Land-use effect on sustainability of swiftlets in South-east Asia

Project Leader : FUJITA, Motoko

Project Members :

Period : FY2010-2013

Research Summary :

Farming of Edible-nest Swiflet is a growing business in Sarawak, Malaysia. What is the reason of this growth in recent years? Even though they are protected and spread by people through colonizing houses, they should have a high adaptability to new environments, especially in terms of food. What kinds of insects and through what land-use do swiftlets from urban houses feed on? Do they feed in cities, or do they need to travel far from their homes? These ecological questions link directly to productivity, which makes it fascinating to study swiftlets. For example, the diet of swiftlets, or the distance to feeding grounds is an important factor that affects nest production. For the sustainable utilization of nests, we need to know more about ecological factors, something this research aims to do.