Assessment of management and collection of zoological specimens at natural history museums in Malaysia
There are many causes contributing to biodiversity loss and lack of understanding on the importance of natural history collections is one. Ineffective dissemination of biodiversity knowledge, poor maintenance of natural history collection and lack of understanding as perceived by Malaysian why...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/998/1/24p%20ARNEY%20SAPAAT.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/998/3/ARNEY%20SAPAAT%20COPYRIGHT%20DECLARATION.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/998/2/ARNEY%20SAPAAT%20WATERMARK.pdf http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/998/ |
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| Institution: | Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia |
| Language: | English English English |
| Summary: | There are many causes contributing to biodiversity loss and lack of understanding on
the importance of natural history collections is one. Ineffective dissemination of
biodiversity knowledge, poor maintenance of natural history collection and lack of
understanding as perceived by Malaysian why the need for a natural history museum
are problems answered by this research. This study aims, firstly, rationalize natural
history collections as a tool in mainstreaming biodiversity in Malaysia, and secondly,
to provide a guideline on maintaining biological specimens critical to their
management. Data collection was done by gathering qualitative data from the field
through study visits, interviews, questionnaires as well as experiments. Eleven
institutions in Malaysia and each from Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand were
visited, and found having similar problems in managing zoological collection. From
this study, the reason why Malaysia did not excel in the collection management was
not because of the curators aptitude, but more to other factors that influencd the quality
of collections management, such as funding and human resource. For the second
objective, lack of awareness on biodiversity among Malaysian made them incapable
to see the need to establish a natural history museum. A study case done to Natural
History repository, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn identified Aspergillus sp.,
Chaetomium sp. and Mucor sp. were present on bat skin and entomological specimens
used in this study. Invertebrate pests, Vollenhovia sp. and Dermatophagoides sp. were
circumstantially found. However sign of insect activities such frass, shed skins and
other body parts are actual evidences of insect pest occurrence. The low temperature
and alcohol treatment proved to be the best non-pesticidal methods for remediation of
zoological collections. Data from curators and case study were compiled into
management practice for the care of zoological collections. |
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