Frequency distribution of foliar nickel is bimodal in the ultramafic flora of Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia)

Background and Aims The aim of this study was to test the frequency distributions of foliar elements from a large dataset from Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia) for departure from unimodality, indicative of a distinct ecophysiological response associated with hyperaccumulation. Methods We collected foliar samples (n = 1533) comprising 90 families, 198 genera and 495 plant species from ultramafic soils, further foliar samples (n = 177) comprising 45 families, 80 genera and 120 species from non-ultramafic soils and corresponding soil samples (n = 393 from ultramafic soils and n = 66 from non-ultramafic soils) from Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia). The data were geographically (Kinabalu Park) and edaphically (ultramafic soils) constrained. The inclusion of a relatively high proportion (approx. 14 %) of samples from hyperaccumulator species [with foliar concentrations of aluminium and nickel (Ni) >1000 μg g–1, cobalt, copper, chromium and zinc >300 μg g–1 or manganese (Mn) >10 mg g–1] allowed for hypothesis testing. Key Results Frequency distribution graphs for most elements [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P)] were unimodal, although some were skewed left (Mg and Mn). The Ni frequency distribution was bimodal and the separation point for the two modes was between 250 and 850 μg g–1. Conclusions Accounting for statistical probability, the established empirical threshold value (>1000 μg g–1) remains appropriate. The two discrete modes for Ni indicate ecophysiologically distinct behaviour in plants growing in similar soils. This response is in contrast to Mn, which forms the tail of a continuous (approximately log-normal) distribution, suggestive of an extension of normal physiological processes.

The insect fauna of Tenompok Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia

The insect fauna in Tenompok Forest Reserve, adjacent to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah was surveyed. Nocturnal insect diversity was moderately high, compared to other forest reserves surveyed earlier. Species richness, however, was moderate, with an average of 73 species from 84 individuals recorded from a 1m2 area of the light-trapping cloth. At least 20 Bornean endemic insect species were recorded from this rapid biodiversity assessment, which include 19 moth species and one beetle species. The endemics and other insects of conservation interest recorded during the survey provide salient information to enhance the conservation effort of this forest which connects Kinabalu Park and the Crocker Range Park. Such information provides inputs towards recommendations on high conservation value (HCV) of the area that would be incorporated in the formulation of the forest management plan. Issues affecting the insect fauna and recommendations on insect diversity enhancement and conservation are highlighted in this paper.

The Effectiveness of Environmental Interpretation in Influencing Visitors’ Knowledge in Kinabalu Park

Protected areas are established for the conservation of unique and pristine environment. Although protected, they are subjected to possible environmental and social impacts due to increasing tourism activities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinabalu Park's environmental interpretation in mitigating these impacts through the assessment of visitors’ knowledge. Visitors' knowledge was compared between those who were exposed (post-visit) and not exposed to the interpretive programs (pre-visit). Overall, environmental interpretation in Kinabalu Park contributed to the visitors' knowledge related to general facts as post-visit samples indicated higher level of knowledge. However, there were no differences in their knowledge related to scientific aspect. Keywords: environmental interpretation; knowledge; protected areas; repeat visitors eISSN 2514-751X © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER, ABRA & cE-Bs by E-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/aje-bs.v4i14.355

The Effectiveness of Environmental Interpretation in Influencing Visitors’ Knowledge in Kinabalu Park

Protected areas are established for conservation of unique and pristine environment. Although protected, they are subjected to possible environmental and social impacts due to increasing tourism activities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinabalu Park's environmental interpretation in mitigating these impacts through the assessment of visitors’ knowledge. Visitors' knowledge was compared between those who were exposed (post-visit) and not exposed to the interpretive programs (pre-visit). Overall, environmental interpretation in Kinabalu Park is partially successful in influencing visitors' knowledge related to general facts as post-vist samples indicated higher level of knowledge. However, there were no differences in their knowledge related to scientific aspect. Keywords: environmental interpretation; knowledge; protected areas; repeat visitors eISSN 2514-751X © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/aje-bs.v4i13.344

Heterotopic Tourism and Cultural Revivalism of Dusun Community in Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia

The paper discusses cultural movement of the Dusun community in Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia and its connection to eco-tourism development in Kinabalu Park. The objective is to examine whether the involvement of the local people with the ecotourism through dominating the numbers of mountain guides and initiating the kakakapan id gayongaran (a traditional ceremony)are strategies to deal with the forces that culturally excludesthem from the ancestral land or merely spontaneously actions. Employing ethnographic studies through participant observation, it reveals that the Dusun people in Bundu Tuhan had successfully exercised the heteropic tourism through combining the involvement on mountain guiding and cultural events to obtain a bigger recognition toward the access Mount Kinabaluas their ancestral land. The outcomes are the two-day free access to the mountain every year and steady economic income earned through working at the Kinabalu Park.Keywords: dusun, heteropic, tourism, Kinabalu Park, ancestral landAbstrakPaper ini membahas gerakan cultural komunitas Dusun di Kampung Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia dan kaitannya dengan eko-wisata di Taman Kinabalu. Tujuan riset ini adalah melihat apakah keterlibatan penduduk local dalam wisata alam melalui upaya mendominasi jumlah pemandu gunung dan menginisiasi ritual “kakakapan id gayongaran” merupakan strategi untuk bernegosiasi dengan kekuatan luar yang meminggirkan mereka secara budaya, atau sekedar tindakan yang bersifat spontan. Menggunakan metode etnografi melalui observasi lapangan, hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa orang Dusun di Bundu Tuhan berhasil menggunakan “heteropic tourism” dengan mengkombinasikan keterlibatan mereka dalam bisnis pemandu gunung dan menginisiasi event budaya untuk mendapatkan pengakuan atas akses yang lebih besar terhadap Gunung Kinabalu sebagai tanah adat mereka. Hasil yang diperoleh adalah akses selama 2 hari dalam satu tahun untuk melakukan ziarah gunung dan pada sisi lain tetap mendapatkan keuntungan ekonomi yang stabil dengan bekerja di Taman Kinabalu.Kata kunci: dusun, heteropic, wisata, Taman Kinabalu, tanah leluhur

Heterotopic Tourism and Cultural Revivalism of Dusun Community in Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia

The paper discusses cultural movement of the Dusun community in Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia and its connection to eco-tourism development in Kinabalu Park. The objective is to examine whether the involvement of the local people with the ecotourism through dominating the numbers of mountain guides and initiating the kakakapan id gayongaran (a traditional ceremony)are strategies to deal with the forces that culturally excludesthem from the ancestral land or merely spontaneously actions. Employing ethnographic studies through participant observation, it reveals that the Dusun people in Bundu Tuhan had successfully exercised the heteropic tourism through combining the involvement on mountain guiding and cultural events to obtain a bigger recognition toward the access Mount Kinabaluas their ancestral land. The outcomes are the two-day free access to the mountain every year and steady economic income earned through working at the Kinabalu Park.Keywords: dusun, heteropic, tourism, Kinabalu Park, ancestral landAbstrakPaper ini membahas gerakan cultural komunitas Dusun di Kampung Bundu Tuhan, Sabah, Malaysia dan kaitannya dengan eko-wisata di Taman Kinabalu. Tujuan riset ini adalah melihat apakah keterlibatan penduduk local dalam wisata alam melalui upaya mendominasi jumlah pemandu gunung dan menginisiasi ritual “kakakapan id gayongaran” merupakan strategi untuk bernegosiasi dengan kekuatan luar yang meminggirkan mereka secara budaya, atau sekedar tindakan yang bersifat spontan. Menggunakan metode etnografi melalui observasi lapangan, hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa orang Dusun di Bundu Tuhan berhasil menggunakan “heteropic tourism” dengan mengkombinasikan keterlibatan mereka dalam bisnis pemandu gunung dan menginisiasi event budaya untuk mendapatkan pengakuan atas akses yang lebih besar terhadap Gunung Kinabalu sebagai tanah adat mereka. Hasil yang diperoleh adalah akses selama 2 hari dalam satu tahun untuk melakukan ziarah gunung dan pada sisi lain tetap mendapatkan keuntungan ekonomi yang stabil dengan bekerja di Taman Kinabalu.Kata kunci: dusun, heteropic, wisata, Taman Kinabalu, tanah leluhur