Through The Backyards;

What can humanity do?

 

"Wake up." - E. O. Wilson

 

 

Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action

No matter how far innovators stretch themselves, they probably won’t ever fully match Mother Nature’s grand, often deceptively simple, designs. But that doesn’t mean they can’t find inspiration in her globe-spanning oeuvre when looking to solve some engineering hang-ups, as Janine Benyus’ lecture wondrously demonstrates.

Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium III (2011)

A pity I wasn't there in person, though... But I'm really grateful for the advent of technology! Yay.

I attended the symposium virtually, via twitter - the micro-blogging platform. Ivan Kwan (@VaranusSalvator) and David Tan (@g33k5p34k) were live-tweeting the event. Thank you both so much! All tweets were tagged with #biodsg3 , so do check them out if you have time to spare! They're definitely worth the read. Alternatively, you could keep a lookout for a blog post (on Ivan's blog) pertaining to BoSS III as he'll be collating the tweets.

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"The Next Generation"

The half-day symposium consisted of talks and viewing of poster exhibits.

It started off in a light-hearted manner with Sivasothi N. reassuring the attendees that the caterer was NParks-approved (and thus, green), before diving in to address pertinent issues such as "ignorance and nature deficiency among youths, who are oblivious and unaware of local biodiversity". 

"When we take students to Bukit Timah, and we ask who's ever been here, it's the exchange student who raises his hand." - Sivasothi N.

D: LOCAL STUDENTS, Y U NO EMBRACE NATURE? While I agree in part, we should also understand that the syllabus set by MOE does not place enough emphasis on Ecology and Biodiversity. The last time I saw Ecology being taught in textbooks was when I was in primary school. Then again, if we grew up learning nothing but what was dictated to us, we would have led very sad lives. I believe most are aware of some of the environmental woes which we face today (thanks to access to Discovery Channel, NatGeo, new media and perhaps GP?), but the knowledge we have of the issue at hand is mostly superficial and could be developed much further.  

BG (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin proceeded to make his opening address, mentioning "how our native flora and fauna make up part of what it means to be Singaporean" and acknowledging the challenges faced by conservationists in Singapore, and how we can "tap on the knowledge of the community".

"Tensions (between conservationists and government) are inevitable, but necessary." - Tan Chuan-Jin

He also mentioned recent green initiatives that were put in place, such as City in a Garden vision, Eco-Link and The Green Corridor.

Moving on, Sivasothi N. commemorated the efforts and contributions of notable individuals by presenting them with Symposium awards. He also shared about two decades worth of coastal clean up efforts and addressed the issue of landfills. Green-warrior Ria Tan, founder of wildsingapore.com and co-writer of Chek Jawa Guidebook and Southern Shores Guide Sheet (just to list a few among other nature-related feats) receives the BoSS Award 2011.

"She is a true force of Nature." - Sivasothi N.

After the award presentation, I believe, was tea time. And poster viewing time.

(Can't say much about the booths because I wasn't physically present, but I believe they were very informative, judging from how much effort went into the pre-symposium preparation and twitpics!)

(BIOME) Biodiversity Environment Database System (found at the NParks booth): Dan Friess, coastal/ecology researcher, tweeted that "This is what we need."

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Love how concerted the efforts made by researchers/educators (and the likes) were when attempting to relate to Singaporeans by using Singlish interjections ('Meh' was a favourite!).

Apparently, the general theme for BoSS III was...

"Singapore got <insert habitat/ecosystem/species>, meh?" - via @VaranusSalvator

What the symposium covered:

• Impressions from the Community (*Edit: by Sivasothi N.; session chaired by Zeehan Jaffar)
  • Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
    • "At 6.45am, you might have trouble finding parking. By 8am, it's Orchard Road in Bukit Timah." - Sivasothi N.
    • "Human-wildlife conflict: Problems with long-tailed macaques and common palm civets, similar to conflict with stray cats." - via @VaranusSalvator
    • importance of buffer zones for fragmented BTNR
• Freshwater ecosystems (Dr. Darren Yeo)
  • include streams and freshwater swamp forest
  • main focus on invasive species
  • "We have lost 43% of native freshwater fishes and 30% of freshwater crabs and prawns. :C" - @VaranusSalvator
• Marine life (Ria Tan)
  • "Most common contact with marine life: chilli crab and butter prawn" - via @VaranusSalvator
  • threats: overexploitation, drifnets, pollution, reclamation
• Forests (Yong Ding Li)
  • EcoLink @ BKE
  • Bird-banding
  • "100+ camera traps in 2 sites (1 on each side of BKE), allows non-intrusive 23.7 monitoring of wildlife." - via @VaranusSalvator
  • Malayan porcupine rediscovered!
  • "Singapore has lost at least 71% of our mammals. Now our questions are about how we can conserve them" - via @VaranusSalvator
• Education and Outreach (Karen Teo)
  • Conservation biology is for all ages! Youngest so far is Leshon Lee - he began guiding at a tender age of nine! Most mature conservation volunteer is a nonagenarian. How cool are they!?
• Botany (Chong Kwek Yan)
  • Total Vascular Flora of Singapore Online 
• Mammal research (Marcus Chua)
  • started with Sir Stamford Raffles
  • mammal research in the University of Malaya was trumpeted by John Harrison (in 1960s & 70s)
  • "Singapore has lost at least 71% of our mammals. Now, our questions are about how we can conserve them." - via @VaranusSalvator
• Palms of Singapore (Adrian Loo)
  • "Kena rotan: a botanist gets whipped in the forest." - via @VaranusSalvator
  • "Daemonorops didymophylla has a reddish resin known as Dragon's blood." - via @VaranusSalvator
  • palm diversity is comparable to the whole of mainland Africa
  • 41 extant species (and discovering!), 13 extinct species
• Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (Tan Swee Hee)
  • >0.5M species, including >500 type species
  • "major centrepiece for natural history museum: 3 diplodocid sarupo dinosaurs Apollo, Prince and Twinky" - via @VaranusSalvator
  • whale given to M'sia :c
• National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) (Linda Goh)
  • Strategies more 

1. safeguard biodiversity through species conservation and recovery programmes
2. consider biodiversity issues in policy and decision-making
3. improve knowledge of our biodiversity and the natural environment
4. enhance education and public awareness via education programmes, talks and promoting volunteerism
5. strengthen partnerships with stakeholders (e.g. TeamSeagrass) and promote international collaboration

• Freshwater Phytoplankton (Wong Yueat Tin)
  • 3 main groups
    • periphyton (attached to rocks)
    • phytoplankton (suspended in water)
    • benthic (bottom-dwelling)
  • algae as a potential source of biofuel
• Freshwater macroinvertebrates (Chong Jun Hien)
  • indicative of environmental health
• Non-native aquatic species (Dr. Tan Heok Hui)
  • Flagship species: Harlequin rasboro
  • 1996: 42 native species, 31 extinct
  • 2008: 34 extant, 23 extinct, 34 introduced
  • 2010: >60 species, 54 introduced
  • "Loosening restrictions on exotic pet trade might open up Pandora's Box and invite all sorts of invasive species into Singapore." - via @VaranusSalvator
  • "Like it or not, non-native species have carved a niche in our artificial habitats and we shouldn't dismiss non-native species offhand." - via @g33k5p34k 
• Mega Marine Survey (Jonathan Ngiam)
  • >300 volunteers signed up
  • >14 surveys, >50 species of organisms collected, many unidentified
  • Potential new species of goby might be classified under a new genus!
  • "Forget rolling in the deep, rolling in the mud seems to be the better way of getting around the mudflats." - via @g33k5p34k 
• Project Semakau (Soo Wai Kit)
  • community-based project to promote awareness of bioD of P. Semakau
  • "P. Semakau is something of a veritable treasure trove of rare plants, rare animals and new discoveries waiting to be found." - via @g33k5p34k 
• Corals (Dr. James)
  • triggers for spawning synchrony unclear
  • knowing reproductive timing is advantageous as we can harvest the eggs and sperm, raise them in labs and then reintroduce them back into the wild
  • pun: Bio-diver-sea-ty
  • 57 hard coral genera (as opposed to 95 global)
  • Neptune's Cup Sponge rediscovered by Lim Swee Cheng!
• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Ang Hui Ping)
  • "...first ASEAN heritage park and a major part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway" - via @g33k5p34k 
  • "Kranji Nature Trail to be renamed Sungei Buloh Wetland Park to draw closer relation with Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve." - via @g33k5p34k 
  • Upgraded SBWR will have a research lab!!
• Mandai mangroves (Dan Friess)
  • Damming of Kranji River ---> less/no sediment flow ---> mangroves cannot expand
  • "Sea level rise exceeding rate of sediment accumulation leads to degradation of mangroves." - via @VaranusSalvator
  • Project assesses vulnerability of Mandai mangrove, identifies the mechanisms underlying vulnerability and generates support management solutions by studying
    • surface elevation changes
    • distribution data of mangroves
    • each species' varying tolerance to inundation by seawater
    • climate change
    • sea level rise data

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The above list is just the gist of what went on during the event. Highly informative session, I believe. I think installing camera traps is a great idea! See camera traps in Sumatra. And our corals are incredibly resilient, even though they're under so much stress (caused by ongoing developmental works). A fine example is Cyrene reef! I've never been there, but I will, one day... Even when it's surrounded by industries and shipping lanes, it is still very rich in biodiversity. (I must learn to be as hardy as a coral..!)

On a different note, why do people tend to view alien species as lesser beings than native species? They are also natives elsewhere... (lol this sounds like SGcitizens vs Migrants/ForeignTalents) They only become a problem when their successful establishment (i.e. introduced-turned-invasive species) in the local landscape threatens the livelihood of our native species. Invasive species can become quite problematic if they were to introduce diseases which may wipe out entire ecosystems. Either way, we shouldn't introduce alien species, as their lives are at stake if they fail to thrive in the local setting.

I'm probably one of the lucky few who managed to study beyond the scope of O' Levels, as I didn't need to sit for the O' Levels. I enjoyed Biology a lot when I was in sec 3. Ecology was fascinating. Being able to understand the interaction between certain organisms and the biotic and abiotic factors was very satisfying. A Bio-Geog field trip to Wales and Ireland in 2008 furthered my interest towards ecology. We visited Dalefort, Milford Haven in Wales and Derrygonnelly, Londonderry and Dublin in Ireland. The outdoor-based learning approach certainly made me learn more as it was a thoroughly engaging experience! We were introduced to the local (local to them) coastal ecology and the different sampling methods employed in field work. I learnt so much during the trip but I do agree that after the trip, I still had little idea of local biodiversity. In 2009, I went on another Biology field trip with the school. This time to some place closer to home - Tioman, Malaysia. I couldn't bear to leave after staying on Melina Beach for five days. We engaged in intertidal walks, carried out belt transects, as well as trekked through primary and secondary forests. We snorkeled too! It was a superb experience as we were exposed to life forms found in the marine and on land. To top it all off, we also managed to witness Hawksbill new-borns crawling out of their shells and were given the opportunity to help release the new-borns at the break of dawn. More about the hatchery.

I was only formally introduced to our local biodiversity at the end of secondary four during Options. Mr Lim Cheng Puay brought us to BTNR for the primary forests, DFNP and Lower Pierce Trail for the secondary forests, and CJ for the wetlands. Since then, I've been very interested in Ecology and have gone on walks to reserves and nature parks with a bunch of friends or on my own. I enjoy trekking, even if it were to the same place because as the seasoned wildplaces-venturers would know, the experience is never the same as the forest is dynamic. It's never the same patch of undergrowth you are about to explore.

If people engaged in wild encounters more, I'm quite sure they'd fall in love with Nature too. There is this mysterious element that is found in wild places and it'll never cease to amaze the curious. There is so much to learn! Unfortunately, uncontrolled population growth and Man's detrimental activities have resulted in the degradation of the environment. Further studies led by the respective field specialists need to be conducted for us to better understand the environment and help mediate the situation.

While Singapore decides it should focus on being at the cutting-edge of Biomedical Science about a decade ago, in a bid to transform its economy from labor-intensive manufacturing to high-tech production and now to corporate management and world-class research, it should also acknowledge the importance of environmental studies instead of neglecting it altogether. Economic prosperity should not be the sole measure of one country's development status.

Click through for HPI

The Happy Planet Index calls for a review in the way governments "measure people's well-being and environmental impact in a consistent and regular way", as well as "develop a framework of national accounts that considers the interaction the two so as to guide us towards sustainable well-being.

"By stripping the economy down to what it really should be about - providing long and happy lives for all today, without infringing on the chances of future generations to do the same - it goes to the heart of what we should be measuring. If the second half of the twentieth century was about the pursuit of economic growth and material goods, the twenty-first century should be defined by the pursuit of good lives that do not cost the Earth. The former was measured more or less adequately by GDP. To achieve the latter we need the HPI." - Happy Planet Index 2.0 (Pg 9)

Perhaps the school syllabus should be re-modelled to encompass Ecology instead of focussing solely on Molecular and Cell biology, such that the education system produces a mix of student who help Singapore achieve its annual GDP goal  and also help analyse the environmental costs, when assisting government in implementing public policies. Eco-literacy can improve the country's general well-being as people can take action against environmental degradation as they understand that their livelihood depends very much on the health of the environment.

Powerpoints and PDFs of today's presentations will be uploaded soon.

I hope I'll be there in person during BoSS IV. 

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*Edit: Noteworthy quotes from David Tan's symposium twitter stream (@g33k5p34k):

"Biodiversity is more than just 'nice', 'iconic' and 'cute' species, but is an essential part of life."

"How do we conserve more fundamental species and environments beyond the more 'charismatic' species?"

"Whether a captive animal/area can be meaningfully educational depends on what you make of it."

"Like it or not, non-native species have carved a niche in our artificial habitats and we shouldn't dismiss non-native species offhand."

"Community effort essential in contributing to the success of the mega marine survey - volunteers as ambassadors of natural heritage."

"policy-makers love data"

"Explore, Express, and Act." - Ria Tan

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*Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:10:46 +0800

For the love of...

... biodiversity!

Taken during a school field trip to bollywoodveggies.

 
Did you know?

1. Singapore is a city-state with a land area of about 710 km² and the total protected forest cover is ~3% of land area. 
2. Some of Singapore’s key indigenous ecosystems include lowland Dipterocarp forest, mangroves, freshwater swamp forest, seagrass beds, mudflats, coral reefs
3. Singapore has established 4 Nature Reserves spanning ~33.26 km² (i.e. Bukit Timah, Central Catchment, Labrador, Sungei Buloh) which are legally protected under the Trees and Parks Act (2005).
4. Strategic location within the Malesian region and favourable climate account for the rich diversity of flora and fauna found in its varied ecosystems.

• >880ha of coral reefs have been mapped within Singapore’s national boundary.
• ~62 species of mammals, ~43 amphibians, ~33 freshwater fish, >200 hard corals, >800 marine fish, >550 molluscs, >450 crustaceans, >68 echinoderms and >31 sea fans and whips have been recorded. (Marine sponges and ascidians are known to have significant diversity, but are at present poorly studied.)
• >400 bird species (about 167 breeding residents) of which about
  • 73 are presumed extirpated since 1819
  • 79 are considered locally threatened
• 2,282 native plant species of which
  • 25.6% are thought to have been locally extinct since 1819. (continually being revised, as there are frequent discoveries and rediscoveries)
  • ~76 plant species that were considered extinct have been rediscovered in the wild. For e.g.
    • the palm Orania silvicola was rediscovered in 2006, and
    • the tree Dipterocarpus tempehes was discovered in 2005.
  • ~6.7% of native plants are considered endangered
  • ~17.7% of native plants are considered vulnerable

 (via Convention of Biological Diversity)

 

Has it ever crossed your mind that such a vast diversity of life could thrive in highly-urbanised Singapore?

A frequent scene: pruning of road side trees 
(taken & edited with Instagram)

Most may be unfamiliar with this nature-y side of Singapore as they could be so caught up with city life.

Pasir Ris Park

Those who frequent parks or nature reserves would of course, beg to differ. A usual morning/afternoon walk at MacRitchie Reservoir would be greeted with common sunskinks, clouded monitors, water monitors and many long-tailed macaques. And taking the boardwalk will transport you to the fascinating world of "Life in the Undergrowth". Birdwatchers may tune in to the chirpy tunes of greater or lesser racket-tailed drongos, if they're lucky.

A salticid says "Hi."

Lime Butterfly, Papilio demoleus malayanus
More about this butterfly here.

Of course, if you dwell longer and look a little harder, you may stumble upon more curious finds. Exploring different ecosystems may help too. 

Palm King, Amathusia phidippus phidippus

"The Palm King is considered moderately rare, and is not often seen with regularity, despite the fact that its host plants are found with relative abundance. It is observed in the forested areas, coastal parks as well as urban areas, and usually individuals are seen." More here.

 Estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus

My first sighting of the famous Buloh croc was during Walks of Life, a student-initiative (2nd yr running, yay!). We were all set to leave after guiding the J1s through the mangrove habitat on the board walk. It was then we were told that the croc was present! Lucky us. The croc is listed as 'Critically Endangered' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. More

Mangrove horseshoe crab, Carcinoscopius rotundicauda

This was taken at Sungei Tampines during ICCS 2011. Someone found it struggling in an abandoned fishing net and rescued it. Rest assured that it was placed in its natural habitat (which was a few steps away) after a few shots were taken.

While mangrove horseshoe crabs have shells that are mostly brown and coastal horseshoe crabs have shells that are mostly grey, it is safer to tell them apart by looking at their tails. Mangrove horseshoe crabs have tails that are round in cross-section whereas its coastal counterparts have tails that are triangular in cross-section.

From wildfactsheets:

The Coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas) is listed as 'Endangered' and the Mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) as 'Vulnerable' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. Populations of these ancient creatures in Singapore have been severely reduced over the last two decades due to habitat loss.

Humans are the main threat to horseshoes. Habitat loss, pollution and overharvesting have seriously depleted horseshoe populations. In the 1950's, they were harvested in the US and ground up as fertiliser and livestock feed. This only stopped when their numbers plunged drastically. Harvesting began again in the 1980's, this time they were used as fish bait in commercial eel traps; only the eggs (ripped out of females) are used. Nothing, not even eels, like to eat horseshoe flesh. 

Overharvesting of horseshoes also seriously affect birds migrating along the US Atlantic coastline, as they depend on the egg bonanza to fuel them on their long trip.

Horseshoe crab populations are vulnerable to overharvesting because they reproduce slowly. Few hatchlings make it through the natural predator net, they reach sexual maturity only at 9-12 years and are rarely found far from where they were born. There are so many of them only because they live for a long time, some up to 20-30 years.

The undesirable state of horseshoe crabs is just one of many outcomes of Man's impact on the environment. Overexploitation of animals, deforestation, and lack of understanding towards wildlife (until technology allowed us to study them more thoroughly), have led to the demise of many species on Earth.

A primary concern among naturalists and the likes, besides Man's detrimental activities, is the introduction of non-native species which may gain a foothold in the local environment.

"Compared to other threats to biodiversity, invasive introduced species rank second only to habitat destruction, such as forest clearing."

 

"What are invasive species and should I be concerned?"

From the IUCN website:

Marine invasive species are recognised as one of the largest threats to global biodiversity. The other threats are: over exploitation of resources, physical alteration of habitat, marine pollution and global climate change.

Generally, the spread of an invasive alien species (IAS) involves four stages: Introduction, Establishment, Invasion and Spread. 

When introduced species begin thriving in local scenarios, generally due to the lack of predation, native species may not outlast the competition posed by these invasive species.

An example would be the changeable lizard, Calotes versicolor. Introduced in the 1980s from northern Malaysia or Thailand, its existence has led to the ever shrinking population of the native green-crested lizard.

Green-crested lizard, Bronchocela cristatella.

IAS may also introduce diseases to our native animals. By disturbing the equilibrium that has been established by natives, aliens may upset and even eradicate an ecosystem.

"How can I help?"

Red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans 

"Currently, Singapore does not have management plans in place to address threats from major invasive alien species. However, there are activities, which discourage the introduction and removal of alien species in the nature reserves. For example, there is on-going removal of removal of potential invasives (e.g. Smilax and Clidemia hirta) from the Nature Reserves." (SINGAPORE 4th NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY - Updated in 2010)

As responsible citizens, refrain from releasing unwanted pets and aquarium animals into the wild (e.g. Red-eared Slider). Also, try not to participate in religious activities that engage in such practices. More info on the NParks webpage.

1. For more data on invasive species in other parts of the world, click here.
2. 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species
3. http://www.cbd.int/idb/2009/

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"Is there a difference between introduced species and invasive species?"

From the IUCN website:

Introduced species are officially defined as ‘plants and animals that have been intentionally or accidentally inserted by human activity within or outside a national jurisdiction’. Since humans have broken down natural barriers with transport mechanisms such as international cargo ships, these species are being transported far beyond their natural range. In other words, an introduced species is a plant or animal that has been ‘introduced’ by humans into an area where it is not normally found. Species can be introduced both on land environments (terrestrial) and in the water (freshwater and marine).

When introduced species become established in their new environment they are invasive. If they are able to adapt to new environmental conditions and multiply, they can become a threat to native species and disrupt the ecosystem. Only a small amount of species actually establish themselves but those that do are unlikely to have the same natural controls in their new environment that keep their population in check in their native environment, such as predators, diseases or ecosystem interactions. This means they tend to increase in number rapidly and take over new environments.

Simply put, the term "invasive species" is a subset of the term "introduced species". "Introduced species" and "invasive species" should not be used loosely, as the two terms are non-interchangeable. While invasive species are introduced, introduced species are not necessarily invasive. Generally, if the introduced species isn't doing well, then it should not be considered as invasive because it

1. has not established successfully in the new environment and thus,
2. is less of a threat to native species.

Pulau Semakau

We fought through a patch of mangroves to get there. :o (Haha jk, it's not that bad.) In fact, I was lucky enough to march through the swarms of mosquitoes, unscathed. Not a single mozzie bite and I didn't apply repellent (another reason to wear longs to such trips). 

Vast meadow of seagrass! More about P.Semakau. 

View of refineries from where we stood.

Pretty. Prettier if the landscape had folds of mountains instead though.

Swimming crab.

Almost stepped (but didn't) on this little fella' while returning to the start point, along the transect line. Sean got a fright when I made a sudden noise (I hope it wasn't a scream >_>), thinking that it was a stonefish that alarmed me, but it turned out to be a swimming crab and he got a little disappointed (or so it seemed).

Blue jorunna sponge, Neopetrosia sp.

A bivalve.

Favid coral and a cute little hairy crab. More affectionately known as "teddy-bear crab".

Maretia heart urchin skeleton, Maretia ovata

Indentations on the upperside of the skeleton shows where tube feet emerge. More

Noble volutes, Cymbiola nobilis

They were previously abundant but is now considered vulnerable due loss of habitat, overcollection for food and for its attractive shell. Like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution.

Another! By the way, the jelly thing by the shell is its eggs capsule.

Common sea stars are common (on protected shores)!

Didn't take much photos because there was no time! The tides were coming in and we had to bid the shore goodbye (for the time being)...

Can't wait for the next trip!