National Parks Board

Shorebird populations are declining across the world due to factors such as habitat loss and climate change. Identification of shorebird migration routes and important stopover sites can facilitate the implementation of strategic and effective conservation measures. Using a satellite transmitter, we successfully tracked the migration of one Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) from its wintering grounds in Singapore north along the East Asian‐Australasian Flyway (EAAF) to its breeding grounds located east of the Taymyr Peninsula in north‐central Siberia. This provides the first evidence that the Singapore plover could be part of the Yamal/Taymyr population that is known to only migrate south via the East Atlantic Flyway and winter in Western Europe. After breeding, the bird took an unexpected westward migration towards northwestern Taymyr Peninsula where it stopped at two locations for 9 and 5 days, respectively, before migrating south through Central Asia. Prior to crossing the Himalayan mountains, however, the plover migrated east again from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in northwest China to Jiangsu Province along the Yellow Sea, before turning south again to migrate along the EAAF to return to its wintering ground in Singapore. The plover's westward post‐breeding migration was contrary to prevailing winds, while the eastward migration north of the Himalayas was facilitated by strong easterly winds. The plover's westward migration post‐breeding may be attributed to acquiring additional food resources prior to its southward migration, and/or because it was searching for future breeding or staging grounds. Both possibilities may be associated with habitat changes occurring on their breeding grounds due to climate change. Further studies on the Grey Plovers wintering in Southeast Asia are needed to understand whether the migration route taken by this individual is representative of the species.

Long-term monitoring data on population abundance and distribution are essential for developing and refining conservation strategies, particularly for endangered species like the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), for which data remain limited across much of their range in Borneo. Previous studies conducted in 2004/2005 and 2014 in the Klias Peninsula, western Sabah, northern Borneo, provided important insights into population trends and distribution. Building on this foundation, we reassessed the proboscis monkey population in 2022 after an 8-year interval and investigated changes in land use and land cover during the same period. Our findings indicate a lower overall estimate of population abundance (number of individuals); however, the number of observed groups is comparable to previous studies, suggesting some stability. Distribution patterns have remained relatively stable, with population strongholds in the central part of the Klias Peninsula, underscoring the continued importance of areas like Padas Damit Forest Reserve for proboscis monkey conservation. Our data also reveal concerning trends, including a decline in group sizes (number of individuals per group) within breeding units and the presence of very small populations in fragmented sites such as Bongawan, presenting ongoing conservation challenges. Our land-use and land-cover change findings further revealed that less than half of the available proboscis monkey habitats in this region are fully protected. Vegetation analysis showed that tree species richness positively influences proboscis monkey abundance, emphasizing the critical role of food resource diversity. These findings have important conservation implications for the long-term survival of this endangered primate in the Klias Peninsula region.

This work was performed to generate the data needed to set epidemiological cut-off values for minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobial agents against Vibrio parahaemolyticus determined using standardised broth microdilution protocols. Eight laboratories performed broth microdilution tests with incubation at 35°C for 16 to 20 h, and 7 also performed tests on the same isolates with incubation at 28°C for 24 to 28 h. Data were analysed by the ECOFFinder and normalised resistance interpretation algorithms. The cut-off values calculated for ceftazidime, florfenicol and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 1, 1 and 0.25/4.75 µg ml ⁻¹ , respectively, were the same when calculated from data obtained at both temperatures. The cut-off values calculated from data obtained at 35°C and from data obtained at 28°C were 0.25 and 0.5 µg ml ⁻¹ for enrofloxacin, 2 and 4 µg ml ⁻¹ for gentamicin, 0.5 and 1 µg ml ⁻¹ for oxolinic acid and 2 and 1 µg ml ⁻¹ for oxytetracycline, respectively. The influence of incubation temperature on MIC values was investigated by comparing MICs obtained at 35 and 28°C for a specific antimicrobial agent with a particular isolate by an individual laboratory. Results showed that 56% of 1473 of these paired MIC values were identical, while 38% differed from one another by not more than 1 dilution step. The data generated in this work will be submitted to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute for consideration in their setting of internationally agreed epidemiological cut-off values for V. parahaemolyticus that are essential for interpreting antimicrobial susceptibility testing data of this species.

Floral mimics deceive their pollinators by developing visual and olfactory resemblance to various models. We report a flower that exhibits phenotypes like aerial litter and deceives an aerial litter specialist beetle to achieve pollination. We assessed the floral phenology and the effective pollinators of an Australian understorey treelet, Meiogyne heteropetala (Annonaceae). The similarities of morphology, colour and odour between the flowers and co‐occurring aerial litter were investigated. The terpene synthase involved in floral scent emission was identified by expression patterns and product profile. The behavioural responses of the pollinator to various odours were assessed using bioassays. The erotylid beetle Loberus sharpi is the most likely effective pollinator because it was the only pollen‐laden visitor during the pistillate phase. Loberus sharpi was exclusively found in aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The flowers offer an honest shelter reward. The beetle also oviposits there, but most larvae eventually perished as the petals dropped onto the forest floor. The morphology and spectral reflectance of the flowers overlap with aerial litter. The floral scent was dominated by monoterpenes, especially 1,8‐cineole. The cineole synthase MhCINS was the only highly expressed floral terpene synthase and possessed a highly similar product profile to the floral scent composition. The volatile composition of M. heteropetala flowers is distinct from other congeners and highly similar to aerial litter, indicating advergence to aerial litter. Visual and odour resemblance, coupled with low larval survivorship, provides evidence that the beetles were deceived into pollinating the flowers. Behavioural experiments showed that the pollinator was attracted to both aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The beetles were also attracted to 1,8‐cineole and synthetic mixes of floral odour and MhCINS products. The beetles were unable to distinguish floral scent from MhCINS products nor from 1,8‐cineole, suggesting MhCINS alone sufficed to attract the pollinator olfactorily. The beetles, however, preferred aerial litter over flowers. The beetles likely categorised the flower as a general, but not the most preferred, brood substrate. Synthesis. This study reports the first case of floral mimicry of aerial litter and characterises the biochemical process responsible for olfactory mimicry.

Communal bird roosts serve as information centres and a means of thermoregulation for many species. While some communally roosting species are major pests and cause dis‐amenities, others are of conservation concern. Estimating the population of roosting birds can provide a useful proxy of population size and possibly a more reliable estimate than other sampling techniques. However, estimating these populations is challenging as some roosts are large and often occluded in foliage. Previous acoustic methods such as paired sampling, microphone arrays and use of call rate have been used to estimate bird abundances; however, these are less suited for estimating large roost populations where hundreds of individuals are calling in unison. To address this challenge, we explored using machine learning techniques to estimate a roost population of the Javan myna, Acridotheres javanicus, an invasive species in Singapore. While one may expect to use sound intensity to estimate roost sizes, it is affected by various factors such as distance to the recorder, local propagation conditions (e.g. buildings and trees), weather conditions, and noise from other sources. Here, we used a deep neural network to extract higher order statistics from the sound recordings and use those to help estimate roost sizes. Additionally, we validated our method using automated visual analysis with a dual‐camera setup and manual bird counts. Our estimated bird counts over time using our acoustic model matched the automated visual estimates and manual bird counts at a selected Javan myna roost, thus validating our approach. Our acoustic model estimated close to 400 individual mynas roosting in a single tree. Analyses of additional recordings of Javan myna roosts conducted on two separate occasions and at a different roost location using our acoustic model showed that our roost estimates over time also matched our automated visual estimates well. Practical implication: Our novel approach of estimating communal roost sizes can be achieved robustly using a simple portable acoustic recording system. Our method has multiple applications such as testing the efficacy of avian roost population control measures (e.g. roost tree pruning) and monitoring the populations of threatened bird species that roost communally.

We investigated the population genetic trajectory and genetic diversity of a wintering population of Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus) in Southeast Asia. Using ~ 23,000 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) harvested by double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) of Common Redshanks collected in Singapore across 28 years, we uncovered evidence for long-term genetic homogeneity that points to sustained migratory connectivity of individuals found in Singapore. Our population genetic analyses also revealed that Singapore’s Common Redshanks have harboured persistently low levels of genetic diversity throughout the temporal sampling regime. We further furnish, for the first time in shorebirds, genomic evidence for migratory site fidelity within closely related familial pairs across multiple seasons. Our findings are consistent with population genetic stability and support past results on the species’ exceptional site fidelity, with ramifications for the population’s conservation status and management strategy. Our work highlights the utility of genome-wide DNA techniques in combination with robust longitudinal sampling regimes for effective genetic monitoring programs targeted at highly mobile avian taxa, with broad applicability and relevance to highly dispersive taxa in general. We recommend that future studies expand the current sampling regime to achieve a comprehensive phylogeographic overview for insights into the genetic and migratory connectivity of the species.

In developed cities, bird communities are typically comprised of a few dominant invasive species that can cause considerable social and economic costs. While various studies advocate restricting anthropogenic food as a suitable management approach, a significant knowledge gap persists regarding how these species interact and respond to such an intervention. Here, we evaluate whether limiting a shared food resource may affect their abundances similarly and assess whether such limitations influence their niche dynamics. In Singapore, open food centres for people, colloquially known as hawker centres, serve as key food sources for three highly adapted urban birds: feral pigeons, Javan mynas and house crows. We counted these three species across 63 hawker centres and analysed their niche dynamics across different phases—before, during COVID‐19 social restrictions when dining‐in was prohibited, and during an enforcement phase mandating the return of crockery. We modelled their counts, diet niche widths and niche overlaps, considering predictors which include the sampling phases, food availability, structural characteristics of hawker centres and spatial attributes such as distance to public housing. During social restrictions, feral pigeon and Javan myna counts showed a significant decline, while the count proportions of the three species compared to each other remained relatively stable. Hawker centres closer to bridges and public housing, and those that structurally more open, attracted more birds. The niche widths of feral pigeons and Javan mynas significantly narrowed during social restrictions due to reduced food availability. However, their niche overlaps remained consistent across sampling phases, indicating resource partitioning strategies to cope with extreme food shortages—feral pigeons adapted by foraging more on grass verges outside, while Javan mynas frequented tray return stations. This resilience in maintaining species proportions and the absence of significant niche overlap suggested the existence of an ecological balance despite substantial reductions in available food. Synthesis and applications. Our study underscores the importance of controlling human‐provided food to collectively manage dominant urban bird commensals. Beyond the two social restriction phases, curbing the availability of anthropogenic food through enforcement also kept nuisance birds away, validating a cost‐effective approach in reducing their counts.

Salmonella remains a significant foodborne pathogen globally with S. Typhimurium presenting as a frequently occurring serovar. This study aimed to characterize 67 S. Typhimurium isolates from humans, food, farms, and slaughterhouses collected in Singapore from 2016 to 2017. Using whole-genome sequencing analysis, the isolates were found to belong to either ST19 (n = 33) or ST36 (n = 34). ST36 predominated in human intestinal and chicken isolates, while human extra-intestinal and non-chicken food isolates belonged to ST19. Plasmids were predicted in 88.1% (n = 59) of the isolates with the most common incompatibility group profiles being IncFIB(S), IncFII(S) and IncQ1. IncFIB(S) (adjusted p-value < 0.05) and IncFII(S) (adjusted p-value < 0.05) were significantly more prevalent in ST19 isolates, while Col156 (adjusted p-value < 0.05) was more significantly found in ST36 isolates. ST36 isolates exhibited higher resistance to multiple antibiotic classes such as penicillins, phenicols, folate pathway inhibitors, aminoglycosides, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones. Phylogenetics analysis suggested potential shared routes of transmission among human, chicken, farm and slaughterhouse environments. Taken together, this study offers a cross-sectional epidemiological insight into the genomic epidemiology and antimicrobial landscape of S. Typhimurium isolates in Singapore, informing strategies for future public health and food safety surveillance.

In Singapore, the Critically Endangered Sunda pangolin Manis javanica is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and road traffic collisions. To mitigate these threats, an understanding of its spatiotemporal distribution is needed, as identified in the National Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the species. However, Sunda pangolin occurrence data are held in multiple separate databases, are typically collected using non-standardized methods, and often lack accurate location details. To compile a complete georeferenced database of Sunda pangolin records in Singapore, we consolidated occurrence data from heterogeneous databases and mainstream and social media, and converted locality descriptions into geographical coordinates. We demonstrate the use of this database to analyse data on rescued pangolins and those killed on roads, to aid conservation efforts in Singapore, and describe other potential applications. We georeferenced 482 records of pangolin sightings, rescues and roadkill for 1996–2021, finding an increase in all three over the study period. Roadkill and rescues occurred mostly in central and western Singapore, close to forested areas, and were predominantly of subadults and adult males. The data can be used to inform threat mitigation strategies, post-rescue release plans and further research. The database has already been used in practice, contributing to environmental impact assessments and conservation recommendations. Overall, this georeferenced database demonstrates the value of citizen science and collating wildlife data from multiple sources, and the methods used can be applied to other taxa to aid conservation strategies.

Licuala ferruginea Becc., a tropical forest understorey palm, is observed to have fruits that appear red in colour when unripe, turning pink, then white, purple and finally black in colour as they ripen. We monitored 13 fruiting palms in rainforest fragments and recorded the consumption of fruits by animals via camera traps. We also documented the fruiting phenology of two palms in the nursery. In the rainforest fragments, a Cream‐vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex) was observed plucking a mature purple fruit from a L. ferruginea palm, before flying away with the fruit in its beak. This was the only bird that was observed feeding on the mature fruit. A range of mammals, dominated by edge species such as the Long‐tailed Macaque and Wild Boar, were observed to consume L. ferruginea fruits indiscriminately across all five colour stages, thereby limiting the dispersal of the fruits. Forest bulbul gape sizes also matched the fruit size, suggesting that forest bulbuls are the likely dispersers of the palm in the original forest where edge species are not in high densities. We further posit that the initial phase of red fruits, with high contrasting red reflectance against a green foliage background, might be a form of early advertisement to birds. The fruit then turns pink and white, which have high green reflectance and is less contrasting, thereby reducing the conspicuity of the fruit. This allows the fruit to ripen with high fructose and glucose content, and turn purple and black, which are known visual cues for birds. This study provides indicative support for the dispersal syndrome hypothesis and highlights the potential effects of forest fragmentation on plant–frugivore interactions.

House crows (Corvus splendens) are considered an invasive species and are prevalent in parts of Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Existing crow management measures include food limitation, habitat modification, and direct population control. The latter method provides a more immediate solution, particularly in nesting locations where crow attacks occur more frequently. Crow ladder traps are widely adopted to capture crows, but a thorough examination of the environmental conditions that optimize trapping efficacy is lacking. We assessed factors affecting crow trap efficacy in Singapore to better advise future deployment strategies of crow traps. We obtained data from 170 crow trapping operations including the identities of the contractors conducting the trapping operations, operation start date, crow density, intensity of bird feeding, various land use cover proportions, and an index to quantify the spatial‐temporal proximity to previous trapping operations. We used a spatial gamma generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to determine the factors affecting the daily number of crows captured and a spatial binomial GLM to determine the factors affecting the probability that crows will be captured. The number of bird‐feeding incidents had a negative effect on crow trap efficacy suggesting that crows are probably less inclined to enter traps if proximate anthropogenic food abundance is high. Trapping efficacy increased if traps were placed in high crow‐density areas, likely because more crows could detect the traps. The probability of capture also declined if the traps were placed closer to prior trapping locations or with a shorter time interval from previous trapping operations. Capture rates of crows can be increased by placing traps in high crow density areas, limiting bird‐feeding incidences, and lengthening the spatial and temporal proximities to previous trapping operations. The deployment of ladder traps is a viable means to control the population of house crows and consideration of environmental conditions and trapping history can improve capture rates.

Deforestation is linked to the increasing prevalence of small forest fragments worldwide and an associated loss in functional diversity. However, our long-term understanding on how biodiversity and functional roles respond in such isolated fragments is limited, especially in Southeast Asia. We compared the bird community in a small primary rainforest fragment in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, using historical records in 1898 and contemporary surveys conducted in 1998 and 2018–2021. Species composition was expectedly dissimilar between the 1898 and contemporary bird communities (50%), driven mostly by turnover (45.5%) rather than nestedness (4.5%). Despite the changes in community composition and species extirpations, both species richness and functional diversity were retained. Our results suggest that small forest fragments can form novel bird communities that are functionally similar to previous communities that inhabited the fragment, leading to the retention of functional diversity. Such functional redundancy may be encouraged through habitat restoration initiatives adjacent to fragmented forests.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form mycorrhizal relationships with a large majority of the plant species on Earth. However, the actual symbiosis can be complex, with the mutual relationships being affected by the mycorrhizal partner(s) involved, the functionalities they bring to the relationship, the available nutrient resources, and the environment. It has been suggested that the use of indigenous AMF may be superior to commercial AMF products in the long term, especially with respect to improved nutrient uptake and their adaptation to local biotic or abiotic stresses. However, such a strategy would require the identification of the AMF involved, the determination of their respective contributions in the face of local biotic and abiotic factors and the subsequent introduction and management of their relationships. This chapter will focus on how the various aspects of traditional, molecular, and next generation AMF identification may be used to help in the field application of AMF, especially when used in conjunction with an understanding of AMF biology. In this context, AMF contributions to nutrient and water uptake in plants are also described.

More than half of the world's population live in cities, and they have benefitted from the ecosystem services provided by urban biodiversity. International conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity have provided recommendations on how to engage local governments and cities in the implementation of their strategic plans. In parallel, recognizing this, cities conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity in many practical ways. A list of general strategies adopted by cities is presented. The rich and diverse experiences of eleven cities, i.e. Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Durban, Edinburgh, Edmonton, Hyderabad, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Singapore, Toluca and Vitoria-Gasteiz, which have successfully conserved biodiversity in urbanized landscape across the globe, are shared. These cities have all applied the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity as an evaluation and monitoring tool for biodiversity conservation efforts, in addition to using it innovatively for other purposes. Cities can play a pivotal role in ensuring that Target 12 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be achieved. Upscaling cities’ models of success would require a worldwide concerted effort involving everyone, i.e. all levels of stakeholders. Mainstreaming of biodiversity into all sectors, including commercial, economic, financial, industrial and technological, and the incorporation of biodiversity into decision-making in urban planning and management would be a game-changer. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bringing nature into decision-making’.