The Sunda pangolin in Singapore: a multi-stakeholder approach to research and conservation

Nash, Helen C.; Lee, Paige B.; Lim, Norman; Luz, Sonja; Li, Chenny; Chung, Yi Fei; Olsson, Annette; Boopal, Anbarasi; Rao, Madhu

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815507-3.00026-5

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Similarly remarkable is the detection of a Sunda pangolin ( Manis javanica ), which is a nationally critically endangered species with a population estimate of only ~1000 individuals based on camera trap surveys, radio telemetry, and mark‐and‐recapture information from rescued pangolins. Data acquisition for this species has been extremely difficult (Nash et al, 2020) and iDNA will be a welcome additional tool. In addition to critically endangered species, we also found evidence for two near‐threatened (the forest‐dwelling Malayan colugo and the junglefowl) and an endangered rat species ( Maxomys rajah ), which is usually found only in primary and secondary forests (Nakagawa et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

et al. 2022

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DNA obtained from invertebrates (iDNA) can be metabarcoded in order to survey vertebrate communities. However, little attention has been paid to the interaction between the invertebrate and vertebrate species. Here, we tested for specialization by sampling the dung and carrion fly community of a swamp forest remnant along a disturbance gradient (10 sites: 80–310 m from a road). Approximately, 60% of the baited 407 flies yielded 294 vertebrate identifications based on two COI fragments and 16S. A bipartite network analysis found no statistically significant specialization in the interactions between fly and vertebrate species, but uncommon fly species can carry the signal for vertebrate species that are otherwise difficult to detect with iDNA. A spatial analysis revealed that most of the 20 vertebrate species reported in this study could be detected within 150 m of the road (18 spp.) and that the fly community sourced for iDNA was unexpectedly rich (24 species, 3 families). They carried DNA for rare and common species inhabiting different layers of the forest (ground‐dwelling: wild boar, Sunda pangolin, skinks, rats; arboreal: long‐tailed macaque, Raffles' banded langur; flying: pin‐striped tit‐babbler, olive‐winged bulbul). All our results were obtained with a new, greatly simplified iDNA protocol that eliminates DNA extraction by obtaining template directly through dissolving fly faeces and regurgitates with water. Lastly, we show that MinION‐ and Illumina‐based metabarcoding yield similar results. We conclude by urging more studies that use different baits and involve experiments that are capable of revealing the dispersal capabilities of the flies carrying the iDNA.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similarly remarkable is the detection of a Sunda pangolin ( Manis javanica ), which is a nationally critically endangered species with a population estimate of only ~1000 individuals based on camera trap surveys, radio telemetry, and mark-and-recapture information from rescued pangolins. Data acquisition for this species has been extremely difficult (Nash et al, 2020) and iDNA will be a welcome additional tool. In addition to critically endangered species, we also found evidence for one near-threatened species: the Malayan colugo ( Galeopterus variegatus ), which is a forest-dwelling and one vulnerable species: the Brown spiny rat ( Maxomys rajah ), which is usually found only in primary and secondary forests (Nakagawa et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

Srivathsan

Loh

Ong

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Metabarcoding of vertebrate DNA obtained from invertebrates (iDNA) has been used to survey vertebrate communities, but we here show that it can also be used to study species interactions between invertebrates and vertebrates in a spatial context. We sampled the dung and carrion fly community of a swamp forest remnant along a disturbance gradient (10 sites: 80-310m from a road). Approximately, 60% of the baited 407 flies yield 294 vertebrate identifications based on two COI fragments and 16S sequenced with Illumina and/or MinION. A bipartite network analysis finds no specialization in the interaction between flies and vertebrate species, but a spatial analysis revealed that surprisingly 18 of the 20 vertebrate species can be detected within 150m of the road. We show that the fly community sourced for iDNA was unexpectedly rich (24 species, 3 families) and carried DNA for mammals, birds, and reptiles. They included common and rare ground-dwelling (e.g., wild boar, Sunda pangolin), and arboreal species (e.g., long-tailed macaque, Raffles' banded langur) as well as small bodied vertebrates (skinks, rats). All of our results were obtained with a new, greatly simplified iDNA protocol that eliminates DNA extraction by obtaining template directly through dissolving feces and regurgitates from individual flies with water. Lastly, we show that MinION- and Illumina-based metabarcoding yield similar results. Overall, flies from several families (calliphorids, muscids and sarcophagids) should be used in iDNA surveys because we show that uncommon fly species carry the signal for several vertebrate species that are otherwise difficult to detect with iDNA.

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“…Because of their elusive nature, pangolins in general are difficult to observe directly, and as such, indirect evidence is often used to identify their presence (Mahmood et al, 2014;Perera and Karawita, 2020). Furthermore, to solve the problem of accurate identification of indirect signs of GP, which is sometimes problematic due to their similarity with those of aardvark (Orycteropus afer) and the likelihood of GP using an abandoned aardvark burrow (Hoffmann et al, 2020), we relied both on local knowledge and verifiable evidence as employed in previous studies on pangolins (Karawita et al, 2018;Mouafo, 2018;Nash et al, 2020;Newton et al, 2008). This was to ensure that a burrow in question was that of a GP and/or had recently been used by a GP.…”

Section: Survey Design and Gp Occurrence Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximum entropy modeling of giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea (Illiger, 1815) habitat suitability in a protected forest-savannah transition area of central Cameroon

MOUAFO

Tédonzong

Ingram

et al. 2023

Global Ecology and Conservation

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The Sunda pangolin in Singapore: a multi-stakeholder approach to research and conservation

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community

Maximum entropy modeling of giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea (Illiger, 1815) habitat suitability in a protected forest-savannah transition area of central Cameroon

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