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Das Ziel dieser bemerkenswerten Arbeit bestand darin, Daten über das Vorkommen und die Populationstärken der drei Großreptilien Südostasiens zu gewinnen, die auch wirtschaftlich intensiv genutzt werden können: der Bindewaran (Varanus salvator), der Blupython (Python curtus) sowie der Netzpython (Python reticulatus). Auliya gewann nicht nur zahlreiche neue Erkenntnisse zu Lebensweise, verbreitung und Systematik dieser Gruppen, er erfasste auch die begleitfauna und -flora, von anedren Reptilien über Amphibien, Vögel und Säuger, sadass dieses prächtig bebilderte Buch auch einen umfassenden Überblick über die Natur dieser Region bietet.
List of contents
ForewordPreface1. Introduction1.1 Background and objectives oft he present study1.1.1 Background1.1.2 Objectives1.2 Borneo - A Profile1.2.1 Geography1.2.2 Paleogeography and Geology1.2.3 Minerals and Soils1.2.4 Climate1.2.5 Ecozones and Natural Habitats1.2.6 Biogeography and Biodiversity1.2.7 Flora1.2.8 Fauna1.2.9 Nature Reserves - Protected Areas2. Materials and Methods2.1 Time frame and preliminary organisations2.2 Accessories and equipment2.3 Study areas2.3.1 Selection of study areas2.3.2 Pengkaran River2.3.3 Sibau Island2.3.4 Sambas Region2.4 Reptile slaughterhouses2.5 Collection of abiotic parameters2.6 Field methods2.6.1 Capture methods2.6.2 Mark-recapture methods2.6.3 Marking techniques2.6.4 Home ranges2.7 Morphology2.7.1 Morphometry2.7.2 Scalation2.8 Sex identification2.9 Collections and anatomical preparations2.9.1 Herbarium2.9.2 Accompanying Fauna2.9.3 Ectoparasites and Endoparasites2.9.4 Prey composition2.9.5 Copulatory organs2.9.6 Ovarian follicles and oviductal eggs2.10 Student assistants and local staff3. Results and Discussion3.1 General data3.1.1 Study areas3.1.1.1 Penkaran River3.1.1.2 Sibau Island3.1.1.3 Sambas Region3.1.2 Soils3.1.3 Climate3.1.4 Flora3.1.5 Invertebrates - Freshwater Crustaceans3.1.6 Vertebrate community3.1.6.1 Freshwater Fish3.1.6.2 Amphibians3.1.6.3 Reptiles3.1.6.4 Birds3.1.6.5 Mammals3.2 Varanus salvator - complex3.2.1 Range of Varanus salvator - complex3.2.2 Capture results and population size3.2.3 Morphology3.2.3.1 Morphometry3.2.3.2 Size classes3.2.3.3 Scalation3.2.4 Growth rate3.2.5 Home range and seasonal migration3.2.6 Habitat use3.2.7 Foraging behaviour and diet3.2.8 Parasites3.2.9 Reproduction3.3. Python reticulatus - complex3.3.1 Range of Python reticulatus - complex3.3.2 Capture results and population size3.3.3 Morphology3.3.3.1 Morphometry3.3.3.2 Size classes3.3.3.3 Scalation3.3.4 Growth rate3.3.5 Home range and seasonal migration3.3.6 Habitat use3.3.7 Foraging behaviour and diet3.3.8 Parasites3.3.9 Reproduction3.4 Python curtus - complex3.4.1 Range of Python curtus - complex3.4.2 Capture results and population size3.4.3 Morphology3.4.3.1 Morphometry3.4.3.2 Size classes3.4.3.3 Scalation3.4.3.4 Colour pattern3.4.4 Growth rate3.4.5 Home range and seasonal migration3.4.6 Habitat use3.4.7 Foraging behaviour and diet3.4.8 Parasites3.4.9 Reproduction4. General Discussion4.1 Taxonomic sitaution of the taxa under study4.1.1 Varanus salvator - complex4.1.2 Python reticulatus - complex4.1.3 Python curtus - complex4.2. Ist he commercial harvest of all three taxa sustainablein the long term?5. Conclusions and Recommendations6 Summary7. Acknowledgements8 Literature CitedAppendices1 Field Data sheets2 Pemberitahuan (information sheet for locals)3 Data sheet for reptile dealers4 CITES Expoert permits5 Trap control data sheet6 Abbreviations, Vocabulary, Country Iso Codes7 Climate data
Summary
The aim of this work was to gather data on abundance and densities of the three giant reptile species of South East Asia which are playing a mayor role in the international trade of reptile skin, viz. the Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), the Blood Python (Python curtus), and the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus). Nothing was known about the actual densities of these three speciesand Mark Auliya spent one whole year in one of two study areas selected in the interior of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. His task was extremly difficult: He had to solve innumerable logistic problems, he had to design traps for the unusually large study objects, and finally, he had to establish good contacs to the network of reptile skin dealers in order to gahter sufficient data on numbers, size classes etc. of the harvested monitor lizards and pythons.
But this was not all. With admirable energy, he surveyed most oft he entire biodiversity that existed in the habitats oft he pythons and monitors. Not only was the remaining herpetofauna surveyed – including fascinating new discoveries -, but also mammal, birds, even some arthropd groups and partof the vegetation. Mark Auliya accumulated a huge ammount of knowlegde and experience which is is truly exceptional among young zoologists. And it is this amount of information included in this thesis and consequently also in the book that makes it such a useful source for anyone interested in the fauna and flora of Indonesia.
In summary, the book is a masterpiece of biodiversity and conservation research since it reveals the first reliable data as to what amount of exploitation the populations of the three giant reptile species in their Bornean habitats may withstand or not.
