Fri, 19 Apr 2013, 4.00pm @ DBS Conf Rm: Chong Kwek Yan on “The Effects of Urban Greenery on Biodiversity”

PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination

“The Effects of Urban Greenery on Biodiversity”

Chong Kwek Yan
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS
19 April 2013, Friday
4:00PM
DBS Conference Room (S3, Level 5)
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Hugh Tan T W

All are welcome

Abstract – “The world’s growing urban population and urbanized areas have occurred in areas with high biodiversity value. Frontiers of urbanization are also approaching protected areas and encroaching upon habitats of threatened or endemic species. Urbanization usually involves the destruction of habitat when natural vegetation is cleared to make way for buildings and roads, but cultivated greenery and open green spaces such as parks are also created. Such greenery and green spaces have been used as urban planning tools to improve the quality of life for human residents in cities, but have also been thought to be able to improve habitat quality for urban wildlife.

Using data from surveys of birds and butterflies, and satellite imagery in Singapore, my analyses show that cultivated tree cover and natural vegetation both promoted alpha diversity, while traffic density reduced alpha diversity. However, after controlling for the confounding effects of alpha diversity on community dissimilarity, cultivated vegetation was found to produce homogeneous bird and butterfly communities compared to natural vegetation. In addition, there was evidence of interactions between traffic density and tree cover.

In addition, I explored how abundances of 20 most common bird species in a subset of transects that were surveyed a decade ago (from 2000 to 2001) have changed, and if changes in abundance were related to changes in the urban landscape, or attributable to species interactions. The brood parasitic Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), which is known to prefer house crow (Corvus splendens) as hosts, has increased in abundance even though the house crow has declined from culling. There was also no evidence that the decline in house crow abundances through culling had resulted in release from competition for its co-invading alien, the Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus). Instead, increased urbanization was correlated with the increase in abundance of the Javan myna.

In conclusion, cultivated greenery has not been a good substitute for natural greenery in terms of providing for biodiversity. This poses problems for maintaining truly urban biodiversity in compact cities such as Singapore, where future urbanization will necessarily involve the loss of remnant or regenerating natural vegetation within the built-up areas.”

 

Read Full Post »

Thu 04 Apr 2013: 2.00pm @ DBS Conf Rm: Lynette Loke on “Enhancing biodiversity on tropical seawalls”

Qualifying Examination

“Enhancing biodiversity on tropical seawalls: the role of habitat complexity in regulating the diversity and composition of intertidal communities”

Loke Hui Ling, Lynette
Graduate Student,
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS
Supervisor: Asst Prof. Peter A. Todd

Thu 04 Apr 2013: 2.00pm
DBS Conference Room (S3, Level 5)

All are welcome

Abstract – “Increasing coastal urbanisation has resulted in widespread replacement of natural habitats with large-scale artificial structures, such as seawalls, which tend to support less diverse biological communities. With the realization that such infrastructure cannot be removed, there is now a call for more research into ways seawalls can be built to increase their value as a habitat while meeting engineering criteria.

To understand how seawalls can be better designed, I first focused on improving their structural complexity. Habitat complexity has been hypothesized to be one of the primary drivers of biodiversity, however, the mechanism(s) by which it does this remains unclear. One of the greatest impediments to advancing this critical area is the ambiguity regarding the definition of ‘complexity’.

In addition to making comparisons of ‘complexity studies’ highly problematic, this lack of terminological clarity and precision has undermined attempts to standardise the measurement of habitat complexity or to develop indices that can be used to create artificial habitats with different levels of complexity—an essential first step for both systematically studying the relationship between habitat complexity and biodiversity and for creating artificial habitats for restoration efforts.

I address these issues by describing a new framework for conceptualising ecological complexity and then introduce a novel software program that enables users to visualize static, physical complexity. My program also provides output files that can be used to create artificial substrates at any scale and level of complexity for experimental and/or restoration and reconciliation studies. With it, I built concrete tiles to test for the effects of complexity and different component types (while controlling for area) and subsequently, the effects of scale and water-retention.

With the knowledge gained from these experimental studies, I plan to design and fabricate a composite tile (BioBoss). Using this new tile, I will investigate the effects of other processes, including hydrodynamics, fragmentation and population dynamics.

Read Full Post »

Nanthinee’s paper is out – “Climate warming and the potential extinction of fig wasps”

Nanthinee Jevanandam who recently graduated from her PhD studies, was pleased to announce her paper in Biology Letters on fig wasps and climate warming.

Just as pleasing is news of her employment – Nanthinee is now working as an ecologist in the environment consultancy firm AECOM.

Congratulations Nanthinee, live long and prosper!

Nanthinee at Bali during an ATBC conference.

Jevanandam N, A.G.R. Goh & R. T. Corlett, 2013 Climate warming and the potential extinction of fig wasps, the obligate pollinators of figs. Biology Letters, 9: 20130041. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2013.0041

Read Full Post »

Because the RIGHT environment is here: poster boy Marcus Chua on NUS banner, webpage and newspaper adverts

If you’re on NUS Kent Ridge Campus, keep your eyes peeled for a larger than life leopard cat researcher! Marcus Chua (Ecology and Systematics lab) represented the EVB group in the recent Faculty of Science photoshoot and NUS loves it so much, it seems to be part of the NUS admissions drive.

Read more about Marcus’ leopard cat research here.

NUS Webpage

Newspaper advertisement,
photo by Kenneth Pinto

Bus advertisement,
photo by Melanie Tan

Read Full Post »

TA recruitment for AY2012/2013 Semester 2 – application open!

We are now recruiting PTTAs for a new exciting teaching semester! Part-Time Teaching Assistant positions are now open for applications for the following modules:

• LSM1103 Biodiversity
• LSM2251 Ecology and the Environment
• LSM1303 Animal Behaviour
• SSS1207 Natural Heritage of Singapore
• GEM1536 Darwin and Evolution

Please refer to this link for more detailed information: http://nusbiodiversity.wordpress.com/ta-recruitment-sem-2/.

The application form for this year will be slightly different since it is a combined recruitment exercise with the Molecular and Cell Biology group. Please take note that all modules are listed under module choice. Applicants can indicate up to 3 modules that they would be interested in teaching. We will then process the applications and confirm teaching allocations via email.

The deadline is 28 Dec 2012. We look forward to your applications! Thank you!

TA Foo Maosheng enlightening students about angiosperms

Read Full Post »

26 Nov 2012, Monday: 10am at DBS CF1- Tay Ywee Chieh on Connectivity of coral populations within the Singapore Strait

PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination

“Connectivity of coral populations within the Singapore Strait”

Speaker: Tay Ywee Chieh (Graduate Student, Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS)

Date: 26 November 2012, Monday

Time: 10am

Venue: DBS Conference Room (S3 Level 5) #05-01

Supervisor: Asst Prof Peter Alan, Todd

Co-supervisor: Prof Chou Loke Ming

 

 

Abstract:

The marine environment is a dynamic system that facilitates movement of organisms between populations, a process required for sustaining healthy communities and ensuring their continued propagation. In this study, I examined the predicted and realized connectivity patterns, and the genetic diversity of coral populations within the Singapore Strait. Using different tools, e.g. hydrological simulations and genetic markers, this study aimed to (1) enhance our knowledge on coral population dynamics, and (2) assess the long-term viability of the populations. The population genetics of two hard coral species with different reproductive strategies, Platygyra sinensis and Pocillopora damicornis, were analysed and compared to get a broader perspective on the coral population connectivity dynamics. A set of newly-developed microsatellite markers for P. sinensis was also described. Identification of population connectivity patterns can help prioritize conservation efforts to target key reefs, and determine vulnerable versus stable populations. This is the first detailed study on the connectivity of Singapore’s coral reefs. The findings of my research can support local coral reef managers’ decision-making processes, especially in light of Singapore’s need to balance economic and environmental concerns. Through the course of this assessment, I also compared and discussed some of the different strategies used to make these assessments.

All are welcome!

Read Full Post »

12 Nov 2012, Monday: 10am at DBS CR1– Anuj Jain on Habitat Enrichment for Tropical Butterflies

Qualifying Examination

“Habitat Enrichment for Tropical Butterflies”

Speaker: Anuj Jain (Graduate Student, Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS)

Date: 12 November 2012, Monday

Time: 10am

Venue: DBS Conference Room (S3 Level 5, #05-01)

Supervisor: A/P Webb, Edward L

Abstract:

Habitat degradation and fragmentation in the tropics, especially in South East Asia, poses great threat to tropical butterflies. Forest dependant butterfly species get worse hit as they lose original habitat and are often unable to colonize degraded habitats due to lack of species specific resources in such habitats. If scarce resources limit populations of threatened butterflies, then chances of survival of these species can be improved by enhancing habitats with key resources. Furthermore, many threatened insects cannot maintain their own populations and need intervention in the form of habitat enrichment.  By using Singapore as a model system, the study first maps hotspots of butterfly diversity in Singapore, identifies areas which hold species of conservation concern and hypothesizes bottlenecks for the survival and reproduction for rare and threatened butterfly species. Next a habitat enrichment strategy using larval host plants (juvenile food resource) and nectar plants (adult food resource) is proposed to quantify the effect of habitat enrichment and identify real bottlenecks for butterflies by 1) maximizing populations in native habitat 2) improving sub-optimal habitat quality and 3) improving connectivity of fragmented native habitat by establishing resource rich stepping stones in between them.  Finally, using capture-mark-recapture techniques the study will test if creating these stepping stones can increase exchange between forest fragments thus increasing long term viability of fragmented metapopulations. The study will be the first to identify bottlenecks and quantify the effects of habitat enrichment  for butterflies in the tropics and give specific recommendations for conservation planning.

All are welcome

Read Full Post »

8 Nov 2012, Thursday: 10am at DBS CR1 — Karenne Tun on The Application of Biological Criteria (Biocriteria) for Assessing the Status and Responses of Coral Reefs to Environmental Stressors in Singapore

PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination

“The Application of Biological Criteria (Biocriteria) for Assessing the Status and Responses of Coral Reefs to Environmental Stressors in Singapore”

Speaker: Phyu Phyu Tun Karenne
(Graduate Student, Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS)
Date: 8 Nov 2012, Thursday
Time: 10am
Venue: DBS Conference Room (S3 Level 5) #05-01
Supervisor: Prof Chou Loke Ming

Abstract:
Over the last four decades, the coral reefs in Singapore have been subjected to elevated levels of acute and chronic exposure to sediment-related stressors, resulting in the reduction in the total sub-tidal reef area as well as shrinking of the photic zone and a physical shift in the benthic composition from consolidation to loose and soft substrate. Despite an estimated reduction of over 86% of the sub-tidal coral reef area compared to 1953, the coral reef biodiversity, and in particular, the scleractinian diversity, still remains high, although there is growing evidence that Singapore’s reefs are surviving at their critical threshold. The current challenge in managing Singapore’s remaining coral reefs therefore lies in creating a regulatory framework to manage, protect and restore reef resources based on sound understanding of the processes and stressors that directly impact them at local scales. Biological criteria, or biocriteria provides a regulatory tool for defining expectations for the biological condition of coastal resources, and when applied optimally, can provide mechanisms for regulating human activities that threaten coastal resources.

Scientifically-defensible biocriteria rely on structured evaluation of key steps, including reef classification, defining data collection protocols, metric testing against human disturbance, sampling effort and survey design, validation of methods, definition of biocriteria, and implementation of long-term monitoring programmes. In my PhD research, I focused quantifying Singapore’s current reef status, assessing and refining data collection methods and protocols, and defining metrics and developing biocriteria that are relevant for assessing the status and condition of Singapore’s coral reefs. These tools can be used for developing diagnostic regulatory, compliance or long-term monitoring programmes.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Read Full Post »

Amrita leaves for Imperial College with support from a President’s Graduate Fellowship

Amrita Srivathsan, a Ph.D. candidate in the Evolutionary Biology Laboratory, will be leaving soon for her one-year stay at Imperial College London. She is part of the NUS-Imperial Joint Degree PhD programme and is co-supervised by Professor Rudolf Meier (NUS) and Professor Alfried Vogler (Imperial College London). Amrita has a keen interest in primate genetics and is using Next Generation Sequencing to investigate the genetics, diet, and intestinal parasites of Banded Leaf Monkeys based on faecal samples.

She was recently awarded a President’s Graduate Fellowship which “is awarded to candidates who show exceptional promise or accomplishment in research.” The fellowship will help with living in expensive London. The Evolutionary Biology Laboratory congratulates her on receiving the scholarship and wishes her all the best for her endeavours in England, as she kicks back with the Royals.

We are going to miss you!

Read Full Post »

Marcus Chua (Systematics and Ecology Lab) in Her World magazine

Read Full Post »