April 6, 2014 Ant Course 2014 Preparation Guide
Key information
Course site: Maliau Basin Studies Centre in in Sabah, Malaysia Course dates: 21 to 31 July 2014 Meeting: July 20 Winner Hotel, Kota Kinabalu; July 21, 7am departure Depart: Book departing flights anytime after 7pm on July 31 Visa: Most countries can obtain a tourist visa upon arrival Preparation: Review course supplies; purchase plane tickets early Costs: Pay tuition and station fees by July 1, 2013 ($975 student, $1275 non-student) at: https://www.calacademy.org/tickets/ant_course/
Important dates: July 20 participants arrive in Kota Kinabalu July 21 Depart Kota Kinabalu: 6-8 hour bus ride to Maliau Basin July 31 Depart Maliau Basin to Kota Kinabalu
About the field site Electricity is provided 6am to 11pm by local generator. Power outages are frequent and unpredictable, so it is advisable to carry headlamps or flashlights at night. Voltage is 220 V, you will need a pin converter to allow you to plug your items into the Malaysian electrical sockets. These can be purchased at the Singapore or other airport en route. If offered a choice buy the BRITISH Malaysian version. These are actually the same as those used to connect to the power system in the United Kingdom. Bring voltage converter if 110 V is required. Communication: Mobile reception is available. Location: Geographic coordinates of Maliau Basin Conservation Area ( 4.853050°, 116.843915°). Maliau Basin is a 588.4 km2 conservation area under the management of Yayasan Sabah (Sabah Foundation), in the central interior of Sabah. Originally, it was designated as a conservation area within the Yayasan Sabah timber concession. However, recognizing the uniqueness of the area, the Sabah State Government established legal protection for the area Popularly known as the ‘Lost World’, the almost circular Basin encompasses 390 km2 of pristine forest, a virtually self- contained ecosystem, never permanently inhabited and has large areas yet to be explored and documented. The whole Basin is a single huge water catchment area, drained by the Maliau River, which flows into the Kinabatangan River, Sabah’s largest and most important river.
Health information We strongly recommend you seek advice from a Travel Health Clinic well in advance and ensure you obtain all necessary vaccinations. • Students should check with their own Doctors to ensure they have received the appropriate medical vaccinations dictated by a visit to Sabah. Malaria is present in the region.
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• Students should bring general medical supplies with them (see Packing List), There are leeches and ticks in the forest and buying ‘leach socks’ at either Maliau Basin or Borneo books in Kota Kinabalu is a good idea (approx: US$20 a pair).
Visa Requirements: • We will be entering Sabah Malaysia as tourists • Students need to ensure they have a current Passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the scheduled return date, and any necessary entry VISA's. Specific VISA requirements will depend on your nationality. Individuals from some countries are required to enter Malaysia through specific cities (such as Kuala Lumpur, which might not always be obvious). • Individuals from some countries are required to enter Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur. It is critical that every participant confirm their own VISA requirements based on their nationality.
Awareness of cultural issues We will be guests in an Islamic country, which may have very different social, religious and legal rules to those you are familiar with. Participants should to take steps to be aware of these factors. For example: • The death penalty is regularly enforced for crimes such as drug trafficking in many Asian countries. • Homosexuality is considered to be illegal in Malaysia.
Arriving to Kota Kinabalu KK) by air Please add your flight details to the Google spreadsheet. Link will be sent out before July. • We recommend participants also at the Winner Hotel in Kota Kinabalu: Details at www.winnerhotel.com • Approx: US$10 (MYR35) cab fare from the airport (use the central booking desk at the airport: you give the destinations, they give a price, take your $, you hand the receipt to a cab driver outside) • Borneo Books http://www.borneobooks.com/blog/ (the main store is on the top floor, a smaller version exists on the lower floor). It is probably the best source of natural history books in Sabah. Books can be ordered on line, or the owners will often put books aside for you to pick up when you arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Please contact them by email as there is a possibility the store may be closing in the near future.
Accommodation and facilities at Maliau Basin • Separate male and female dormitories joined by a common area. Shower and toilets (pit and western style) at the end of each building. Student accommodation approximately 10 minutes walk for the laboratory and dining rooms. The morning walk to the labs is a wonderful opportunity to view orangutans, leaf monkeys etc • Shower temperatures: cold • Linen (pillows, sheets etc) are provided.
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• Laundry facilities can be unpredictable: individuals can either wash their clothes while bathing or use the laundry service provided by the field station, which is reasonably priced. • A beautiful and refreshing river runs near the field station.
Clothing • Clothing in Malaysia may seem much more conservative than you are used to. • In public, men and women typically wear long pants and shirts should always have at least short sleeves (i.e., vests, tank tops and the like should not be worn). Midriff-baring tops should not be worn. Women should bring a sarong and bathers (or t-shirt and shorts) for swimming in the river at the field station (though traditional swimmers could be worn at the hotel swimming pool in Kota Kinabalu). Shorts can be worn around the field station but should not be too brief. Long pants are required for field work and for when travelling in and around towns. Jeans are hot and hard to dry: lighter fabrics are preferred. • You will NOT need warm clothes. Really!
Drinking water • As a general rule only bottled water should be consumed in Asia. Do not drink tap water. • Boiled water is provided in kitchen area. Students should expect to get into a routine of filing their water bottles at the kitchen before heading into the field, to the laboratories, or to the sleeping quarters for the night. But the tap water is pretty safe as well.
Computer and telephone access • Possible but unpredictable. Liberate yourself and be prepared to go ‘off the grid’. Maxis is the only possible provider for mobile service.
Additional expenses and banking information • Participants will be responsible for meals while in KK and while transferring to Maliau Basin • You will need to pay your own transportation costs from the airport in KK to the Winner Hotel on July 20 and when you depart after the course. • Malaysian currency can be obtained at the Singapore Airport and the Airport in Kota Kinabalu (there is a line of ATM machines on your left as you leave the Arrival section of the airport. ATM machines are common in Kota Kinabalu and work in a variety of languages. ATM’s are harder to find once you leave Kota Kinabalu. If you are changing from US dollars, there are better rates in town, specifically in Wisma Merdeka, than at the airport. • Credit cards can be used at some stores (such as Borneo Books) in Borneo, otherwise cash is required at most places. It will be difficult to obtain cash outside of Kota Kinabalu
Emergency contact information Juyly 20, 2014 • Winner Hotel No. 9 & 10, Jalan Pasar Baru, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia • Tel: +60-88-243222 or +6016830106 Ant Course 2013 Guide - 3
• http://www.winnerhotel.com/
July 21-31 • Maliau Basin: Ms Rose John, Maliau Basin Conservation Area, 2nd Floor, UMNO Building, P O Box 60793, 91017 TAWAU, Sabah, Malaysia, Tel: +60 89 759214 ,+60 87 742100, ( H/P ): +60 19 822 5671, Email: [email protected], maliaubasin@icsb- sabah.com.my • Manager Jadda Suhaimi: [email protected], +60 (0) 89841101 • Tel (H/P Malaysia): +60 (0)89841102
Specimens collected during the course The course will have a group-collecting permit. The export permit will be under the name of Brian Fisher, and once all the samples are at California Academy of Sciences, he will arrange the samples to be mailed to students. Also you can consider donating your ant samples to the ant course organizers.
COST AND PAYMENT
Note that the course costs exceed tuition paid by students. In effect, all students receive a scholarship thanks to generous ant course donors. Students may apply for additional fellowships.
Estimated Expenses: 1. Tuition: $975 for students and $1275 for nonstudents: This includes transport to and from station, station fees, room and board at station. 2. Transportation to and from Kota Kinabalu and the Airport. Students are expected to make their own travel arrangements. 3. Personal expenses are additional. Snacks, drinks, food at airport, meals prior or after course in Kota Kinabalu. Estimated AUS$50. 4. Hotel expense Kota Kinabalu ($35/night) 5. Course supplies: insect pins, forceps, vials: $100 6. Scope rental $75
Paying course tuition fees Course fees should be paid by July 1.Pay at: https://www.calacademy.org/tickets/ant_course/
Ant Course accepts checks, money orders, wire transfers, or visa. We do not accept PO’s. Please make checks or money orders (in US currency) payable to California Academy of Sciences- Ant Course Fund. Reminder, Purchase orders are NOT accepted. Receipts and invoices for tuition, if needed, can be obtained during the course or by emailing Nicole Clark
Conditions for reimbursement of Ant Course fees: Before July 1: reimbursement of 100% After July 1: reimbursement of 20%
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For credit card payment of tuition, use online form at: https://www.calacademy.org/tickets/ant_course/
Wire Transfer (1) Bank Name and Mailing Address: Wells Fargo 550 California Street San Francisco, CA 94104 (2) Bank Telephone: 415-396-4955 (3) Bank E-Mail Address: [email protected] (4) Aba/Routing Number (U.S. Wires Only): 121000248 (5) Swift Or Iban Code (International Wires Only): WFBIUS6S (6) Account Beneficiary/Payee: California Academy of Sciences (7) Account Number: 4122016397
Please notify Nicole Clark
Course preparation
You should: (1) purchase necessary supplies (see below), (2) review ant terminology. A copy of the morphology section of Bolton 1994 (pages 191-201) is available on the Ant Course home page.
What Ant Course provides • The following supplies will be available to all students for use during the course. Individuals who have supplies of their own are encouraged to bring them. • Point punch • Paper and glue (Franklin Hide glue) for mounting • Pinning block • 10 microscopes available to rent for $75 each. 20 students must bring their own microscope. • leaf litter sifting Winkler traps • Labels Key to Genera: Each student will receive a Key to Asian Ant Genera prepared for the course by the instructors.
What you must bring: • Some of the following supplies are available from BioQuip Products. • 2 fine forceps [BioQuip #4524 Rubris #5] • 2 featherweight forceps [one Bioquip #4748, and one #4750] • 1 insect storage boxes [BioQuip #1009 or #1001] • 200 insect pins #3 [BioQuip # 1203B3, or 1208B3 or 1208S3] • 1 indelible ink Pigma pen (for writing labels) [BioQuip #1154E]
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• Microscope. Students are required to borrow or rent a stereoscope from their home institution. It is critical that the dissecting scope magnifies at least 40x. 10 Stereoscopes will be available for rent for $75/each. 20 students must bring their own Stereoscope • 50 or more vials for collecting ants • 1 pair scissors, fine point for cutting labels • Sturdy trowel or small shovel • Notebook for course lectures, labs and seminars • Field notebook for use in the field [a small, hardcover notebook works best] • Flashlight or Headlamp: areas of the Station are very dark at night - flashlights are important; Headlamps are useful for black lighting • Rugged footwear • Rain gear [when it rains, it pours], plastic poncho and/or a folding umbrella will suffice. • Alarm clock • Water bottle • Collecting bag or small backpack to carry gear in field. • Small vials for collecting ants • Bring Cash for exchanging to local currency in case an ATM is not available • Small plastic container for keeping live colony
The following items are things that you might consider bringing: • lap top computer (not required but encouraged) • Digital Music will be much appreciated during late night work and end of the course party. • Black lighting equipment • Basic office supplies (scotch tape, stapler, paperclips). • 3-ring notebook for organizing the numerous handouts. • Ziploc plastic bags • Containers to keep live ants • Hat • Sunglasses • Swiss Army knife (or something of the sort) • Hand lens (10 x or 20x) • Earplugs (for peaceful sleeping) Medical supplies • malaria tablets • anti-fungus cream (things like growing on you in the tropics). Foot and general powders to remove moisture can also be very helpful • anti-diarrhoea tables • anti-vomiting tablets • strong antiseptic cream/solution for treating minor cuts. Very important. • whatever else you personally need to keep alive Baggage • one bag to check in on the airline, that YOU can move for at least 10 minutes. Parking at airports can be some distance from the luggage carousel . . .
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Documents / Financial details • Passport + photocopy of passport details • Cash, ATM cards etc
General comment about packing • Carry valuable items like cameras, binoculars and lap tops with you on the plane • Use your day pack as a carry on bag on the plane
AN INTRODUCTION TO SABAH
The rainforests of Asia are one of the biologically richest ecosystems on Earth. Based on the levels of richness and endemism of woody plants and vertebrate animals the Sundaland region (basically the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java) has been designated as one of the global hotspots for biodiversity. Not only is this region extraordinarily rich in its biota, it is also under considerable threat through the combination of industrial forestry, land clearing for agriculture, and increases in human population in the region. Parts of the region, in particular on the great island of Borneo, remain biologically super-rich and present a unique and exciting experience to the ecologist and naturalist.
Borneo is divided politically into a number of parts. The southern two-thirds represents the Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan. The northern third comprises the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah and the independent Sultanate of Brunei which is surrounded by Sarawak on the west coast. Danum Valley Conservation Area is 43,800 hectares of primary, mostly lowland, dipterocarp forest and is the largest protected area of lowland forest in Sabah. It is located within the Yayasan Sabah Forest Management Area, a commercial forest reserve of more than 1 million hectares. Here, on the Segama River, the Danum Valley Field Centre has been established. It will be our base for the period of the field course.
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Bornean rainforest has some Gondwanan elements in common with Australian rainforest but, in addition to being much richer than the richest of our forests, they are quintessentially Asian and lie west of Wallace’s Line. In floristic terms they are dominated by canopy species belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae (hence the designation of the primary forest type as ‘Mixed Dipterocarp Forest’), a family of trees that are unrepresented in Australia (although some species do ‘leak’ through into New Guinea.
In faunistic terms the forests of Sabah are home to a suite of characteristically Asian animals including orang-utan, gibbon, macaques, leaf monkeys, elephant, bearded pig, sun bear, clouded leopard, otter, deer, squirrels, civets, colugo and so on. There are no tigers, leopards or tapirs in Borneo although they occur on the adjacent Malaysian mainland. There are no marsupials in the Bornean fauna unlike the adjacent island of Sulawesi to the east, which is home to two species of cuscus.
The birds are equally diverse with more than 350 species (of land bird) recorded of which 10% are endemic to Borneo. Most of the endemic species are montane though there are some lowland endemics, such as Bulwer’s pheasant and the Bornean bristlehead. Other characteristic species include hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers, broadbills, pittas and many, many others.
The forests of Sabah are of several types which can be distinguished largely by the structure of the trees. These forest formations also differ in their species composition, topography, substrate, elevation and microclimate. The major forest formations vary from the coastal Beach Forest, 'Mangal' (mangrove) and Peat-Swamp Forests (‘kerangas’) to riparian forest and either lowland or montane Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (MDF).
Maliau Basin is embedded within lowland Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (between 80 and 90% of the canopy trees within the Conservation Area belong to the Dipterocarpaceae) with riverine and streamside associations of smaller tree species. The Dipterocarpaceae, as their name implies, have highly characteristic two-winged (di-ptero) seeds (see illustration below) and represent a characteristically south-east Asian family which has evolved since the Cretaceous.
Not only is MDF the most extensive forest type in Sabah, it is one of the most diverse in terms of species richness (171 species) and also in life-form as dipterocarps may exist as either small trees or as 70 m giants with extensive buttress roots. Dipterocarps range through south-east Asia and into parts of India and east and central Africa. The closest population of dipterocarps to Australia, however, occur in Papua New Guinea where 17 species are found. The New Guinean species represent a local radiation following an invasion from Asia.
Beneath the canopy grow abundant small trees, shrubs, seedlings and herbs. These individuals provide a clue to the dynamic nature of these forests which grow too slowly to be observed within human lifetimes. These different size classes represent a snapshot of the different stages in the growth of the forest. Gaps caused by the death of aging canopy trees open up the forest, letting in light and providing nutrients which can be recycled by microbes, fungi and animals.
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This in turn allows seedlings and vines to grow vigorously and continue the growth cycle of the forest itself. As this process repeats itself through time and at varying spatial scales, the forest regenerates while maintaining a high level of species diversity.
Sabah possesses some of the richest vegetation communities in the world with estimates of up to 10,000 species of higher plant. Tree diversity is typically much greater on the island of Borneo in general than in Australia. For example, a one hectare plot established in Brunei in 1997 identified 279 species of tree with a diameter (dbh) of >5 cm (Small et al. 2004). This is approximately twice the number of species recorded in an equivalent survey at Cape Tribulation in far northern Australia (137 species) and 3.5 times the species richness of a one hectare plot at Lamington National Park in sub-tropical Queensland (76 species).
This level of diversity has been both created and maintained through a number of mechanisms. Firstly, Borneo is located in a region where the processes of land formation and biological speciation have taken place within a stable tropical climate suited to high levels of plant growth. Borneo’s proximity to other land masses has, over time, resulted in a complex mix of species through processes of colonization and establishment. The structurally and biologically complex nature of the Sabah landscape has also resulted in a vast number of ecological roles available to be filled by species of different taxonomic affinities. This combination of historical, climatic and evolutionary processes has resulted in one of the most diverse and spectacular floras on Earth.
(modified from a summary by Roger Kitching @ GriffithU)
Recommended Reading Wallace, A.R. 1869. The Malay Archipelago. The land of the orang-utan, and the bird or paradise. A narrative of travel, with sketches of man and nature.
Additional Reference Material Chung A. 1995. Common lowland rainforest ants of Sabah. Sabah Forestry Department Das, I. (2004) Lizards of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo). Inger, R. F. (1997). A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd MacKinnon, J. and Phillips, K. (1993). A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. Oxford University Press. Murphy, F. and Murphy J. 2000. An introduction to the spiders of South East Asia. Malaysia nature Society. Payne, J., Francis, C. M. and Phillips, K. (1985). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Sabah Society. Stuebing, R. B. and Inger, R. F. (1999). A field guide to the Snakes of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo).
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