signature of recent range expansion.

Widespread species found in disturbed habitats are often expected to be human commensals. In island systems, this association predicts that dispersal will be mediated by humans. We investigated the biogeographical relationships among populations of a widespread tree skink that inhabits coastal forest and human‐cultivated plantations in Southeast Asia. We sought to determine whether populations of the emerald tree skink, Lamprolepis smaragdina, dispersed via mechanisms that were not human‐mediated (‘natural’ dispersal) or whether dispersal was mediated by humans. The latter scenario predicts low levels of genetic differentiation across a species' range, coupled with a genetic signature of recent range expansion.

The interface of the Asian and Australian faunal zones is defined by a network of deep ocean trenches that separate intervening islands of the Philippines and Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Lesser Sundas, and the Moluccas). Studies of this region by Wallace marked the genesis of the field of biogeography, yet few workers have used molecular methods to investigate the biogeography of taxa whose distribution spans this interface. Some taxa, such as the fanged frogs of the ranid genus Limnonectes, have distributions on either side of the zoogeographical lines of Wallace and Huxley, offering an opportunity to ask how frequently these purported barriers were crossed and by what paths. To examine diversification of Limnonectes in Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Wallacea, we estimated a phylogeny from mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from a robust geographic sample. Our analyses suggest that these frogs dispersed from Borneo to the Philippines at least twice, from Borneo to Sulawesi once or twice, from Sulawesi to the Philippines once, and from the Philippines to Sulawesi once. Dispersal to the Moluccas occurred from Sulawesi and to the Lesser Sundas from Java/Bali. Species distributions are generally concordant with Pleistocene aggregate island complexes of the Philippines and with areas of endemism on Sulawesi. We conclude that the recognition of zoogeographic lines, though insightful, may oversimplify the biogeography of widespread taxa in this region.