o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

G.W.H. DAVISON & ZUBAID AKBAR (2007)
genetics and behaviour. ‘Official’ lists of taxa will be supported if they prove useful, which
means they must be flexible, accessible, and based on a broad range of taxonomists’ views.
A database of what has been done could be useful, but a database of scientists can only
provide a minimum list. It cannot include every individual with an interest in mammals who
is potentially a contributor to knowledge, and it is not very clear who would use a list of
scientists, since each scientist should know all others within his or her research field. Possibly
databases should be in the form of bibliographies and library resources, rather than lists of
projects or individuals. Library resources would be useful to everyone, and bibliographies are
in themselves databases about which researchers are active on what topics.
Better information flow should encourage the standardisation of field methods. There was a
period in the 1960s and 1970s when it appeared that small-mammal trapping techniques
were becoming well standardized (groups of three traps at 30 or 50 m intervals, one on the
ground, one on a log, one in a tree). In the 1970s and 1980s similar uniformity was developed
for census walks for primates and squirrels. This facilitated comparison between studies, and
encouraged quantification. The use of mistnets, harp traps, radio telemetry and other techniques
also require standardization.
The limited funding needs to be targetted – but how to target? Rather than judging taxonomic
projects on their potential for commercial application, it might be possible to assign funds to
improving equipment capabilities / techniques, e.g. investment in electron microscopy, facilities
for DNA analysis, and cryopreservation of tissues. Such facilities could be used by many
scientists, and would enable them to compete in the international science arena. Funding for
postgraduate research would encourage intensive research on single topics for several years,
which is the route to in-depth understanding and international publications. Investment is
needed in developing career structures and training for taxonomy. Investment is also required
in conservation management training, to ensure that the diversity of mammals persists.
A natural history museum, like tissue banks, will probably be effective only if collections are
targeted. It must not be an excuse for indiscriminate collecting, but it could be a boon when
populations of plants and animals are doomed by land conversion. Sharing on-line specimen
data between museums, just as botanists have BRAHMS (Botanical Research and Herbarium
Management System), is sorely needed.
Collecting specimens of all Malaysian mammals will not resolve all questions, because
comparison is necessary, often with extra-limital material. On-site work such as that by
Kingston et al. (2001) can only reveal a new species by a combination of field and lab work.
Taxonomic work by Kawada et al. (2003), Meijaard & Groves (2004), Gorog et al. (2004)
and Olson et al. (2004) continues to show that regional comparisons are needed. Even name
changes (e.g., Tragulus javanicus back to T. kanchil; Talpa micrura to Talpa klossii to
Euroscaptor micrura) are not just name changes, but result from splits within wider
populations, over broad geographical areas. Malaysian taxonomists cannot afford to specialize
in taxonomy within Malaysia’s borders, but need the ambition, academic friendships and
access to regional research material that will enable them to place Malaysia’s mammals in a
regional and international context. For example, the species status of Tupaia glis cannot be
resolved without access to Thai, Burmese and Chinese T. berlangeri. The subspecies status
of orang-utans in Sarawak and Sabah, and the viability of their populations, cannot be judged
without reference to those in Kalimantan. The Red List status of Rhinolophus creaghi cannot
be reliably decided until it is known that it also occurs in Palawan. Taxonomy needs a regional
approach, sometimes even a global approach, and this means that international collaborations
15