Research project and objectives

Today, the impact of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity is a global conservation concern. Fragmentation leads to the isolation of populations, increasing their extinction risk from chance events due to the loss of genetic variability. Low genetic diversity is associated with inbreeding, leaving populations less adaptable to natural environmental change. These issues are especially relevant to tropical rainforests, which are also biodiversity hotspots. I will examine the population genetic consequences of rainforest fragmentation in selected species from three genera of forest-dependant bat species in Peninsular Malaysia. I will test whether sensitivity to fragmentation correlates with variation in ecological and dispersal traits, in order to improve conservation management.

Therefore, my current project is to describe the genetic structure of three genera of forest insectivorous bats (Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae and Kerivoulinae) from Peninsular Malaysia for three purposes:

Other Interests

Beyond my research project, I would like to focus on the molecular evolutionary history and genetic conservation of wildlife, particularly on bats. With my education and biology research background in both my undergraduate and graduate level, I aim to utilise my findings and latest progress in life science research for education purposes. Therefore, I will also involve in tertiary and public educational research projects to achieve this goal.