Exploring Resource and Habitat Partitioning Among Squirrel Species in Malaysian Borneo and Identifying Effective Indicators of Rainforest Health

This project is located in Sabah, Borneo in Malaysia based at the Danau Girang Field Centre. This project aims to look at the ecology of the squirrels that inhabit the lower Kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary, with as many as 15 species ranging from Bornean pygmy squirrels to Sunda giant squirrels. We will be investigating how these species share resources and the rainforest habitats in which they live. Along with this, we will aim to find a species that can serve as an indicator of rainforest health. Much of the surrounding rainforest in Borneo has been converted to oil palm plantations, which is why it is increasingly important to learn about the species that inhabit the remaining rainforest and determine if there is a squirrel species that can help indicate rainforest health for future research and conservation efforts in the area.