Sivasothi N.

• Master of Science (Zoology)
• Lecturer at National University of Singapore

(1) The tropical swallowtail moth Lyssa zampa received much public attention during its years of mass emergence in Singapore and Southeast Asia. However, despite its prominence, little is known about its population demographics and spatial ecology. This study aims to establish the annual abundance of L. zampa, determine its spatial patterns of occu...

Smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) were transient in Singapore before one resident family group was observed in 1998, presumably having recolonized from Peninsular Malaysia. A population survey in 2017 revealed a minimum of 11 groups and 79 individuals. Since then, movements of otter groups within urban areas have led to increasing numb...

The only Caryota species native to Singapore, C. mitis is an important ecological resource for a diversity of fauna. However, little is known about the autecology of this charismatic, commonly cultivated palm. This is the first study that focuses on the autecology of C. mitis in Singapore, investigating the following ecological attributes: (1) thei...

The common palm civet Paradoxurus musangus is one of the last wild native urban carnivorans in Singapore, a highly urbanised tropical city state. Yet little is known about its ecology. Through a combination of methods, using scat analyses, controlled seed germination and gut passage experiments, and GPS telemetry, our study showed that the common p...

The population and distribution of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Singapore has increased since their return in 1998, but their population structure, distribution, and habitat use have not been quantified. A nationwide field study (land surveys, boat surveys and camera trapping) at 15 sites, along with the collection of L. perspi...

The population and distribution of the smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata in Singapore have increased since 1998. In recent years, the species has established itself in urban areas with high human exposure within the Central Watershed of Singapore. The ease of following L. perspicillata in such areas has facilitated the monitoring of two u...

Predator-prey interaction can be crucial for studies in trophic-level ecology. Owing to their abundance and richness, many small arthropods, including the Orthoptera, are important prey in the ecosystem. Seventy scat samples from the common palm civet (Paradoxurus musangus) containing orthopteran parts (14.5%; n = 482) collected between on Pulau Ub...

After decades of absence, the smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata (Geoffroy, 1826) is now widespread along the northern shores of Singapore. Their diet was examined at four sites along the northern coast, through an analysis of 181 spraint samples, which revealed a diet mostly of fish (92%) and prawns (8%). Dietary composition differed amon...

Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) are wild felids that have been reported to thrive in human-modified habitats in Asia. It has been suggested that they may be adapters of plantation forests by exploiting the availability of murid prey and are abundant in these habitats. However, these hypotheses have yet to be tested or quantified. Here, came...

The smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata reappeared in Singapore in the mid-1990s after an apparent absence of three decades. No assessment of their status has been reported since. We compiled 370 sighting records from the literature and verified online reports and submissions between 1998 and 2014. The records revealed increasing numbers of...

An adult male leopard cat was seen on a tree stump among a pile of branches about 1 m above ground. This is the first confirmed record of a live leopard cat on the main island of Singapore since 1968. All previous records of this species on the main island were of road kills. The leopard cat is also known to be present on Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin a...

A previously unknown population of the Singapore freshwater crab (Johora singaporensis), was discovered in a new hill-stream locality in a restricted area in Bukit Gombak, Singapore. This discovery highlights the value of hill-stream habitats and the important role that restricted security areas play in the protection of local biodiversity in Singa...

The Singapore freshwater crab Johora singaporensis is known only from three streams in Singapore and is among the top 100 most threatened species in the world. It is the only member of the genus Johora , endemic to the Malay Peninsula, to be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Extensive surveys conducted over 1 year to determ...

Mangroves represent a critical ecological habitat to a diverse range of marine fauna and serve as a wintering site for a wide variety of migratory birds, but are highly endangered in Southeast Asia due to direct exploitation and disturbance. In Singapore, mangroves comprised around 13% of the total land area in 1820, but coverage is now less than 5...

In this study, persistent organic pollutants were quantified in sediments, subsurface seawater, sea-surface microlayer and twenty-four biota species collected at two separate mangrove habitats in Singapore. Data confirmed the ubiquity of POPs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in the marine environment of Singapore. A biomagnificati...

In this study, persistent organic pollutants were quantified in sediments, subsurface seawater, sea-surface microlayer and twenty-four biota species collected at two separate mangrove habitats in Singapore. Data confirmed the ubiquity of POPs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in the marine environment of Singapore. A biomagnificati...

In March 2002, scientists from the South China Sea region conducted a major biodiversity expedition to the waters off the Anambas and Natuna Islands in Indonesia. The two week expedition obtained over 3000 specimens representing a large diversity of plant and animal species. Many were new records for the area, and some were also new to science. The...

Six species of crabs are known to climb mangrove trees in Singapore: the non-burrowing Selatium brockii, Metopograpsus gracilipes, and M. latifrons, and the burrowing Episesarma spp.: E. versicolor, E. chengtongense, and E. singaporense. Despite the apparent spatial overlap of their habitat, an examination of the diet, distribution in the mangrove,...

Four species of otters have been recorded from Malaysia and Singapore in the past: Lutra lutra (Common or Eurasian Otter), Lutra sumatrana (Hairy-nosed Otter), Lutrogale perspicillata (Smooth Otter) and Amblonyx cinereus (Oriental Small-clawed Otter). All four are listed in the Threatened Species Categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animal...

The highly urbanised city state of Singapore still retains some natural habitats which are valuable both culturally and scientifically. The role of instilling public awareness and appreciation for these remaining habitats are now also adopted by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR). Initiated in 1998 as the RMBR, the Raffles Museum tr...

The forests in Singapore have experienced massive deforestation, resulting in the reduction of both primary and secondary forests. The total forested area in Singapore now stands at a mere 3% of her total land area, which consists of hardly 100 ha of primary forest and approximately 1600 ha tall secondary forest . Kent Ridge is an example of an und...