Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Wan F.A. Jusoh currently holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Biodiversity and Conservation at Monash University Malaysia's School of Science. Previously, she worked as a Research Fellow at National University of Singapore, focused on researching the virtual repatriation of Singapore's natural heritage. Her previous experience in conservation was as a Senior Programme Officer for Peninsular Malaysia Terrestrial Conservation Programme, WWF-Malaysia, where she led a team to advocate for the protection of the Setiu Wetlands in Terengganu from 2015–2017.
Research interests
Wan conducts research at the intersection of biodiversity research and the history of natural heritage – from studying flashing fireflies to reconstructing timelines of how ecosystems have evolved. She envisions a comprehensive species database incorporating field, laboratory, museum, library, and archival approaches. In pursuit of her research, she addresses three essential inquiries about species discovery: what was there, what has been lost and what must be safeguarded.
Integrative Taxonomy and Systematics of Fireflies
Firefly beetles (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) comprise over 2,000 species globally. The subfamily Luciolinae—all of which are exclusively flashing fireflies—represents a diverse subfamily distributed across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands. Wan seeks to explore the systematics of fireflies and other bioluminescent beetles of SE Asia and the Australopacific region with her collaborators. Her research team uses various analyses derived from morphological and molecular data, behaviour, and ecology, culminating in taxonomic revisions.
Story of Endangered Species – towards developing and mobilising species-based database
On minor but significant research, Wan is keen on developing and mobilising species-based digital data from museum collections, particularly material collected from SE Asia in former colonial museums. In collaboration with historians and museum curators, she explores the history of collections, collectors, and taxonomists to digitally 'repatriate' original specimens (historical and type specimens) from Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in SE Asia.
Global and National Assessments of Fireflies
With the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) – Firefly Specialist Group, Wan assesses fireflies' conservation status in SE Asia and other regions. She also assesses fireflies' conservation status for Singapore's Red Data Book 3rd edition.
Monash teaching commitment
- BIO3820 – Tropical Terrestrial Biology (Semester 2)
- ENV2726 – Global Conservation & Biodiversity (Semester 2)
- SCI2800 – Human Ecology & Biodiversity (Summer Semester)
University Service
- School of Science Honours Programme Director
Supervision interests
Welcome to Wan F. A. Jusoh Lab!
Wan is seeking graduate students who have an interest in many fascinating topics (see the list). If the following topics pique your interest, kindly reach out to Wan and express your interest:
• Integrative taxonomy and systematics of fireflies
• Digitisation and archival of biodiversity heritage data
• Ecology and conservation of tropical biodiversity
• Conservation assessment of threatened taxa
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Entomology, PhD, Universiti Putra Malaysia (University Putra Malaysia)
Environmental Quality & Conservation, MSc, Universiti Putra Malaysia (University Putra Malaysia)
Environmental Science, BSc, Universiti Putra Malaysia (University Putra Malaysia)
External positions
Co Chair IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group, IUCN - Species Survival Commission
2022 → 2025
Research area keywords
- Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Conservation Biology
- Integrative Taxonomy
- Entomology
- History of Natural History collections
- Data Mobilisation
- Species Discovery
- Specimen Digitisation
- Zoological Nomenclature
- Phylogenetics
- Systematics
- Fireflies
- Threatened Taxa
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Illuminating the impact of artificial light at night on firefly diversity and ecology in urban parks in Kuala Lumpur
Jusoh, W. F. A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ting, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lee, W.-L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tan, E. J. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Ballantyne, L. A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/10/23 → 30/09/25
Project: Research
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Molecular systematics of the firefly genus Luciola (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) with the description of a new species from Singapore
Jusoh, W. F. A., Ballantyne, L., Chan, S. H., Wong, T. W., Yeo, D., Nada, B. & Chan, K. O., Mar 2021, In: Animals. 11, 3, 16 p., 687.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Citations (Scopus) -
DNA-based species delimitation reveals cryptic and incipient species in synchronous flashing fireflies (Coleoptera Lampyridae) of Southeast Asia
Jusoh, W. F. A., Ballantyne, L. & Chan, K. O., Jul 2020, In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 130, 3, p. 520-532 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile16 Citations (Scopus) -
The firefly genus Pteroptyx Olivier revisited (Coleoptera Lampyridae: Luciolinae)
Jusoh, W. F. A., Ballantyne, L., Lambkin, C. L., Hashim, N. R. & Wahlberg, N., 6 Aug 2018, In: Zootaxa. 4456, 1, p. 1-71 71 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
35 Citations (Scopus) -
Firefly tourism: Advancing a global phenomenon toward a brighter future
Lewis, S. M., Thancharoen, A., Wong, C. H., López-Palafox, T., Santos, P. V., Wu, C., Faust, L., De Cock, R., Owens, A. C. S., Lemelin, R. H., Gurung, H., Jusoh, W. F. A., Trujillo, D., Yiu, V., López, P. J., Jaikla, S. & Reed, J. M., May 2021, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 3, 5, 18 p., e391.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile35 Citations (Scopus) -
The Luciolinae of S. E. Asia and the Australopacific region: A revisionary checklist (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) including description of three new genera and 13 new species
Ballantyne, L. A., Lambkin, C. L., Ho, J.-Z., Jusoh, W. F. A., Nada, B., Nak-Eiam, S., Thancharoen, A., Wattanachaiyingcharoen, W. & Yiu, V., 18 Oct 2019, In: Zootaxa. 4687, 1, p. 1-174 174 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
53 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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2024 PVC's Commendation for Excellence in Education
Jusoh, Wan Faridah Akmal (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File -
Erasmus Mundus MAHEVA (MAn Health Environment biodiVersity in Asia)
Jusoh, W. F. A. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
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The SSC Chair's Citation of Excellence
Jusoh, W. F. A. (Recipient), 25 Oct 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File -
Vereniging Nederland - Maleisië (VNM) Fellowship 2019
Jusoh, W. F. A. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Raffles Bulletin of Zoology (Journal)
Wan F. A. Jusoh (Associate editor)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Pre-Conference Event: Tropical Biodiversity
Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh (Organiser)
2024 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Life of a firefly chaser
Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh (Contributor)
6 Oct 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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MNCU Network Dialogue 2024
Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh (Contributor)
8 Aug 2024Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Molecular Phylogenetics and Museomics: Tools to Understand Biodiversity 2024
Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh (Organiser)
12 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Meet the Malaysian Conservationist Devoting Her Life to Protecting Fireflies
8/07/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Global Warming Causing Some Firefly Species To Vanish
6/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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FOKUS BERNAMA | "Malapnya" Kerlipan Kunang-Kunang, Bawa Amaran Kemusnahan Alam Semula Jadi
6/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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Glow and Behold: The Fascinating World Of Fireflies
3/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Dazzling firefly illumination filmed in the mangrove forests of Thailand a bitter-sweet moment for scientists
1/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature