​10 - 14 July 2018
BioD5 plus: People + Utilization + Sustainability
@ Soratthani, Thailand

Five CEG-KMUTT members presented their work at the meeting:
Greg Irwing: "Study of the effects of forest fragmentation on avian biodiversity in Chiew Larn Reservoir".
Wyatt Petersen: "Core versus edge: the status of clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa in Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary".
Tiwa Ong-in: "Distribution, Conservation Status and the Effect of Human Disturbance on Galliformes in the Lowland Forest of Southern Thailand".
Katie Oliver: "The short-delived conservation importance of plantation forests for Nycticebus bengalensis". (poster)
Rongrong Angkaew: "Road edge effects on tropical forest passerine species: implications for nest success and post-fledging survival". (poster)

​1 - 5 July 2018
55th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation 
@ Kuching, Malaysia

Eight CEG-KMUTT presentations were delivered during the meeting:
Greg Irwing: “A hydroelectric dam in Peninsular Thailand has devastated the surrounding resident forest bird community”.
Inês Silva: “Are bats vulnerable to roads in Southeast Asia? A case study of wildlife–vehicle collision mortalities in a biodiversity hotspot in Thailand”.
Katie Oliver: “The short lived haven of plantation forests for N. bengalensis”.
Naruemon Tantipisanuh: National Biodiversity Hotspot Identification: Importance of Unpublished Data
Rungrong Angkaew: “A test of road edge effects on the nest survival and the post-fledging survival of a tropical forest passerine”.
Tiwa Ong-in: “Status and distribution of forest partridge in the Thai Peninsula: a worrying situation”.
Worata Klinsawat: “MtDNA and MHC diversity of captive tiger (Panthera tigris) in Thailand: A case study for captive breeding improvement”.
Wyatt Petersen: “Fragmented forests: overlooked avenues for tropical small carnivore conservation?”.

​14 - 15 November 2017
Workshop "Saving Species on the Edge of Extinction: Building Capacity to Find and Protect the Mekong’s Most Imperiled Wildlife”
@ Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The workshop was held as part of the Wonders of the Mekong project sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and is hosted by the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the University of Nevada – Reno, and FISHBIO. CEG researcher Naruemon Tantipisanuh gave an oral presentation on “Tools and technique for studying rare otter species: case study from west coast of southern Thailand”.

​3 - 14 July 2017
Workshop on Bayesian data analysis with JAGS and R
@ KMUTT Bangkhunthien

The workshop, facilitated by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of Sarawak (BCSS), introduced the concepts underlying Bayesian approaches to data analysis, running standard analyses with the wiqid package in R. The modelling language used by the JAGS package makes it easy to write code for quite complex models, as the code closely follows the mathematical expressions we use to define the model. JAGS does not have a stand-alone GUI, but is closely integrated with R statistical software.
The workshop was attended by 22 participants including 2 from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and Naresuan University; 1 from Mahidol University, Chiang Mai University, National University of Singapore, Wildteam Bangladesh, Suranaree University of Technology and Newcastkle University and 12 from the Conservation Ecology Group (KMUTT).
The Workshop was coordinated by Mike Meredith (BCSS and WCS), with the assistance of Ngumbang Juat (BCSS staff), Lukmann Haqeem bin Alen (WWF Malaysia) and Dusit Ngoprasert (CEG-KMUTT).

​9 - 14 July 2017
12th Int'l Mammalogical Congress
@ Perth, Australia

The 12th International Mammalogical Congress of the International Federation of Mammalogists had this year the theme of “Advances in Mammalogy in a Changing World”. Two member of the CEG-KMUTT gave an oral presentation:
Naruemon Tantipisanuh: “Status and distribution of two otter species in coastal areas of southern Thailand".
Worata Klinsawat: “Phylogeography, demographic history and genetic connectivity of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in the Tenasserim Range, Thailand".

​21 - 23 June 2017
BioD4: the 3rd national meeting on biodiversity management in Thailand
@ Udon Thani, Thailand

Five CEG-KMUTT presentations were delivered during the meeting.
George A. Gale: “The launch of the Thai Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology: Why might joining this organization benefit Thailand’s biodiversity” (plenary talk).
Andrew J. Pierce: “Investigating the migration ecology of two Asian sparrow hawks along the East Asian Continental Flyway” (invited session).
Worata Klinsawat: “Phylogeography, demographic history and genetic connectivity of Asian elephants in the Tenasserim Range, Thailand”.
Daphawan Khamcha: “Road induced edge effects on a bird community in a dry evergreen forest”.
Kitipat Phosri: “Status and distribution of two Otter species in Andaman Mangrove Forest in Southern Thailand”.

​20 - 29 June 2017
Training of field method for tropical forest research
@ Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand

The training, co-organized by Newcastke University (UK) and by the CEG-KMUTT, was attended this year by 13 undergraduate students. The training was carried out at Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve where the students were introduced to the research undertaken by the Conservation Ecology Programme and how it fit in the overall conservation situation in SEAasia. The students then followed by a set of lectures on wildlife monitoring techniques for three days before starting their final group projects (proposal defense, data collection and analysis, results presentation).

​8 - 10 June 2017
RGJ PhD Congress (number 18)
@ Nonthaburi, Thailand

Three PhD students from the CEG-KMUTT attended the conference to present the research, sponsored by the Royal Golden Jubilee grant, in the Multi-disciplinary Exercises session.
Daphawan Khamcha: “Nest survival and nest predation in dry evergreen forest, Northeast Thailand”.
Somying Thunhikorn: “Assessing the population of grey peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) in a Southeast Asian conservation”.
Niti Sukumal: “Ecology and landscape conservation of Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)”.
Moreover, all three students received an award for best research project and Daphawan also received an award for best oral presentation.

29 May 2017
PhD defences

Congratulations to Vy Trai Nguyen for successfully defending his PhD!
 
Next steps for Vy is to  go back to Vietnam to work for the Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

​25 - 27 May 2017
Young Conservation Scientists Conference
@ Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Five members from the CEG-KMUTT attended the first edition of the Young Conservation Scientist Conference which targeted early career scientists in order to instill the value of performing conservation action along scientific research. Three CEG-KMUTT presentations were delivered during the meeting:
George A. Gale: “Using a quantified approach to perform successful conservation” (invited speacker).
Ines Silva: “Wildlife-vehicle collision mortality in a Thai biodiversity hotspot: implications for conservation”.
Pichani Saengtharatip: "Patterns of stream anuran species richness and abundance across an elevational gradient in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand".

25 - 28 March 2017
ATBC Asia Pacific Chapter Meeting 2017
@ Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, China

Two members of the CEG-KMUTT attended the meeting:
Dusit Ngoprasert: “A new hope: tigers in the World Heritage Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex”
Ines Silva: “Spatial patterns of snake mortalities along a highway in a biodiversity hotspot in Northeastern Thailand” (poster).

10 March 2017
MSc defences

Congratulations to Chanthasone Phommachanh for successfully defending his MSc!
 
Next steps for Chanthasone is to  go back to Lao PDR and start working for the Saola Working Group

​15 - 16 December 2016
37th Thailand Wildlife Seminar
@ Kasetsart University, Thailand

Two CEG-KMUTT members presented their work at this annual milestone for Thai wildlife research:
Somying Tunhikorn: “A current conservation status of Gray Peacock Pheasants in Thailand”.
Nay Myo Shwe: "An attempt to conservation for Vultures in Myanmar".

November 2016
PhD defences

Congratulations to Somying Thunhikorn and Niti Sukumal for successfully defending their PhD!
 
Next steps for Somying is to go back to work in the Research Division in the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation while Niti will apply for a post doc position

​04 November 2016
Workshop: “How to advance Thai science with long-term plot research”
@ KMUTT Bangkhunthien

In light of unprecedented challenges to ecosystems caused by climate change, urbanisation, hunting, and other human pressures, the Conservation Ecology Program hosted a meeting of research institutions and the Department of National Parks to discuss opportunities for establishing new long-term research plots in Thailand. Relevant topics included forest restoration, animal-plant interactions, and other aspects of ecosystem function and adaptation. The short term outcome of the meeting was to initiate a network facilitating collaborations among researchers working on long -term projects

​15 September 2016
Gurney's Pitta Conservation Workshop
@ Myeik, Myanmar

Conservation Ecology Program PhD candidates Somying Thunhikorn and Nay Myo Shwe, and faculty member Tommaso Savini attended a conservation workshop on the Endangered Gurney’s Pitta (Pitta gurneyi), to identify and decide upon priority research and management actions to ensure the species survival in Tanintharyi Division of southern Myanmar. The workshop was organized by Nay Myo as part of his work for Fauna and Flora International where he is the Taninthayi Programme Coordinator

10 September 2016
Seub Nakhasathien Foundation - 26th Anniversary Commemoration
@ Bangkok Art & Culture Centre

PhD candidate Somying Thunhikorn and MSc candidate Greg Irving were invited to present under the theme Khao Sok - Khlong Saeng Forest Complex after construction of the Rajjaprapha Dam." Somying presented on on habitat loss and how it affected threatened wildlife, including complete loss of Tiger (Panthera tigris), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Banteng (Bos javanicus), Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana), and Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). She also touched upon her MSc research that assessed the dam's impact on Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus). Greg presented observations from his study of avian community diversity in Chiew Larn Reservoir, highlighting the lack of resident Sundaic forest species at the heart of what was once southern Thailand's largest contiguous lowland forest. Some threatened species that were present before dam construction are now lost from the forest complex or extirpated from Thailand, including Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) and Rail Babbler (Eupetes macrocerus).

​1 September 2016
Chester Zoo Invited Seminar
@ Chester Zoo, Chester, UK

PhD candidate Niti Sukumal presented his PhD results on “Landscape-scale conservation of Green Peafowl in Southeast Asia” at the Chester Zoo seminar. Niti is currently in the United Kingdom as a guest student for a three-month study visit funded by the Newton Fund.
Picture
Worrapan assisted by J. Kolowski in his Distance sampling exercise. Credit: R. Phoonjampa

​15 - 26 August 2016
Professional training course
Estimating Animal Occupancy and Abundance
@ Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA

With WWF Thailand financial support, PhD student Worrapan Phumanee participated in a two weeks course led by a diverse team of expert instructors (i.e. Distance sampling taught by Joe Kolowski, Mark-recapture analysis taught by Gary White, and occupancy modeling taught by Jim Hines and Jim Nichols).

27 July 2016
PhD defence

Congratulations to Wanlop Chutipong for successfully defnding his PhD! 

Next steps for Wanlop are part-time faculty position with the Conservation Ecology Program lab while making plans to explore new research opportunities in Thailand and Indonesia. 

​25-29 July 2016 
Special course: "Introduction to GIS with QGIS and R"
@ KMUTT Bangkhunthien

"Geographic information system (GIS) tools are essential today for understanding what is happening around us. A commonly used application is QGIS, which is free, open-source, cross-platform software that is constantly updated for greater performance.
 
QGIS works on Macs and Linux, but the facilitators only have experience with Windows.
 
This workshop is intended for those who want to learn the basics of GIS but do not have access to proprietary software."
 
​Facilitor: Biodivesity Conservation Society of Sarawak (BCSS)
Website: http://bcss.org.my/statsWorkshops/GIS_outline.htm

Thanks a lot to our friends at BCSS for facilitating another exceedingly useful training!!

18-22 July 2016
Special course: "Charts and Graphs in R"
 @ KMUTT Bangkhunthien

"Some types of charts can be drawn in spreadsheet software (eg. MS Excel or LibreOffice Calc), but R offers both a greater range of chart types and more flexibility in adjusting chart details to meet the demands of journal editors. We will focus on the powerful base graphics package in R, and only refer briefly to other add-in packages and ImageMagick."
 
​Facilitator: Biodivesity Conservation Society of Sarawak (BCSS)
Website: http://bcss.org.my/statsWorkshops/graphics_outline.htm

Thanks a lot to our friends at BCSS for facilitating!! It was great to see the practical comparative benefits of QGIS and R vis-a-vis ArcGIS and other applications.

14 July 2016
Special course: "Bayesian Networks for Decision-making"
@ KMUTT Bangkhunthien

Facilitator: Dr. Matthew Grainger, Research Associate, Newcastle University, UK
 
"The workshop offered an introduction to the concepts of Bayesian Networks (what are they? why do we use them? who uses them?), followed by an exercise sing GeNIe software to build a network and interrogate it."

Matt has a put together a nice write-up on his lab's site. 
 
Thanks Matt!

29 June - 02 July 2016 
Joint Meeting of Society for Conservation Biology Asia section and Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Asia-Pacific chapter
@ National University Singapore 

Conservation Ecology Program students and faculty participated in the first ever joint meeting of on biological conservation in Asia. Seven members presented findings from their research during the course of the week-long event:
Pornpimon Tangtorwongsakul: "Influence of cropping systems and orchard management on bee communities in an anthropogenic landscape".
Anucha Kamjing: "Landscape effects on smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) occupancy in the Inner Gulf of Thailand".
Naruemon Tantipisanuh: "Incidental impact from major road construction on one of Asia's most important wetlands, the inner Gulf of Thailand".
Inês Silva: "The importance of a multi-taxa approach to road ecology: a case study in northeast Thailand".
Greg Irving: "Avian species diversity in areas affected by the Rajjaprabha Hydroelectric Project, Suratthani Province, Thailand".
Chenzing Yu: "Roost habitat selection and activity pattern of Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer) in Thailand" (presented by George A. Gale).
Myo Shwe: "Myanmar oil palm plantations: A productivity and sustainability review".

19 -23 June 2016 
Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
@ Montpelier, France 

During the “Primates on the move: from local to landscape scale” session at the annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Tommaso Savini presented the work of his MSc Student Suchada Phiphatsuwannachai “Forest types affect seed shadows by white-handed gibbons” while Marie-Claude Huynen, Liege University (Belgium), presented, as coauthor, the work of Postdoctoral Researcher Juan Manuel José-Domínguez on “Space use and directness to out-of-sight resources in semi-provisioned and wild-feeding groups of Macaca leonine”.