Entomological collections in Sabah and Sarawak

Systematics contributes significantly to other branches of biology in providing the framework for understanding biodiversity. Systematics research undoubtedly has to rely on collections of specimens and associated data, which provide the basis for systematics research. The classification of organisms is based on the comparison of specimens and collections that represent populations and species. An adequate comparative collection is therefore indispensable to practicing taxonomists and applied systematists. The status and role of entomological collections in Sabah and Sarawak is briefly discussed. Collections surveyed included those holding entomological specimens in Sabah and Sarawak. Among these are the insect collections of the Sarawak Museum, the UNIMAS Insect Reference Collection, the Sarawak Agriculture Research Centre, the Sarawak Forestry Department, the Forest Research Centre, Sepilok, the Sabah Museum, and the Sabah Parks Entomological Museum. Private collections were not included here. An estimate of about 600,000 processed specimens is reported in the total holdings of the various institutions. Most of these collections are only known among academicians and applied systematists. These collections contain the primary scientific evidence for the existence and occurrence of species from different ecosystems, geographical distribution and past and present ranges. The specimens themselves are thus the existing documentation and in-country database for the insects of Borneo, in particular Sabah and Sarawak. For these collections to meet current and future challenges and to realize their fundamental and vital role in the understanding of biodiversity and also as the foundation in the understanding of evolutionary biology, changes in attitude and support must take place at several levels. National and international funding agencies (such as ASEANET) must give more attention to basic functional support. Whateve r future developments in new computer technologies take place, the ultimate basis for systematics research still lies in the actual specimens in the various existing collections