On 19-20 June 2023, Sean, Weng Ngai, Nanette (from Team Underground) and Eleanor conducted a two-day workshop on “insect diversity and specimen collection and preservation” at the Tropical Biodiversity Centre (TBC) in Brunei. The workshop was jointly organized with our Bruneian collaborators from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), with whom we have been working in the ongoing NRF peat swamp project.
Group photo at the tropical biodiversity centre (Sungai Liang, Brunei), where the workshop was conducted. Sampling for the workshop was conducted in the Andulau forest reserve, seen in the background of this photo. Photo 2023 Hazimah Din.
Thirty-five participants from UBD and Brunei’s forestry department, and joined the workshop, which was taught by Sean and facilitated by the rest of the team. On the first day, the participants were taught a range of standard invertebrate sampling techniques including flight intercept trapping, dung-baited and unbaited pitfall trapping, leaf litter sampling, sweep netting, and light trapping. Hands-on sampling and demonstrations were conducted in the forests just behind the TBC, which contained a mix of dipterocarp and heath forests. On the second day, participants sorted the specimens that had been collected. They also used a dichotomous key that Sean had developed for identifying the insect orders.
Nanette introducing a flight intercept trap to participants. Photo 2023 Ammy Marliana Liming.
Sean explaining how a light trap works, with participants eagerly taking notes and photographs. Photo 2023 Lam Weng Ngai.
Some interesting specimens were encountered in even such an opportunistic sampling exercise. These include an unidentified dung beetle (Copris sp.) from the baited pitfall trap, a beautiful house scorpion (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha) from leaf litter sampling, and an unidentified carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) from the light trap.
(Left) Eleanor explaining insect pinning to two participants. (Right) Participants attempting to photograph and identify a specimen under the microscope, with Weng Ngai trying to figure out what’s happening.
Photos 2023 Soon Boon Yu.
Eleanor also gave a talk on “Using trait-based ecology to study responses of insects and their associated functions along environmental gradients”, and Nanette, on preliminary findings from data collected on her previous trip to Brunei comparing root traits between heath and peat swamp forests. Both the workshop and talks were very well received, with numerous participants asking that they be conducted again at the next available opportunity.
Group photo in UBD after Eleanor and Nanette’s talks. Dr. Rahayu Sukmaria Sukri, our collaborator in the peat swamp project, stands on the left, and the IBER director, Dr. Hjh Norhayati Hj Ahmad stands second from the left. Photo 2023 Hazimah Din.
IBER’s publicity team also developed a short video of the workshop, which is shown below with their permission.
Written by Weng Ngai.