Sampling Event and Occurrence Records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Sabah, Malaysia Borneo
Citation
Yim M W, Ong X R, Chiew L Y, Slade E M (2024). Sampling Event and Occurrence Records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Sabah, Malaysia Borneo. Version 1.7. Asian School of the Environment. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/kdt8vd accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
This dataset 'Occurrence records of Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Sabah, Malaysia Borneo consists of two key components. At the core of the dataset is the 'Sampling-effort dataset,' comprising 2,627 unique sampling events. This dataset encompasses various types of data: (i) 1,738 trap-level records (66%), 44 site-level records (1.7%), 9 study-level records (0.3%), and 836 taxonomic paper records (31.8%). Each data row corresponds to a unique sampling event, featuring key sampling details (e.g., samplingProtocol, eventRemarks, samplingEffort, eventDate), geographic information (i.e., latitude and longitude), and locality data. It is essential to note that these data types differ in resolution, with trap-level data offering the highest resolution, site- and study-level data amalgamating trap data, and taxonomic paper data representing individual occurrences. Consequently, careful handling of these various data types is imperative. The 'Sampling-effort dataset' is interconnected with an extension called the 'Occurrence dataset' through a shared unique identifier (eventID and/or parenteventID), present in both datasets. The 'Occurrence dataset' records the observed instances from each distinct sampling event, totaling over 21,000 occurrences. Each data row (occurrence) is anchored by a scientificName and includes essential information such as organismQuantity and additional taxonomic classifications. Each occurrence is traceable back to its corresponding sampling-effort details through a unique identifier (eventID and/or parenteventID). Sabah, Malaysia, the second-largest state in the country, encompasses 10% of Borneo, spanning an area of 73,371 km². It is bordered by the Sulu Sea to the Northeast, the Celebes Sea to the East, and the South China Sea to the West. Despite its significance, the understanding of the ecology, distributions, and taxonomy of Southeast Asian dung beetles remains limited. While dung beetles are commonly associated with feeding on dung, certain species exhibit varied dietary habits, including carrion and rotting fruits, with some never feed on dung. All dung beetles fall under the superfamily Scarabaeoidea, predominantly within the family Scarabaeidae. Notably, the subfamily Scarabaeinae is recognized as the primary group of true dung beetles, with a substantial portion exclusively subsisting on dung. This dataset contributes to the BIFA GBIF project 'Mobilising data on ecologically important insects in Malaysia and Singapore.' Specifically focused on Sabah, it functions as a comprehensive documentation of all unique sampling events that have taken place, accompanied by its associated occurrences. Regular updates will be implemented to incorporate new findings from ongoing and future studies, ensuring the dataset remains a dynamic and valuable resource in the research and monitoring of dung beetles in the region.Sampling Description
Study Extent
Sabah, MalaysiaSampling
Biodiversity data found within this sampling-event (.core) and occurrence (.extension) dataset were obtained from published taxonomic papers, ecological papers and published datasets containing occurrence records with protocol information for dung beetles in Sabah, Malaysia. All raw extractable data related to taxonomy, occurrence and sampling effort from the sources were extracted into a single dataset (Bornean dung beetle dataset, Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab) and was later refined into the sampling-effort core and occurrence dataset extension found here. The data was entered according to the Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and controlled vocabulary was used. Data was cleaned using OpenRefine and Excel and validated through 'GBIF species-lookup tool' and 'GBIF data validator'.Method steps
- Data extraction: Literature containing sampling-effort, occurrence and taxonomic records from Sabah were first identified and data such as taxonomy and occurrence were mobilized, geo-referenced and transcribed into a dataset 'Bornean dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab'. Verbatim data were extracted initially and no data conversion or transformation occurred at this stage.
- Data Management and Cleaning: Taxonomy, occurrence and sampling-event data was then refined and extracted from the 'Bornean dung beetle database, Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab' to create two datasets:(i) sampling-event dataset and (ii) occurrence dataset and it was cleaned and managed strictly according to Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) formats and using its controlled vocabulary. The sampling-event dataset have columns like samplingProtocol which contains additional protocol information such as trap type, dung type, no. of transects, no. of traps, transect length and between trap distance. The eventRemark column is particularly important as it determines the type of data (i.e. TRAP-, SITE-, STUDY-LEVEL DATA and Taxonomic Data) and also contains verbatim site name, transect name/no. and trap no. Other useful sampling information such as duration is noted in samplingEffort and each unique event has a eventDate. Geographic data such as longitude and latitude is also provided in addition to locality information. Cells containing multiple data types are separated by '|'. Each unique event can be linked to its source through the column bibliographicCitation. The occurrence dataset on the other hand contains the recorded occurrence of each unique sampling-event. Other information such as scientificName, organismQuantity and higher taxonomic classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family) are given here. Each occurrence can be linked back to the sampling-effort data through the unique identifier (eventID and/or parenteventID). The dataset was cleaned in Excel and later OpenRefine. The final dataset was then processed through the 'GBIF data validator' prior to publishing. All datasets are in the format .csv.
Taxonomic Coverages
All Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae were identified to species level or in some cases subspecies level.
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Scarabaeidaecommon name: Dung beetles rank: subfamily
Geographic Coverages
Sabah, Malaysia
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
Marx Wen-Han Yimoriginator
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Xin Rui Ong
originator
position: PhD Student
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: ongxinru001@e.ntu.edu.sg
Li Yuen Chiew
originator
position: Postdoctoral researcher
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: liyuen93@hotmail.com
Eleanor M Slade
originator
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg
Marx Wen-Han Yim
metadata author
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Marx Yim
author
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Eleanor Slade
author
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg
Xin Rui Ong
author
position: PhD Student
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: ongxinru001@e.ntu.edu.sg
Li Yuen Chiew
author
position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Asian School of the Environment
MY
Marx Wen-Han Yim
administrative point of contact
position: Project Officer
Asian School of the Environment
62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637459
SG
email: marx.yim@ntu.edu.sg
Eleanor M Slade
administrative point of contact
position: Project Investigator
Asian School of the Environment
SG
email: eleanor.slade@ntu.edu.sg