Meetings of the Biodiversity & Ecology Journal Club Department of Biological Sciences, The National University of Singapore

"Hornbill Research & Conservation in Thailand"

Pilai Poonswad
Department of Microbiology,
Faculty of Science
Mahidol University
Bangkok,Thailand

Wednesday, 22nd October 2003: 4.00pm - 5.00pm

Seminar Room 3
Blk S2 Level 2, Department of Biological Sciences
The National University of Singapore
Science Drive 4

Visitors may park at Carpark 10
See map

Host: N. Sivasothi

Based on:
" Hornbill Research & Conservation in Thailand " by Pilai Poonswad (Department of Zoology, Mahidol University, Thailand)

About the Talk
As habitat destruction and over-use of natural resources become more and more severe in Southeast Asia, biologists are faced with the immense task of saving whatever natural habitats are left. Tropical forests, especially those of Asia, are one of the most highly threatened habitats today. These forests also happen to be home to almost three-fifths of the world's species of hornbills, colourful and charismatic birds which are perfect flagships species for the conservation of their environments. Currently there are 54 recognized species of hornbills in the world, with 31 species from Southeast Asia, and 13 of these species are found in Thailand. This talk will emphasis on current conservation efforts and research of hornbills in Thailand.

About the speaker
Dr. Pilai Poonswad obtained her PhD in Biology from Osaka University. After a brief spell as a guide to a BBC documentary film entitled "Fig Feast in Khao Yai" based on a scientific article by the late Dr. H.E. McClure, she then started the Thailand Hornbill Project in 1978. She has also initiated many research projects in Southeast Asia, such as the biology and ecology of endangered and threatened species of hornbills, including those in Khao Yai National Park, revising the distribution and status of hornbills in Thailand, studying the phenology & productivity of hornbill food plants, and investigating relationships between woodpeckers & hornbills. She has also recently obtained funding to do a 5-years study of hornbills in fragmented forests in Thailand and is instrumental in organizing the International Hornbill Workshop that is held once every 4 years. To date she has two 2 major publications entitled "Manual to the Conservation of Asian Hornbills" and "The Asian Hornbills: Ecology & Conservation".

ALL ARE WELCOME!  

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Public Talk
Wolfgang L. Werner- "Droughts in evergreen rainforests of Southeast Asia". 29th August 2003

Wasim Ahmad - "Feeding Diversity in Nematodes ". 4th September 2003

Eco@Woodlands
Zeehan Jaafar- "Finding Nemo". 20th September 2003

Archived meetings, Jul 2000 -Dec 2002