How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement.

Global road networks continue to expand, and the wildlife responses to these landscape-level changes need to be understood to advise long-term management decisions. Roads have high mortality risk to snakes because snakes typically move slowly and can be intentionally targeted by drivers.We investigated how radio-tracked King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) traverse a major highway in northeast Thailand, and if reproductive cycles were associated with road hazards.We surveyed a 15.3 km stretch of Highway 304 to determine if there were any locations where snakes could safely move across the road (e.g., culverts and bridges). We used recurse analyses to detect possible road-crossing events, and used dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models (dBBMMs) to show movement pathways association with possible unintentional crossing structures. We further used Integrated Step Selection Functions (ISSF) to assess seasonal differences in avoidance of major roads for adult King Cobras in relation to reproductive state.We discovered 32 unintentional wildlife crossing locations capable of facilitating King Cobra movement across the highway. While our dBBMMs broadly revealed underpasses as possible crossing points, they failed to identify specific underpasses used by telemetered individuals; however, the tracking locations pre- and post-crossing and photographs provided strong evidence of underpass use. Our ISSF suggested a lower avoidance of roads during the breeding season, although the results were inconclusive. With the high volume of traffic, large size of King Cobras, and a 98.8% success rate of crossing the road in our study (nine individuals: 84 crossing attempts with one fatality), we strongly suspect that individuals are using the unintentional crossing structures to safely traverse the road.Further research is needed to determine the extent of wildlife underpass use at our study site. We propose that more consistent integration of drainage culverts and bridges could help mitigate the impacts of roads on some terrestrial wildlife.

Can post-capture photographic identification as a wildlife marking technique be undermined by observer error? A case study using King Cobras in northeast Thailand.

Identifying individuals with natural markings is increasing in popularity to non-invasively support population studies. However, applying natural variation among individuals requires careful evaluation among target species, snakes for example have little validation of such methods. Here we introduce a mark-free identification method for King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) from the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, in northeast Thailand using both subcaudal scale pholidosis (scale arrangement and number) and unique ventral body markings to distinguish individuals. This project aims to evaluate the impact of observer error on individual identification. Observers of varying expertise, will distinguish between King Cobra individuals using identifying photographs from a previous study. We will ask randomly assigned observers to distinguish individuals via: 1) subcaudal pholidosis, 2) ventral body markings, and 3) combination of both measures. Using Bayesian logistic regression, we will assess the probability observers correctly distinguish individuals. Based on exploratory observations, we hypothesise that there will be a high probability of correct identifications using subcaudal pholidosis and ventral body markings. We aim to stimulate other studies implementing identification techniques for scrutinous assessment of such methods, in order to avoid subsequent errors during long-term population studies.

No room to roam: King Cobras reduce movement in agriculture.

BACKGROUND: Studying animal movement provides insights into how animals react to land-use changes. As agriculture expands, we can use animal movement to examine how animals change their behaviour in response. Recent reviews show a tendency for mammalian species to reduce movements in response to increased human landscape modification, but reptile movements have not been as extensively studied. METHODS: We examined movements of a large reptilian predator, the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), in Northeast Thailand. We used a consistent regime of radio telemetry tracking to document movements across protected forest and adjacent agricultural areas. Using dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Model derived motion variance, Integrated Step-Selection Functions, and metrics of site reuse, we examined how King Cobra movements changed in agricultural areas. RESULTS: Motion variance values indicated that King Cobra movements increased in forested areas and tended to decrease in agricultural areas. Our Integrated Step-Selection Functions revealed that when moving in agricultural areas King Cobras restricted their movements to remain within vegetated semi-natural areas, often located along the banks of irrigation canals. Site reuse metrics of residency time and number of revisits appeared unaffected by distance to landscape features (forests, semi-natural areas, settlements, water bodies, and roads). Neither motion variance nor reuse metrics were consistently affected by the presence of threatening landscape features (e.g. roads, human settlements), suggesting that King Cobras will remain in close proximity to threats, provided habitat patches are available. CONCLUSIONS: Although King Cobras displayed individual heterogeneity in their response to agricultural landscapes, the overall trend suggested reduced movements when faced with fragmented habitat patches embedded in an otherwise inhospitable land-use matrix. Movement reductions are consistent with findings for mammals and forest specialist species.

Composition and Diversity of Soil Fungi in Dipterocarpaceae-Dominated Seasonal Tropical Forests in Thailand.

Although fungi play essential roles in nutrient cycles and plant growth in forest ecosystems, limited information is currently available on the community compositions of soil fungi in tropical forests. Few studies have examined fungal community structures in seasonal tropical forests, in which forest fires potentially have a large impact on above- and belowground community processes. Based on high-throughput sequencing technologies, we herein examined the diversity and community structures of soil fungi in dry seasonal tropical forests in Sakaerat, northeast Thailand. We found that fungal community compositions diverged among dry evergreen, dry deciduous, and fire-protected dry deciduous forests within the region. Although tree species diversity did not positively correlate with soil fungal diversity, the coverage of an understory bamboo species (Vietnamosasa pusilla) showed a strong relationship with fungal community structures. Our community ecological analysis also yielded a list of fungi showing habitat preferences for either of the neighboring evergreen and deciduous forests in Sakaerat. The present results provide a basis for managing soil fungal communities and aboveground plant communities in seasonal tropical forests in Southeast Asia.

New species of Leleja (Orthoptera: Gryllinae; Gryllini) with first female description for the genus.

Following the recent discovery of a new genus from Thailand, a new species of Leleja Gorochov 2016 was discovered from Sakaerat Environmental Research Station in the same province: Leleja khao sp. n. Despite their close proximity between their known distributions, Leleja khao sp. n. differs from the type species by the male genitalia and also their natural habitat. The female for the genus is also described here for the first time.

A new species and locality record for Pseudopsyra katydid (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae).

Pseudopsyra is a genus of Phaneropterinae katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), currently comprising of four species - two species each from southern China and Peninsular Malaysia (Hebard, 1922; Liu & Kang, 2006; Tan & Kamaruddin, 2013, 2014). The revision of Pseudopsyra by Liu & Kang (2006) provided a redescription of the genus, a new diagnosis and a key to known species. Subsequently, more surveys were conducted in Peninsular Malaysia and yield another species, representing the lowest latitudinal limits of this genus thus far (Tan & Kamaruddin, 2013). Continued surveys between the upper and lower latitudinal limits of the genus yield a new species: Pseudopsyra taksini sp. nov. from the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand. The orthopteran diversity at Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve remains understudied with numerous new species described recently, including other genus of Phaneropterinae (Tan & Artchawakom, 2014; Tan et al., 2015). With emphasis of using sexual parts for evidence of reproductive isolation in species delimitation, the discovery of a new species of Pseudopsyra also represents the first record of the genus from Thailand. It is not surprising that more undescribed species of Pseudopsyra can be found across the Indo-China region.

Taxonomic review of the katydid genus Alloteratura (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Meconematinae) with the description of one new species from Thailand.

Alloteratura Hebard, 1922 is a genus of katydid from the speciose Meconematinae, most easily characterised by maxillary palpi with extremely short apical segment. Currently, two subgenera exists: subgenus Alloteratura Hebard, 1922 (33 species) and Meconemopsis Karny, 1922 (11 species). In this taxonomic review, one new species of the subgenus Meconemopsis from Thailand is described: A. (M.) dawwruengi sp. nov. Illustrated keys to species for both subgenera are also presented here.

Vertical Structure of Phyllosphere Fungal Communities in a Tropical Forest in Thailand Uncovered by High-Throughput Sequencing.

Phyllosphere fungi harbor a tremendous species diversity and play important ecological roles. However, little is known about their distribution patterns within forest ecosystems. We examined how species diversity and community composition of phyllosphere fungi change along a vertical structure in a tropical forest in Thailand. Fungal communities in 144 leaf samples from 19 vertical layers (1.28-34.4 m above ground) of 73 plant individuals (27 species) were investigated by metabarcoding analysis using Ion Torrent sequencing. In total, 1,524 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected among 890,710 reads obtained from the 144 leaf samples. Taxonomically diverse fungi belonging to as many as 24 orders of Ascomycota and 21 orders of Basidiomycota were detected, most of which inhabited limited parts of the lowest layers closest to the forest floor. Species diversity of phyllosphere fungi was the highest in the lowest layers closest to the forest floor, decreased with increasing height, and lowest in the canopy; 742 and 55 fungal OTUs were detected at the lowest and highest layer, respectively. On the layers close to the forest floor, phyllosphere fungal communities were mainly composed of low frequency OTUs and largely differentiated among plant individuals. Conversely, in the canopy, fungal communities consisted of similar OTUs across plant individuals, and as many as 86.1%-92.7% of the OTUs found in the canopy (≥22 m above ground) were also distributed in the lower layers. Overall, our study showed the variability of phyllosphere fungal communities along the vertical gradient of plant vegetation and environmental conditions, suggesting the significance of biotic and abiotic variation for the species diversity of phyllosphere fungi.

Review of the plant bug genus Fingulus Distant in Indochina (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Deraeocorini), with descriptions of two new species.

The deraeocorine plant bug genus Fingulus Distant from Indochina is reviewed, diagnosed and discussed. Seven species are currently recognized, including two new species described herein: F. angkorensis and F. rubricatus from Cambodia and Thailand. Behavior and habitat of F. angkorensis are documented, which was observed to be associated with two anthocorids and a thrips in leaf margin curl-galls produced by the thrips on a banyan tree Ficus microcarpa. A checklist including two species of the assumed sister genus Angerianus Distant is provided, with available distributional records; images of two Angerianus species are also shown for the first time.

Taxonomic review of Kuzicus Gorochov, 1993 (Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae), with two new species from Thailand and key to species.

The taxonomy of genus Kuzicus Gorochov, 1993 (Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) is reviewed. Two new species are described from Thailand: Kuzicus pakthongchai sp. n. Tan et al. and Kuzicus multidenticulatus sp. n. Tan et al. Kuzicus denticuloides (Kevan, 1993) comb. nov. is transferred from genus Xiphidiopsis. Parakuzicus is removed as a subgenus and considered a distinct genus. A key to species of Kuzicus is provided.

Contribution to the taxonomy of scaly crickets (Orthoptera: Mogoplistidae: Mogoplistinae) from Southeast Asia.

Three new species of scaly crickets are described: Ornebius xinyao sp. n. from Singapore; Ornebius dowwiangkanae sp. n. and Terraplistes ingrischi sp. n. from Thailand. Ornebius insculptus Tan & Ingrisch, 2013 from Singapore is also corrected for nomenclatural error from the original name Ornebius insculpta.

Study of Gryllacridinae (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae) from Thailand and adjacent countries: the genera Ultragryllacris gen. nov. and Capnogryllacris.

A new material on the genera Ultragryllacris gen. nov. and Capnogryllacris Karny, 1937 from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia is considered. Five new species and subspecies are described: U. pulchra sp. nov.; U. p. alboclypeata subsp. nov.; C. thaica sp. nov.; C. sakaerat sp. nov.; C. phaeocephala cambodiensis subsp. nov. Capnogryllacris s. l. is divided into two possible subgenera (Capnogryllacris s. str. and Dictyogryllacris Karny, 1937, stat. nov.) as a minimum; the former genera Borneogryllacris Karny, 1937, syn. nov., Marthogryllacris Karny, 1937, syn. nov. and Erythrogryllacris Karny, 1937, syn. nov. are treated as synonyms of the subgenus Capnogryllacris. Previously unknown female for C. khmerica Gorochov, 2003 is described; neotype for C. martha (Griffini, 1914 ), type species of Marthogryllacris, is designated; C. erythrocephala Gorochov, 2003, sp. ressur. and C. e. borealis Gorochov, 2003, stat. ressur. are restored from synonyms of C. martha and from species status, respectively.

A new species of Velarifictorus (Pseudocoiblemmus) from Thailand (Gryllidae; Gryllinae; Modicogryllini) with key to species.

One new species of Velarifictorus (Pseudocoiblemmus) is described from Thailand: Velarifictorus (Pseudocoiblemmus) bilobus sp. n. A key to all known species of Velarifictorus (Pseudocoiblemmus) is provided.

A new species from the genus Gorochovitettix (Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from Thailand.

A new species of pygmy grasshopper from the genus Gorochovitettix is described: Gorochovitettix khaosung sp. n. from Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand. This represents the second species from the genus and the first record of the genus outside Vietnam.

Taxonomic review of Tapiena (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae), with key to species and new species from Thailand.

The genus Tapiena (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae), consisting of species from around Asia and Africa, is reviewed. Henningian species concept was applied and morphology was used to estimate species boundaries. From Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand, two new species are described: Tapiena sakaerat Tan, Liu, Artchawakom sp. n. and Tapiena denticulata Tan, Liu, Artchawakom sp. n. This represents the first record of the genus Tapiena in Thailand. A key to the species of Tapiena (for males only) is also provided.

First Indochinese records of the plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), with descriptions of eight new species from Thailand.

The phyline plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter is reported from Thailand as well as the Indochina region for the first time, diagnosed, and discussed on its phylogenetic position. Eight new species, Hypseloecus castaneus, H. katrinae, H. nigrobrevis, H. phuvasae, H. sakaerat, H. schuhianus, H. sericosagus and H. siamensis, are described, all with color photographic images of live individuals. Four species were confirmed to be associated with inflorescence and/or fruits of Loranthaceae mistletoe (Santalales), particularly Scurrula spp. in Thailand. A checklist of Asian and New Guinean congeners and a key to Asian species (from Japan, Indochina and Philippines) are provided.

A new species of Arnobia (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae) from Sakaerat, Thailand.

From Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, one new species of Arnobia (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae) is described: Arnobia tinae sp. n. 

Additional records and descriptions of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus from Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini).

Eleven species of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus Hahn from Thailand are documented, with photographic images of live individuals. Four new species with conventional, moderate antlike shape, Pilophorus meteorus, P. saovapruki, P. subparallelus and P. suwimonae, are described. Two known Thai species, P. alstoni Schuh and P. typicus (Distant), are further reported and diagnosed. Biological information including host association is provided for P. alstoni, P. meteorus, P. saovapruki and P. typicus. A checklist of all currently known species of Pilophorus in Thailand and a key to known Thai species are included. Pilophorus typicus is reported from Singapore for the first time.

Micromyzusplatycerii sp. n. (Hemiptera, Aphididae) - a new fern-feeding aphid species from Thailand.

A new fern-feeding aphid species, Micromyzusplatycerii, collected in Sakaerat Research Station in Thailand, is described.