Ecology and DNA Metabarcode Aspects of Endangered Long-Tailed Macaque at Human Monkey Conflict Area

Author : Badrul Munir Md Zain

Abstract : Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Long-tailed macaques are widely distributed in Malay Peninsula. As endangered primate, this macaque distribution areas often overlap with human, frequently considered a nuisance, as in the case of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Bukit Selambau Solar (TBSS) which is adjacent to oil palm plantation. Apart from creating conflict situations, these macaques that reside in surrounding oil palm plantation also caused damage to the TNB facilities. Thus, the main objective of this paper was to highlight the ecology and DNA metabarcode aspects based on one year observation period and molecular genetic analyses. Results indicated that there are 3 main groups (Suria, Kuil and Pekan) reside nearby TBSS. Locomotion was the most frequently observed daily behavior, whereas shaking lampposts was the most common nuisance behavior. DNA metabacode analyses indicated 29 famili and 57 genera of plants consumed by long-tailed macaques with Piperaceae and Arecaceae are the main preference. This finding indicated that food resource are abundance and macaques visited TNB areas to perform their daily activities more on locomotion and play behavior. The outcomes of this study could assist local authorities in overcoming the human-macaque conflict in solar farm-oil palm plantation interface area for better management plan.

Keywords : Long-Tailed Macaque, Human–Wildlife Conflict, Behavioral Ecology, DNA Metabarcoding, Diet Analysis, Solar Farm Interface, Oil Palm Plantation, Wildlife Management, Malaysia

Conference Name : International Conference on Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genetics (ICEECG-25)

Conference Place : Zurich, Switzerland

Conference Date : 27th Dec 2025