IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Wilting, A. | |
| Phylogeography of clouded leopards and their ecology and distribution in Sabah, Malaysia | |
| 2007 Full Book | |
Recently, reclassification of Bornean clouded leopards (_N. nebulosa diardi_) to species level (_N. diardi_) was suggested based on molecular and morphological evidence from three Bornean samples. I re-evaluated this partition using additional samples of Bornean (N = 4) and Sumatran (N = 3) clouded leopards. I found strong support for the distinction between _N. nebulosa _and _N. diardi _based on three fragments of mtDNA (900 bp) and 18 microsatellites. Forty-one fixed mitochondrial nucleotide differences and non-overlapping allele sizes in eight of 18 microsatellite loci distinguished _N. nebulosa _and _N. diardi_. This is equivalent to the genetic divergence among recognized species in the genus _Panthera_. Sumatran clouded leopards clustered with specimens from Borneo, suggesting that Sumatran individuals also belong to _N. diardi_. Additionally, a significant population subdivision was apparent among _N. diardi _from Sumatra and Borneo based on mtDNA and microsatellite data. The reduced gene flow between these islands suggests the recognition of two subspecies of _N. diardi_. Therefore more effort is needed to protect the different populations from extinction. In this study, performed in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in north-eastern Borneo (Sabah) I evaluated different non-invasive methods for investigating secretive carnivores occurring in tropical rainforests. Scent stations as hair-traps as well as the application of molecular scatology were used unsuccessfully. In contrast, I could show that night surveys and rigorous track classification are useful, cheap and easy-applied methods for research on elusive carnivores. During four night spotlight surveys clouded leopards were observed. During daily transect surveys along roadways, streams, and jungle trails six track-sets were recorded. Multivariate analysis of those track-sets grouped the tracks in four clusters, suggesting that four different individuals left the tracks. The population size in the 56 kmý research area was estimated to be five individuals (ñ 2.26 SE) for the track analysis. I obtained densities of clouded leopards based on the population estimates of nine (ñ 4.36 SE for tracks) per 100 kmý in Tabin Wildlife Reserve. However, due to the low number of captures and recaptures in my study I would like to emphasise that my calculated density should rather be taken as rough estimates and first working hypothesis than a true number. I extrapolated my local-scale results to regional landscape level, taking into account the conservation status of all reserves (totally protected or commercial forest reserves) in Sabah and their size and presence of clouded leopards. I showed that to date clouded leopards are still confirmed in approximately 25 % of Sabah, but that only a few reserves are totally protected and these areas are inhabited by just a few hundred individuals. The remaining reserves are classified as commercial forest reserves. Therefore, I suggest placing a higher priority on sustainable management of these commercial forest reserves to ensure the long term persistence of viable clouded leopard populations. |
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