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Gut microbiome studies have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential in unveiling the role of microbial communities in animals’ health and ecological processes. However, the lack of standardized protocols in sample handling and processing across studies introduces variability, impeding the comparability of findings. This study addresses this issue by examining methodological variations in gut microbiome research on wildlife and domesticated animals in Southeast Asia. A comprehensive search of 91 relevant studies on the SCOPUS database yielded 54 suitable publications for review, encompassing diverse taxa such as invertebrates (20), fishes (7), reptiles (3), birds (5), and mammals (19). Notably, various methodological approaches were employed to characterize microbial communities, including the source of isolation, various culture-based approaches, sequencing methods, and the targeted markers. Based on the information provided in this study, future studies should strive to develop guidelines and best practices specific to gut microbiome studies. This would enhance comparability and facilitate the integration of findings. Such efforts will also advance our understanding of the microbial diversity associated with wildlife, and its potential implications for their health and conservation.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed genomics, presenting significant potential for advancing wildlife conservation. NGS technology offers opportunities and challenges for addressing scientific questions in wildlife management. Unfortunately, there is a lack of comprehensive records on NGS implementation in Southeast Asia, particularly concerning wildlife conservation. To address this gap, we analyzed NGS studies focused on wildlife monitoring in Southeast Asia and introduced a practical framework for implementing NGS technologies in global wildlife conservation, especially in Southeast Asia. We systematically reviewed NGS studies in wildlife monitoring from the SCOPUS database. We identified 137 relevant publications from 11 countries, with Malaysia contributing 36% of the studies. The included studies were categorized into five themes: species identification, dietary assessment, health monitoring, taxonomic resolution, and whole-genome sequencing, with the majority focusing on 38 publications related to wildlife health. The framework developed in this study help the researchers and conservation practitioners with insights on NGS technology application in conservation while also addressing the benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations associated with NGS use. This review offers a brief overview of NGS usage and provides guidelines for embracing NGS as a valuable tool for effective wildlife conservation strategies in our rapidly changing world.

The Asian region is globally renowned for its unparalleled biodiversity, rich ecosystems, and unique cultural heritage. However, the delicate equilibrium between human societies and the diverse flora and fauna faces increasing challenges due to the region's rich biodiversity and escalating utilization of wildlife resources. Hence, this paper aims to document the utilization of endangered wildlife across Asian countries and to report the existing conservation measures and recommendations for sustainable wildlife management over the years. We employed prominent academic databases, specifically SCOPUS, to explore the dynamics of wildlife utilization and its associated implications. From the findings, 9,989 records were successfully identified. However, only 65 articles were included in the review after the screening process. A total of 61 species, comprising 30 mammals, 22 reptiles, one amphibian, and eight birds, all endangered, were identified as subjects of wildlife utilization in 16 Asian countries. China possessed the highest count for wildlife utilization across all categories, including 15 species used for trading purposes. In conclusion, this research underscores the critical need for integrated approaches that balance human needs and conservation imperatives to ensure a sustainable future for Asia's wildlife biodiversity.

Understanding the prey preference of Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in Malaysia is important to guide conservation planning initiatives. The utilisation of DNA metabarcoding provides valuable insights, particularly in the field of carnivora diet research. This technique has been proven to be effective for identifying various species within complex mixtures such as scat materials, where visual identification is challenging. The Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus has been selected as it is a widely used as an effective non-invasive approach for diet studies. Hence, given this advance approach, Malayan tiger scats were collected on the basis of existing records of their presence in two types of habitats, namely, protected areas (PA) and human–tiger conflict (HTC) areas. This study aimed to identify prey species in Peninsular Malaysia, based on Malayan tiger scat samples using DNA metabarcoding. Based on the partial mitochondrial COI region, DNA metabarcoding led to the taxonomic resolution of prey DNA remnants in scats and the identification of prey species consumed by Malayan tiger, which were predominately small-to-medium-sized prey, including livestock. The dominant DNA prey detected belongs to the family Canidae, followed by Bovidae, Vespertilionidae, Homonidae, Felidae, Phasianidae and Muridae. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in alpha and beta diversity using the Shannon index and PERMANOVA with regard to prey richness and evenness in two different habitat groups, namely, PA and HTC. Our finding provides insights into Malayan tiger dietary requirements, which can be used to develop conservation plans and strategies for Malayan tiger, particularly for habitat priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Complete mitochondrial genome sequences have significant relevance in the study of phylogenetic relationships, evolution, and population genetics. In this paper, we present the complete mitochondrial genome of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) from Peninsular Malaysia, inferred using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The mitogenome is 16,785 bp in length with the structural organization of an avian mitochondrial arrangement compromising 13 proteincoding regions, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 1 control region. No internal stop codon was found in the protein-coding genes. Overall base composition is A: 30.3%, C: 32.5%, G: 13.5%, and T: 23.7%, indicating a high A + T content of 54.0%. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that red junglefowl from Peninsular Malaysia is grouped together with other members of Gallus gallus specifically from Southeast Asia, with 89% bootstrap value support. These research findings might be beneficial for red junglefowl genetic identification, molecular systematic studies, and conservation management interest in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) colour model has been used to investigate relationships between primates' physiological and colour data. This study uses the RGB method to determine various pelage hues in white-thighed surili at different latitudes in Peninsular Malaysia. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) represents the lowland while Genting Highlands and Fraser’s Hill represent the highland area. Results indicated that no significant values were found based on the sample t-test on every section of the samples except on the nose (Green). Our findings can be utilised further for systematic and population genetic studies of Presbytis siamensis siamensis in Peninsular Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primate population assessment relies heavily on ecological techniques such as camera traps, distance sampling, and passive acoustic detection. Although these techniques have proven effective in estimating the number of individuals and primate groups, challenges arise when attempting to scale them up to larger areas such as districts, states, or national levels. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of public responses in determining the primate population at district level. Specifically, an online survey was designed to collect information from the public regarding the primate population within their respective areas of knowledge, focusing on Muar district in Johor, Malaysia. This district comprises of 12 sub-districts ('Mukims'). The survey was conducted over two consecutive months (February to March 2021). A combination of online social media platforms and face-to-face interviews was employed to distribute the survey and successfully gathered responses from 257 respondents. The data collected encompassed species availability, habitat availability, individual primate counts and human-primate conflicts. Chi-squared analysis, point biserial correlation, descriptive statistics and alpha diversity indices were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that Macaca fascicularis reported the highest number of individuals and was predominantly present across all sub-districts. This species also frequently engaged in conflicts with humans, primarily as agricultural pests and residential nuisances. The method described herein proved effective in providing reliable tests for species presence-absence, and collecting human-wildlife conflict data with specific geographical locations. However, further improvements in the design are required to more accurately evaluate the primate populations. Nonetheless, this method serves as a promising pilot approach for estimating wildlife populations at the state level, offering a rapid, cost-effective, and extensive alternative to traditional ecological techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]