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Long-tailed macaques have been roaming near Tenaga National Berhad Bukit Selambau Solar (TBSS) causing human–macaque conflicts. This study reveals the social organization and genetic variation of these macaques. Macaques’ groups were determined via direct observation and closedcircuit television. Genomic DNA from 29 fecal samples were extracted and proceeded with amplification of the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA. There are four main groups of primates at TBSS. Some members of the Kuil group and the Pekan group shared haplotype 1, forming a fission-fusion society. This finding can be used for TNB in mitigation plans involving human– macaque conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnoprimatology is the study of interaction between human and non-human primates that share integrated social and ecological spaces. Orang Asli depends on the forest product as they are known to consume and utilize the forest products in their daily life, including wildlife such as primates as pets and in food, pets, medicine, belief, and other applications. Owing to increases in anthropogenic activities, wildlife, specifically primate populations, is decreasing alongside abandonment of traditional knowledge among the Orang Asli in Malaysia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to document the primate species consumed and utilized by the Semoq Beri community in Pahang using a semi-structured interview with the aid of questionnaires. The result indicates that Semoq Beri has consumed and utilised five species of primates (Macaca fascicularis, Macaca nemestrina, Trachypithecus obscurus, Presbytis sp., and Hylobates lar) for foods and as pets. The hunting method is similar to that of other Orang Asli tribes, who use blowpipe (sumpit) with a poisonous dart. The hunting of primates in the Semoq Beri community is less nowadays as the community has assimilated with the Malay community, and they claim that the population of primates around them is decreasing tremendously. Findings from this study can be used for a sustainable action plan that involves Orang Asli toward conservation of primate and preservation of traditional knowledge of Semoq Beri people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

èPhylogenetic relationships among Malaysia's long-tailed macaques have yet to be established, despite abundant genetic studies of the species worldwide. The aims of this study are to examine the phylogenetic relationships of Macaca fascicularis in Malaysia and to test its classification as a morphological subspecies. A total of 25 genetic samples of M. fascicularis yielding 383 bp of Cytochrome b (Cyt b) sequences were used in phylogenetic analysis along with one sample each of M. nemestrina and M. arctoides used as outgroups. Sequence character analysis reveals that Cyt b locus is a highly conserved region with only 23% parsimony informative character detected among ingroups. Further analysis indicates a clear separation between populations originating from different regions; the Malay Peninsula versus Borneo Insular, the East Coast versus West Coast of the Malay Peninsula, and the island versus mainland Malay Peninsula populations. Phylogenetic trees (NJ, MP and Bayesian) portray a consistent clustering paradigm as Borneo's population was distinguished from Peninsula's population (99% and 100% bootstrap value in NJ and MP respectively and 1.00 posterior probability in Bayesian trees). The East coast population was separated from other Peninsula populations (64% in NJ, 66% in MP and 0.53 posterior probability in Bayesian). West coast populations were divided into 2 clades: the North-South in MP and 1.00/0.80 posterior probability in Bayesian) and Island-Mainland (93% in NJ, 90% in MP and 1.00 posterior probability in Bayesian). The results confirm the previous morphological assignment of 2 subspecies, M. f. fascicularis and M. f. argentimembris, in the Malay Peninsula. These populations should be treated as separate genetic entities in order to conserve the genetic diversity of Malaysia's M. fascicularis. These findings are crucial in aiding the conservation management and translocation process of M. fascicularis populations in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated plant diet of wild Macaca arctoides in the Malaysia–Thailand border region using a chloroplast tRNL DNA metabarcoding approach. It is a comprehensive molecular technique to assess foods eaten by primates. We have chosen chloroplast tRNL because this region has been widely used for identifying plant species. Chloroplast tRNL DNA was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiniSeq platform. Sequences were analyzed using the CLC Genomic Workbench software version 12.0 to check for M. arctoides plant diet. Across these samples, we successfully identified 29 plant orders, 46 families, 124 genera, and 145 species. As the first report in Malaysia, the findings provide an important understanding on diet of wild M. arctoides that only reside in Perlis State Park, Malaysia. Understanding dietary diversity is a fundamental task in the study of stump-tailed macaque, Macaca arctoides in its natural habitat. However, direct feeding observation and morphological identification using fecal samples are not effective and nearly impossible to obtain in natural habitats because this species is sensitive to human presence. As ecological methods are challenging and time-consuming, DNA metabarcoding offers a more powerful assessment of the diet. We used a chloroplast tRNL DNA metabarcoding approach to identify the diversity of plants consumed by free-ranging M. arctoides in the Malaysia–Thailand border region located in Perlis State Park, Peninsular Malaysia. DNA was extracted from three fecal samples, and chloroplast tRNL DNA was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiniSeq platform. Sequences were analyzed using the CLC Genomic Workbench software. A total of 145 plant species from 46 families were successfully identified as being consumed by M. arctoides. The most abundant species were yellow saraca, Saraca thaipingensis (11.70%), common fig, Ficus carica (9.33%), aramata, Clathrotropis brachypetala (5.90%), sea fig, Ficus superba (5.44%), and envireira, Malmea dielsiana (1.70%). However, Clathrotropis and Malmea are not considered Malaysian trees because of limited data available from Malaysian plant DNA. Our study is the first to identify plant taxa up to the species level consumed by stump-tailed macaques based on a DNA metabarcoding approach. This result provides an important understanding on diet of wild M. arctoides that only reside in Perlis State Park, Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]