Lim Qi Luan

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow (2024-2026)
ORCID:0000-0002-1499-3627

Current Affiliation:

Contact Information:

• Email: athenalql@gmail.com

Research Interests:

• Wildlife Conservation
• Conservation Genomics/Genetics
• Gut Microbiome
• Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
• Proteomics (signals for mate choice)

Education:

• 2020-2023: Doctoral Degree in Biological Sciences, Kyoto University
• 2016-2019: M.Sc. in Genetics, Universiti Putra Malaysia
• 2012-2016: B.Sc. in Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Publications:

1. Lim, Q. L., Sato, Y., Rosli, N., & Inoue-Murayama, M. (2025). Demographic history of the Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) in Southeast Asia. Ecological Research, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.12545
   Summary: This study reconstructed the demographic history of Malayan tapirs using whole-genome data. The results revealed a population decline and divergence between Sumatran and mainland populations due to historical sea-level changes and habitat loss, supporting the subspecies status of the Sumatran tapir.


2. Pinho, G. M., Lim, Q. L., Annavi, G., da Silva, A. G., & Saranholi, B. H. (2024). Evolution, biogeography, and genetics of living tapirs. In Tapir Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 3–24). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65311-7_1
   Summary: This chapter reviews the evolutionary history, biogeography, and genetic diversity of living tapirs, with a focus on conservation challenges and opportunities.


3. Qi, H., Lim, Q. L., Kinoshita, K., Nakajima, N., & Inoue-Murayama, M. (2024). A cost-effective blood DNA methylation-based age estimation method in domestic cats, Tsushima leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus), and Panthera species, using targeted bisulphite sequencing and machine learning models. Molecular Ecology Resources, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13928
   Summary: This study developed a cost-effective method for age estimation in felids using DNA methylation and machine learning. The models achieved high accuracy across multiple species, including domestic cats, Tsushima leopard cats, and Panthera species.


4. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., ... & Annavi, G. (2022). Population genetic structure of wild Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) in Peninsular Malaysia revealed by nine cross-species microsatellite markers. Global Ecology and Conservation, 40, e02321.
   Summary: This study used cross-species microsatellite markers to assess the population genetic structure of wild Malayan tapirs in Peninsular Malaysia. The findings provided insights into the genetic connectivity and conservation needs of tapir populations.


5. Chantra, R., Dai, Y., Inoue-Murayama, M., Kittiwattanawong, K., Lim, Q. L., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Sakornwimon, W., Wang, X., & Zhao, L. (2021). Microsatellite records for volume 13, issue 4. Conservation Genetics Resources. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-021-01243-2
   Summary: This article presents microsatellite records for various species including the Malayan tapir, contributing to the genetic resources available for conservation genetics studies.


6. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., & Annavi, G. (2021). Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) populations in the Malay Peninsula based on mitochondrial DNA control region. Biodiversity and Conservation, 30(8-9), 2433–2449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02202-x
   Summary: This study analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of Malayan tapirs in the Malay Peninsula using mitochondrial DNA. The results revealed significant genetic differentiation between populations, emphasizing the need for region-specific conservation strategies.


7. Lim, Q. L., Tan, Y. L., Ng, W. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., ... & Annavi, G. (2020). Molecular sexing and preliminary assessment of population sex ratio of the endangered Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) in Peninsular Malaysia. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 3973. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60552-y
   Summary: This study developed a molecular sexing method for Malayan tapirs using the SRY/ZF marker system. The method accurately sex-typed tapirs from various sample types, including fecal samples. A preliminary assessment of the wild population sex ratio showed a slight female bias, though not statistically significant.


8. Lim, Q. L., Ismail, N. A., Arumugam, R., Ng, W. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ismail, A. A., ... & Annavi, G. (2019). A revisit to a low-cost method for the isolation of microsatellite markers: The case of the endangered Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus). Malayan Nature Journal, 71(4), 423–437. https://doi.org/10.1101/384651
   Summary: This study revisited a low-cost method for developing microsatellite markers for the Malayan tapir. While the method successfully identified microsatellite loci, the markers were monomorphic and unsuitable for population genotyping. The study highlights the limitations of this approach for conservation genetics.


9. Arumugam, K. A., Lim, Q. L., Ibrahim, W. N. B. W., Toh @ Tah, M. B. M., Buesching, C. D., & Annavi, G. (2018). Influence of enclosure conditions and visitors on the behavior of captive Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus): Implications for ex situ management and conservation. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP), 8(7). https://doi.org/10.29322/ijsrp.8.7.2018.p7906
   Summary: This study examined how enclosure type and visitor presence affect the behavior of captive Malayan tapirs. Tapirs in semi-natural enclosures exhibited more natural feeding behaviors, while those in artificial enclosures showed increased stress-related behaviors due to noise and visitor presence. The findings highlight the need for improved enclosure designs to enhance the well-being of captive tapirs.

Grants:

• Joint Usage/Research Center Global Collaborative Research (GCR) for Pilot Study, Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University (2024) 400,000 yen
• Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Foreigners (2024-2026) 2,400,000 yen
• Shikata Memorial Trust for Nature Conservation (2022) 400,000 yen
• Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows DC2 (2021-2023) 1,500,000 yen

Fellowships/Scholarships:

• JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (2024-2026)
• JSPS Research Fellows DC2 (2021-2023)
• Conference Fellowships for the 57th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (2021)
• Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science, Kyoto University (2020-2023)
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Scholarship, Japan (2019-2021)
• MyBrainSc Scholarship, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (2017-2018)
• Graduate Research Fellowships, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2016-2017)
• Conference Scholarship for the Conservation Asia 2016, Singapore (2016)

Awards:

• Runner-up of the HIRAKU 3MT Competition 2022 (English Division) November, 2022
• Gentry Award for the Best Student Poster, 58th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation July, 2022
• Second Prize for best poster presentation at the 17th International Symposium Primatology and Wildlife Science, Kyoto, Japan. March, 2022
• Best Presentation Award for the Biodiversity and Wildlife session at the Second International Conference on Biodiversity and Environmental Management 2021, online. November, 2021
• The first prize of Best Oral Award for the Track 3 (Forestry, Conservation and Biodiversity) at the 14th Malaysia International Genetics Congress, online March, 2021
• Third prize for best poster presentation at the 15th International Symposium on Primatology and Wildlife Science, Kyoto, Japan March, 2021
• Genetic Award, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia for the undergraduate research project "Isolation of microsatellite markers in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)", 2016

Presentations:

1. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., Annavi, G., & Murayama, M. Population genetic structure of the Malayan tapirs: What do we know so far? . 15TH MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL GENETICS CONGRESS (MiGC15) March, 2023
2. Lim, Q. L., Rosli, N., & Murayama, M. Genome-wide runs of homozygosity analysis in six captive Malayan tapirs in Japan. 15th International Conference of Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (oral) October, 2022
3. Lim, Q. L., Rosli, N., & Murayama, M. Historical effective population size of the endangered Malayan tapir: Implications for conservation. 58th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (poster) July, 2022
4. Lim, Q. L., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Demographic History of the Endangered Malayan Tapir: A Whole-Genome Resequencing Approach. 17th International Symposium Primatology and Wildlife Science (oral) March, 2022
5. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., Inoue-Murayama, M., & Annavi, G. Population Genetic Structure of the Malayan Tapirs in Peninsular Malaysia Revealed by Nine Cross-Species Microsatellite Markers: Genetic Diversity Compared to the Japanese Ex-situ Population. 17th International Symposium Primatology and Wildlife Science (poster) March, 2022
6. Lim, Q. L., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Demographic history of the Malayan tapir: A whole-genome resequencing approach. The 30th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for DNA Polymorphism Research (oral). December, 2021
7. Lim, Q. L., Annavi, G., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Genetic assessment of the captive Malayan tapir in Japanese zoos. The Second International Conference on Biodiversity and Environmental Management 2021 (oral), online. November, 2021
8. Lim, Q. L., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Whole-genome resequencing of endangered Malayan tapir for novel discovery of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism loci. 16th International Symposium Primatology and Wildlife Science (poster) September, 2021
9. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., Annavi, G., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Current and future aspects of conservation genetics of the endangered Malayan tapir. 1st virtual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (oral) July, 2021
10. Lim, Q. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., & Annavi, G. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) populations in the Malay Peninsula based on the mitochondrial control region. Oral presentation at the 14th Malaysia International Genetics Congress, online March, 2021
11. Lim, Q. L., Annavi, G., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Phylogenetic Relationship of the Malayan Tapir in Japan. The 15th International Symposium on Primatology and Wildlife Science, online. (poster) March, 2021
12. Lim, Q. L., Annavi, G., & Inoue-Murayama, M. Genetic diversity of the Malayan tapir's captive population in Japan. The 14th International Symposium on Primatology and Wildlife Science, online. September, 2020
13. Lim, Q. L., Ng, W. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N., & Annavi, G. (2018, November). "Molecular sex-identification of the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) and preliminary assessment of population sex ratio in Peninsular Malaysia". Poster presentation at the Seminar Ecology Malaysia 2018, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
14. Lim, Q. L., Ng, W. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J.J. Rosli, N., & Annavi, G. (2018, June). “Population genetic structure of Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) in Peninsular Malaysia". Poster presentation at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
15. Lim, Q. L., Ng, W. L., Yong, C. S. Y., Ismail, A., Rovie-Ryan, J. J., Rosli, N. & Annavi, G. (2017, November). "Transferability of microsatellite markers from three neotropical tapir species to Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)". Poster presentation at the 8th Biodiversity Seminar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
16. Lim, Q. L., Ismail, N. A., Yong, C. S. Y., Ng, W. L., & Annavi, G. (2016, June-July) "Isolation of microsatellite loci in Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)". Oral presentation at Conservation Asia 2016, Singapore.