Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

2014. 06, 14
Affiliation/Position

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Name

Nur Munira Azman

1. Country/location of visit
Yakushima Island, Japan
2. Research project
A candidate collection of insect species which make up the Yakushima monkey (Macaca fuscata yakui) diet.
3. Date (departing from/returning to Japan)
2014. 05. 18 – 2014. 05. 24 (7 days)
4. Main host researcher and affiliation
1. Professor Kiyokazu Agata (Kyoto University, Department Biophysics)
2. Professor Takakazu Yumoto (Kyoto University, Primate Research Institute)
3. Professor Munehiro Okamoto (Kyoto University, Primate Research Institure)
5. Progress and results of your research/activity (You can attach extra pages if needed)
Please insert one or more pictures (to be publicly released). Below each picture, please provide a brief description.

During this visit, I was assigned under insect team to study on insect which make up the Yakushima monkey (Macacafuscata yakui) diet. All insect specimens were collected from 14 sites which located outside from the conserve area ofYakushima Island. Sampling was conducted in four consecutive days. This was a great experience for me to learn about
insect sampling techniques. I was very excited because this is my first time during fieldwork I used beating nets,
butterfly nets, setting up the pit falls and light traps. Now, I have better understanding on how different kind of nets andtraps used to collect vast diversity of insects. Before this, I only have experience on birds, small mammals and reptiles
sampling methods.
I used this opportunity to understand the possibility of insects that might be eaten by Yakushima monkey. The
vegetation structure in Yakushima is wide-ranging following the elevation level. It contains vegetation of subtropical tocool temperate zones that makes this island unique in their diversity structure. Therefore varieties of insect are possible
for monkeys to eat.
After collecting the insects, we preserved them in the 100% ethanol and bring back to our base camp in Isso Village foridentification. During the identification work, I learn so many things about insects. As example I learn about thecharacteristics for each order and how to differentiate between orders. I realized that, it is not easy to identify species
level for each insect which is different in identifying bird. For bird, it is easy to identify them until species level. Thus,
all the specimens were brought to Kyoto University for DNA analysis. Our data also will be used to identify insectsfrom monkey fecal sample and also to identify insect that contaminant to the feces.
Through this experience, I have learned an intensive insect identification with invaluable help by Professors and groupmembers in insect team. I’m very glad to have all of them in my group because they are very energetic, dedicated andpassionate to do research.
I want to thank to all Professors in insect team, Agata-san, Yumoto-san and Okamoto-san because they are very helpfuland supportive. They are among the best Professors that I have met.

Submit to：report@wildlife-science.org

2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Pit Fall Trap
Figure 1: Sampling methods that we used to collect insect specimens.

Figure 2: Group members in insect team in Yakushima Island

6. Others

Submit to：report@wildlife-science.org

2014.05.27 version