1) Laboratory Officer. Full time position: http://www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/laboratory-officer

For more information, contact Dr Juhel at tmsggfj@nus.edu.sg

2) Part-time undergraduate student researchers required to assist with study on status of invasive species in Singapore. The work is mainly desktop data-mining. Good computer skills are needed. Some background and interest in tropical marine ecology is essential. Feb – June 2012.

For more information, contact Ms Evelyn Chong at tmscsme@nus.edu.sg

3) Short term casual work, 3 months full time, from March – June 2012. A research assistant is required to assist with data analyses for a project on marine coatings performance. Suitable person should have a marine biology degree, and comfortable working with Adobe Photoshop and Excel spreadsheets. Job location is St John’s Island.

For more information, contact Dr Teo at tmsteolm@nus.edu.sg

On 28 Jan 2012, they battle it out at the main event at the NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House! It’s a sold-out event, but there should be news on their facebook page.

Congratulations Xiuling! This took lots of courage; all the best for the finale and no stage fright! *fingers crossed* Remember, just look at the audience and think of your specimens!

Click the link to find out more

They say,

Have you ever…

• Wanted to learn about tropical biodiversity?
• Astound your friends with your awesome knowledge of forest trees?
• Know what foresters refer to when they say “SHORCU”, “SANTAP”, or “STREEL”?
• Learn field skills that can come in useful during the course of your studies?
• And better yet, to be paid for experiencing all this?

If you answered yes to any of the questions, then part-time work with staff of the Center for Tropical Forest Studies (CTFS) might be for you! You will…

• Measure and get to know many species of trees
• Carry out leaf litter studies
• Assist with long term plot-based studies
• Meet fellow ecologists

Contact Ngo Kang Min (ngokangmin@gmail.com) for details.

The CDTL e-module project team says,

“This pilot e-module, “Preparing for Successful Oral Presentations”, is the first of a 4-part series, developed by CDTL in collaboration with CELC and is aimed at providing a self-assessed e-learning module for students to learn useful techniques and strategies in Oral Presentations.

The following learning activities are included in the e-module:

• A structured and organized module that promotes self-directed learning and allows students to learn at their own pace and convenience;
• Videos of the workshop delivered by the Module Speaker, Mr Patrick Gallo, Associate Director/CELC;
• Self-tests or exercises to encourage students to reflect and practise the learning points;
• A feedback mechanism that allows students to direct any question about oral presentations to the Module Speaker; and
• Summary notes and resources such as presentation slides, answers to self-tests and links to other related oral presentation skills videos.

Will include this in weblinks for LSM2251 Ecology and the Environment and LSM1303 Animal Behaviour, both of which feature a student symposia.

Yesterday morning, I delivered the introductory lecture to this academic year’s LSM1303 Animal Behaviour module for non-biology students. I explained to students that the original course for zoology students was initiated in the 90′s by a fresh-off-the-boat Navjot Sodhi.

He applied himself energetically to his teaching when he came and initiated the Animal Behaviour course for biology students. When we recce-d Tioman for the honours year field course (with Tommy Tan, obviously), I discussed with him many issues about NUS. Amongst the things I shared was how undergrads were unfamiliar about the peer review process – to my surprise when he got back, he initiated a review paper assignment with two peer reviews by fellow undergrads using pen-names and corrections by authors – and he marked all of it! And he did this for several years.

I remember sorting the papers with Adrian Elangovan and Marjorie Castelletta and we were all impressed by the amount of marking he was volunteering to do. His desk was littered then as it was at the end, and teaching contributed to a fair share of the mess.

So he was energetic about teaching when he first came, as he would be come to be known with research later. He certainly invested more than a mild interest in this professorial duty. And he didn’t want to be pinned down by the rigidity of a rubric during assessment, but wanted to a flexible system which allowed us to be responsive to interesting ideas or perspectives which students might unearth.

Zeehan Jaafar was then an undergrad and experienced the course, both the first and third year versions. She would later say, “We were one of his first students and lectures with him were never dull; always filled with groans and laughter – groans from the students and laughter from him, either at us or at his own jokes!”

In 1988, I learnt from Andrew Tay over at the Nature Society (Singapore) that African carnivore filmmakers Derek and Beverly Joubert would be at the National Library (now the Stamford Road hole in the wall) to talk about their work and unveil one of their National Geographic books. Fascinated by their film Lions and Hyaenas, I asked Sodhi if I could hijack his forthcoming lecture. He readily agreed to throw out the lecture and we screened the video and had a short discussion about the film with students.

At the library later, I realised a few students had gone down to listen to the Joubert’s, including Zeehan. The Joubert’s were thrilled we had used their film (even though it was a musty video taped off television by Kelvin Lim of RMBR) for they wanted the message of understanding Africa carnivores to get out. This had been possible because Sodhi was enthusiastic and opportunistic about learning opportunities. He understood that there were many ways to learn and contribute.

I went over the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research full-time in 1999 and regretfully stopped TA-ing the course. In 2007, however, some museum staff were roped in by the faculty to teach and Sodhi laid claim to me to co-teach LSM1303. I observed a couple of his lectures and as when I began, tried to complement Sodhi’s style somewhat. I slowly edged up the content and grappled with the module outcomes – how much should we expose students to? What message should they leave with?

By this time, Navjot was, as Zeehan would later say, a superstar conservationist. But he knew we needed more than research alone, that we needed many and all sorts of hands on deck to cope with the sixth extinction. In one of our corridor discussions, I remember, and this plays like a video in my mind, he shook his head slightly as if to dust off the many elements of the discussion and mumbled, “I just wanna teach them some empathy”.

I was struck by how emotive and frank that was.

About a year after that, he said he was going to leave the course to me. I had known this was coming for he had wanted to leave earlier, even though I settled all the admin, which he abhorred mightily. However, he needed time to cope with his voluminous output of research papers and book chapters and so it was time. He was amused when I expressed regret that young students would not get exposure to his strange manner and outlook!

But he knew when to let go. So first Matthew Lim and now Zeehan Jaafar co-teach the module with me. Thereafter, I’d update Navjot when I saw him in the corridor or car park every now and then about what I was doing with the course. During his last lecture, for example, he exposed students to the scientific approach with which he had addressed the crow problem. I had retained that but amplified it to an urban animal-human conflict lecture with chapter additions about the common palm civet, long-tailed macaque, stray cats and wild pigs, partly from our research projects. Meanwhile, the symposia now demanded of students a research question, had them study wild, not captive animals, lecture notes they were given included some mention of journal sources and I made them blog.

Navjot was supportive of the changes and appreciative that I said his statement about empathy was central to the module objectives still – to teach students some empathy through knowledge and appreciation. I also shared about how I’d tell students about him, that quirky professor who’d make them chuckle – heck, I even kept some of his awful blue slide backgrounds as a hat tip and tell students it was his gawdy colour sense, not mine. Every year I’d hover over the delete key and decide against removing that characteristic blue. It was what you said which counted anyway.

So yesterday, some 200 students learned we are not soullessly teaching animal behaviour. Yes, we are certainly curious and fascinated by the subject, and believe in testing, repeatability, mensuration and the rest of it. But we also care about animals and the planet and believe that all our students can help do something about it – and probably in ways we are unable to.

RIP Navjot, you are always remembered.

Honours student and mangrove disciple Rick Leong was at his shifu’s lecture and facebook-ed us some highlights.

Dan illustrating Brunn’s rule

Dan let Jeremy Jackson sum it up with his depressing,
“How we wrecked the ocean” TED talk(ouch)

Back in Science, Mingko worked the room at the first Ecology lecture this semester. Thanks to Erica Sena Neves, we have some witness of her first foray in awakening young minds to the fundamentals of ecology.

Laying down the objectives in the first lecture

Roaming the room with the wireless microphone!

We’re all excited to have Dan and Mingko out there, fighting the good fight. All the best in the semester ahead and congrats to the students to having two more enthusiastic educators in their stable!

Of course, nothing else has changed, and he still has to save Mandai mangrove and mudflat from disappearing!

You can follow Dan on twitter.

• LSM1103 Biodiversity
• LSM2251 Ecology and the Environment
• LSM3272 Global Change Biology
• LSM1303 Animal Behaviour
• SSS1207 Natural Heritage of Singapore
• GEK1536 Darwin and Evolution

For more detailed information about the modules – http://nusbiodiversity.wordpress.com/ta-recruitment/.

Deadline: 3rd Jan 2012.

Our flower specialist TA, Daniel Ng, happily preparing for the LSM1103 Biodiversity practical.

We will inform you about your teaching allocation. Thank you very much! Enjoy your last week of 2011 and have a wonderful 2012!

Cheers,

Weiting

Posts by students for students can be viewed in the category students speak – N. Sivasothi

Marcus Chua in his Halloween costume, 2009:
“A 10,000 word essay/assignment/thesis!”

In a recent blog entry, NUS Provost Tan Eng Chye highlighted the importance of English language proficiency and mulled over the decision to include compulsory communication modules in the undergraduate curriculum. You need not wait for that to become a reality, for Environmental Biology undergraduates, like all others in NUS, have the option of taking writing courses that may meet their needs. I highlight a module I took which I feel was very helpful to me in particular.

NM2220 Introduction to Media Writing is a basic writing module offered by the Department of Communications and New Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences that teaches students the foundation of writing for new and mass media. The skills taught are can be applied to everyday writing and communication. The course is taught by current or former journalists, editors or public relations practitioners and class activities and assignments consist of targeted writing exercises.

Before taking the course, I thought that good writing involved big words and long, complex sentences. The more, the bigger, the better! How wrong was I.

I took the module in my final year as an undergraduate in NUS and found it immensely useful, and it taught me how to adapt my writing for various situations. Some of the most useful tips were keeping writing simple for clear communication and how to write punchy sentences. There and then it hit me that using complex words might appear impressive to me, but it usually confuses the reader and impedes communication. The AP (Associated Press) style taught also has direct relevance to science writing conventions, e.g. when to write or spell numbers and correct punctuation.

All these newly acquired skills culminated in my thesis, which was a departure from most of my previous reports. Even after graduation, the lessons I learnt came in very useful for formal reports, various applications and when writing and editing the Singapore Biodiversity encyclopedia.

Since this is the time when most students would start planning their time tables for the upcoming semester, I would definitely recommend the course to all undergraduates.

Through in-situ and ex-situ experiments during her honours year, Trina’s research illustrates the aquatic foraging ability of the terrestrial red crab spider (Misumenops nepenthicola) as well as its ability to alter dipteran larval abundance (including those of mosquitoes) in the slender pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis.

The results are amongst the first to reveal the influence of a terrestrial phytotelm forager on the abundance of pitcher organisms via direct predation. The yellow crab spider, Thomisus nepenthiphilus, however, did not appear to play such a role.

The paper was published online last week as: Chua, T. J. L. & M. L. M. Lim, 2011. Cross-habitat predation in Nepenthes gracilis: the red crab spider Misumenops nepenthicola influences abundance of pitcher dipteran larvae. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 28(01): 97-104.

Part of what Chua & Lim (2011) did for the field study.

Congratulations to them both! You can find out the details at the abstract page in the Journal of Tropical Ecology

Trina and her honours year project supervisor, Matthew Lim

“The use of sexually propagated scleractinian corals for reef restoration,”

by Toh Tai Chong
Graduate Student
Marine Biology Lab
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore

Wednesday, 30th Nov 2011: 4.00pm

Seminar Room 1 (Block S2, Level 4)
Department of Biological Sciences
Map: http://tinyurl.com/map-nusdbs

Supervisors: Prof Chou Loke Ming & Dr James R Guest

Abstract – Coral reefs are one of the most productive ecosystems, providing $375 billion in ecosystem goods and services for over 500 million people globally. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures coupled with global climate change have resulted in rapid degradation of coral reefs. While active restoration efforts can hasten the recovery process, the science underlying reef restoration is still in its infancy. Recent developments in reef restoration have explored the use of sexually propagated scleractinian corals, but most studies were limited to small-scale experiments. Hence, this study aims to assess and improve the feasibility of this technique for reef restoration.

In the first part of the study, two species of massive corals were reared from larvae and transplanted to reefs in Bolinao, Northwestern Philippines. The technical and economic feasibility of this technique will be evaluated through ongoing monitoring efforts and cost-effective analysis. The second aspect aims to increase the post settlement survivorship of corals by examining the effects of co-rearing Pocilliopora damicornis recruits with two grazers, Salmacis sphaeroides and Trochus maculatus ex situ, to limit the proliferation of fouling algae. Future studies will involve the feeding of juvenile Pocillopora damicornis corals with live Artemia salina nauplii, to examine the effects of inducing initial growth spurts on pre- and post- transplantation survivorship of the corals.

Results from this study will fill key knowledge gaps in coral biology and enhance the feasibility of applying larval rearing techniques to large-scale reef restoration efforts.

The paper is: Shichang Zhang, Teck Hui Koh, Wee Khee Seah, Yee Hing Lai, Mark A. Elgar, and Daiqin Li. A novel property of spider silk: chemical defence against ants. Proc R Soc B 2011 : rspb.2011.2193v1-rspb20112193 (Published online before print November 23, 2011, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2193).

Thanks to bio-alumni Lee Kee Seng’s highlight on facebook.

He was teacher and colleague to many, a scientist and naturalist, and will be sorely missed by all. RIP.

His daughter Indra wrote to inform his old friends of his passing earlier today:

“It is with very deep sorrow that I inform you my father M. Nadchatram passed away on morning of 21 November 2011. I have heard of many of you, and met some, and I thought you would like to know.

He went peacefully in his sleep, and had the most serene look on his face. I’d like to think he is in a big golf course somewhere in heaven enjoying a cold beer with my brother Santha Kumar.

Here is a link to a story that was published today.

Mom and I are OK i guess. Although papa was ill last year, he picked up a lot this year, ever alert and reenergised. While I am immensely proud of all that he had achieved in his life professionally, I am essentially proud of the father he was to me, and the love he showered on me always.

I would be grateful if you could also inform other friends of papa’s. I don’t have all emails, only some which dad share with me sometime back.

Sincerely,
Indra Nadchatram

For his students who are out there reading this, do drop a comment below or email me at sivasothi@gmail.com and I will forward your thoughts to his daughter.

Obituary in The Star (Malaysia); click to read [pdf]

Though retired, he was very active and just a few years ago, “his message to the younger generation of Malaysian scientists is that communication and net-working with colleagues should be regarded as a functional part of research.”

See:

• Nadchatram, M. 2008. The beneficial rainforest ecosystem with environmental effects on zoonoses involving ticks and mites (Acari): a Malaysia perspective and review. Tropical Biomedicine (Supplement): 25: 69–92.
• Nadchatram, M., 2006. A review of endoparasitic acarines of Malaysia with special reference to novel endoparasitism of mites in amphibious sea snakes and supplementary notes on ecology of chiggers. Tropical Biomedicine, 23(1): 1–22 (dedicated to his mentor, Prof J Ralph Audy).

After viewing the Butterfly Trail @ Orchard, SBG, Dr. Carlos Lopez willl give a talk at NUS which Anuj Jain is hosting:

Ecology and conservation genetics of the protected Spanish moon moth, Graellsia isabellae

Sat 26 Nov 2011: 2.00pm
At NUS DBS Seminar Room 2
Department of Biological Sciences (map)
Block S2, Level 4,
Science Drive 4, National University of Singapore.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Click for pdf

” The SNAS Fellowships have been instituted to recognize outstanding individuals in Singapore who have distinguished themselves in the field of science.

A rigorous selection process involving reports from nominators, screening by a selection committee of the candidates’ Curriculum Vitae and publication lists, and review by the Council of the Singapore National Academy of Science, has led to the selection of 11 candidates for the SNAS Fellowships. “

Our hearty congratulations to all the SNAS Fellows and to the two from the Biological Sciences in particular:

Prof Chou Loke Ming,
Professor of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

Prof Leo Tan Wee Hin
Professor of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
Director of Special Projects, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore

The fellowship will be conferred during a Conferment Ceremony on Thursday, 24 Nov 2011 at 6.00 pm in the University Hall Auditorium at the National University of Singapore.

Here is the complete list as they are all familiar names from sciences including our current dean and provost:

Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) Fellowship

Prof Louis Chen Hsiao Yun
Professor of Mathematics, National University of Singapore
Director, Institute for Mathematical Sciences

Prof Chong Chi Tat
Professor of Mathematics, National University of Singapore
Head, Department of Mathematics, National University of Singapore

Prof Chou Loke Ming
Professor of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

Prof Andy Hor Tzi Sum
Professor of Chemistry, National University of Singapore
Executive Director, Institute of Materials Research & Engineering

Prof Lee Soo Ying
Professor of Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University
Head, Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University

Prof Lui Pao Chuen
Senior Advisor to President, Nanyang Technological University

Prof Tan Eng Chye
Professor of Mathematics, National University of Singapore
Provost and Deputy President (Academic Affairs), National University of Singapore

Prof Bernard Tan Tiong Gie
Professor of Physics, National University of Singapore

Prof Leo Tan Wee Hin
Professor of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore
Director of Special Projects, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore

Prof Shen Zuowei
Professor of Mathematics, National University of Singapore

Prof Andrew Wee Thye Shen
Professor of Physics, National University of Singapore
Dean, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore

The department has got quite big and it will be a useful session. Each lab has only 15 mins and were told to keep it enjoyable. I am looking forward to this and hope I have my marking done by then!

Wednesday, 16th November 2011: 5.30pm
Lecture Theatre 20
National University of Singapore
Click here for map

Host: N. Sivasothi

All are welcome

Please register at http://tinyurl.com/panut-16nov2011 (just name and email)

Abstract
Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) are critically endangered, due to ongoing poaching, deforestation, degradation and fragmentation of their rainforest habitats. Increased conversion to cultivation has increased the frequency of human-orangutan conflicts from crop raiding. To mitigate such conflict, an understanding of local perceptions to crop-raiding orangutans is required and the impact on rural subsistence economies as well as orangutan response to living in human-dominated landscapes.

The Orangutan Information Centre of Sumatra, Indonesia, established a Human-Orangutan Conflict Response Unit (HOCRU) in North Sumatra. Responsible for investigation, assessments, enumerations and mitigation of conflict between farmers and orangutans, this programme is the first to provide insights on factors influencing human-orangutan conflict in Sumatra. It is also providing direct support to agricultural communities affected by crop-raiding orangutans.

The HOCRU team has surveyed local farmers about their methods for dealing with conflict. With affected communities, they have established a Conflict Reporting Centre which compiles data on orangutan, elephant and tiger conflict, and ensures relevant units act on report. A Standard Operating Procedure with Best Practice Mitigation Methods for Orang Utans has been developed. The Orangutan Information Centre has also initiated restoration of degraded orangutan habitat due to palm oil expansion and conducted various forms of education and outreach activities for local communities.

About the speaker
Panut Hadisiswoyo founded the Orangutan Information Centre in 2001, working for the protection of rainforests, the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan and thousands of other species sharing their habitat.

He promotes conservation amongst communities living adjacent to the Gunung Leuser National Park, helping them protect and improve their livelihoods and, in the process, safeguarding an ecosystem of vital importance in the global fight against climate change.

About the Organisation
The Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) is dedicated to the conservation of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) and their forest homes. The OIC’s grassroots projects in Sumatra work with local communities living alongside orangutan habitat. The OIC plants trees, visits schools and villages, and provides training to help local people work towards a more sustainable future.

The OIC is a local NGO staffed by Indonesian university graduates, believing that Sumatran people are best suited to have an impact in and help Sumatra.

Panut is also speaking at National Geographic Store (Singapore), Vivocity at 7.00pm on Thu 17 Nov 2011 – register here. This talk is hosted by ECO Singapore.

Links

• Panut’s complete profile – click here.
• Orangutan Information Centre – http://orangutancentre.org
• Sumatran Orangutan Education and Awareness Programme (SOEAP) (2007) – Rufford Small Grants Foundation.

Teaching Assistant (Part-time) Award AY2010/2011

• Alex Yee Thiam Koon
• Ching Biyun
• Chong Kwek Yan
• Maxine Allayne Darlene Mowe
• Neo Mei Lin
• Xie Zhicheng

Teaching Assistant (Full-time) Award AY2010/2011

• Erica Sena Neves
• Law Sze Joo Sylvia
• Xu Weiting

They will receive their awards from the Dean of Science, Prof Andrew Wee on Wed 16 Nov 2011.

Jacob Phelps, our graduate student in the Applied Plant Ecology lab is there in Thailand and helping Baan Arsa Jaidee.

He has setup a PayPal account to collect and deposit funds into the Thai Health Promotion Foundation account, the Thai Government agency managing the Centre’s finances. The means to donate directly into the Relief Fund will be setup, but this while take awhile and funds are needed urgently.

On Thursday, Mingko sent out this appeal to donate funds via http://www.baanarsajaidee.blogspot.com.

Cheerio!

Sivasothi aka Otterman

Dear all,

We have received updates from Jacob about the flooding situation in Bangkok. Thailand has seen the most severe flooding in 50 years. Many people have lost everything, and desperately need access to food and clean water, medicine, toilets, boats and clothes.

Jacob and Hannah have been volunteering at a local centre called Ban Arsa Jai Dee to pack food for flood-affected areas north of Bangkok. It is only one of two food storage and distribution centres in Bangkok. Resources are limited and they especially needs funds to purchase: food and water for distribution, rafts and water purifiers.

To learn more about their efforts and make a contribution, you can go to http://www.baanarsajaidee.blogspot.com. The link to make a direct donation through Paypal (you won’t need an account) can be found on the right side of the page.

Finally, please spread the word to others!

Best regards,
Mingko

About the Baan Arsa Jaidee
From the webpage:

“The Thai Health Promotion Foundation, an autonomous Thai government agency, in collaboration with civil society groups – ArsaDusit Volunteers, Thaiflood, and others- has opened Baan Arsa Jaidee, an emergency relief centre on 14 Oct 2011.

In a short time it has proved itself one of the most aggressive and responsive flood relief groups because it helps to coordinate dozens of existing civil society groups”

See “Thailand flood: ‘Making survival packs‘,” BBC News, 27 Oct 2011.

This project is looking for biology undergraduates who are keen in gaining research experience, enjoy working in the field and can be flexible with working hours. The applicant must have good communication and interpersonal skills and be fluent in English (writing, reading, and speaking).

The primary role is the will be collection of biological materials from outdoor areas in Singapore and will therefore involve moderate physical labor. Secondary duties may include sample processing with the possibility of training in molecular biology techniques.

Collections are generally made 2 times per week in the evening with additional collections during daylight hours (times are flexible) required every 2 weeks. Collection activities will generally be conducted in a team of two, so interested parties are encouraged to approach colleagues and form a team.

Payment: prevailing student part-time payment rate. Estimated no. of hours of work per month: 24-32.

If interested, please apply to Ian Mendenhall at ian.mendenhall@duke-nus.edu.sg

They compiled evidence of how warming temperatures may lead to various taxa becoming smaller.  The article is an interesting read and has been widely covered by the media including CNN, New York Times, Yahoo and hilariously, even The Onion.

David hopes that this perspective piece stimulates discussion and future scientific study in this area. Let’s hope that it does!

Cedric did his final-year project in my lab. This will surprise nobody who knows him! We should assess LSM2251 like this!

The announcement on Science:

Science’s fourth annual “Dance Your Ph.D.” contest, a competition that recognizes the best dance interpretations of scientific doctoral work.

The Ph.D. research of the three other winners, who will receive $500 each, made for equally compelling dances. Cedric Tan, a biologist at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom who won the biology category, depicted the mating dance of the fruit fly, capturing the way that male flies stalk and sniff females. He also incorporated his research on how choosy females prefer to mate with flies that are brothers and how that relation reduces violence between the males.

Plus see Cedric’s illustrious NUS history here.

Best wishes,

Richard

The news made it to Slate too!

Click to read the article!

This time, the theme is “The Next Generation”, and various emerging members of the community in various sectors were featured as speakers, along with more seasoned personalities. A large number of the NUS Biodiversity Crew were speakers or chairs in various sessions divided into Community Impressions and the key habitats found in Singapore: 1) Terrestrial, 2) Freshwater and 3) Marine.

Community Impressions

Community Impressions kick started the symposium proper after a speech by guest-of-honour, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin and presentation of symposium awards. This session gave a review and raised issues regarding the terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems in Singapore and was chaired by Dr Zeehan Jaafar.

BOSS III organiser and DBS lecturer, Siva kick started the Community Impressions with voices from the ground regarding terrestrial issues namely the regulation of visitor impact to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve as well as looking beyond culling as a management practice for human-wildlife conflict.

Assoc Prof Darren Yeo represented the freshwater community and talked about the gems of Singapore’s freshwater habitats as well as the challenges, including habitat loss and modification, exploitation and introduced species.

Terrestrial Session

The terrestrial session featured two graduate students from the NUS Biodiversity community and chaired by alumni Yong Ding Li.

Phd candidate, Chong Kwek Yan from the Plant Systematics Lab talked about “Why would anybody want to be a botanist in Singapore?” He talked about how the lab has moved on from being a producer of plant systematics research into being end users in Singapore. Various ongoing research in the lab were also highlighted.

Mammal researcher Marcus Chua from the Systematics and Ecology Lab gave an account of mammal research in Singapore and how current research has changed to reflect the issues such as existing status, conservation and co-existence of mammal species in Singapore.

Freshwater Session

Maxine Mowe and Adam Quek from NUS, chaired the freshwater session, which featured amongst two members of the research community from NUS.

Chong Jun Hien from the Tropical Marine Science Institute talked about freshwater macro-invertebrates, their relationship with the environment and how they can end up in our soup. He also introduced the concept of biological monitoring for freshwater environments in Singapore to measure water quality.

Dr Tan Heok Hui, a lecturer based in RMBR and managing editor of the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, talked about non-native fish species in Singapore and the need to understand the ecology of these fishes to understand how they interact with our environment.

Marine Session

The marine session, chaired by graduate student, Alison Wee and Nanthini Elamgovan from NParks, featured a bumper crop of three speakers from the Biodiversity crew.

Soo Wai Kit from the RMBR Education Unit spoke about Project Semakau, a community-based monitoring and conservation project on the world’s first landfill island. Wai Kit shared about the new discoveries, records and findings from the project as well as how volunteers helped to make this possible.

Karenne Tun from the Marine Biology Lab spoke about the rich coral reef life abound in Singapore’s waters and the ongoing research efforts to study this diverse ecosystem. She delighted the audience with stories about coral spawning so much that even moss man, Adjunct Assoc Prof Benito Tan got interested during the Q&A session.

Post-doctoral research fellow Dr Dan Friess from the Applied Plant Ecology Lab delivered the last talk of the day on Mandai mangroves, the multitude of research that has taken place there and challenges that threaten the future of the mangrove patch. Dan also spoke of the ongoing effort to map and study the effect of sea level rise on Mandai mangroves.

Special Update

In a special session, Dr Tan Swee Hee gave an update on the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Musem project that he is overseeing. He spoke about the three diplodocid dinosaurs funded through public donations and unveiled plans for the new natural history museum.

Outside the Lecture Theatre

Food was catered and the extra long tea breaks (1 hr each) allowed plenty of time for meeting, chatting with attendees and viewing of the posters put up by students and nature groups. The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research set up a mobile store selling mechandise and the Toddycats! and NParks also had an on-site exhibitions on the biodiversity of Singapore.

Judging from the response, the ‘crew certainly enjoyed sharing about their work with the community at BOSS III and making new friends at BOSS III and are definitely looking forward to the next Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium!

All photos kindly taken by Kenneth Pinto.

ALL ARE WELCOME

A quantitative assessment of arboreality in tropical amphibians and reptiles across an elevation gradient: can arboreal animals find above-ground refuge from climate warming?

Brett Scheffers
Graduate Student, Dept.of Biological Sciences, NUS
Supervisor: Prof Corlett, Richard T

Thursday, 06 Oct 2011: 4:30PM
DBS Conference Room II ((S1, Level 3, mezzanine)
Map: http://tinyurl.com/map-nusdbs

Abstract – Tropical rainforests contain some of the richest biological communities on earth. One crucial structural component of tropical forests is canopy trees. Considered the “next frontier” to biological inquiry, forest canopies are suspected to be among the most species-rich yet highly threatened terrestrial habitats. However, the difficulty of accessing canopy trees has left arboreal communities largely neglected from ecological study. Little is known as to how much of above ground habitat is used by animals, particularly highly cryptic animals such as amphibians and reptiles. The ecological importance of these habitats to animals has not been ascertained.

I present the first ever quantitative assessment of arboreal habitat use by amphibians and reptiles in the tropics. Specifically, I conducted research on Mt. Banahao, central Luzon, the Philippines (900 to 2100 m) to examine how amphibian and reptile communities structure vertically in a rainforest and how community arrangement in the forest stratum changes across an elevation gradient. Many canopy dwelling animals will likely be threatened by human induced climate change. Thus, I examine ecotypic thermal tolerances of amphibian and reptile communities both within the forest stratum and along an elevation gradient. Lastly, I examine whether cool refuges are present in the forest canopy. Specifically, I examine whether birdnest ferns (Asplenium complex), a major structural component of forest canopies in Southeast Asia, serve as obligate breeding habitat and cool thermal refuge for arboreal frogs.

My study contributes unique ecological data on some of the least known animal communities on earth. In the wake of human caused climate change and synchronous species extinctions, understanding how all species respond to climate warming is essential for tangible conservation.

“MR LIM Poh Seng asks an intriguing question: Is the national flower becoming ‘extinct’ (‘In search of Vanda Miss Joaquim’; Forum Online, Monday)? [see below]

Singapore’s national flower is a sterile hybrid of two orchid species, both of which do not naturally occur in Singapore. It was the result of a cross made by Armenian horticulturist Agnes Joaquim in her garden, as described by pioneer botanist Henry Ridley.

I am not sure if ‘extinction’ seems to be an ecologically relevant concept to apply to it, but as this is our official national flower, Mr Lim’s concerns are understandable.

As conservation scientists, we often ask: How many of Singapore’s native plant species have become extinct? How many are in danger of becoming extinct?

The latest edition of Singapore’s Red Data Book lists some 30 per cent of more than 2,000 plant species native to Singapore as nationally extinct. Many have been rediscovered in the following years, but many others remain rare – only a few of them exist in a few locations.

One particular native species of interest is the Singapore Kopsia. It is found only in the freshwater swamps of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and its flowers bear the Singapore colours: red and white.

Another species of interest is a climber known to be found only in Singapore and nowhere else, with the scientific name Spatholobus ridleyi.

If this climber becomes extinct in Singapore, it also means that it will disappear permanently from the face of the earth.

Unlike hybrid orchids that require artificial propagation, our native plant species are fully capable of reproducing and surviving on their own – if not for habitat destruction and disturbance by us humans.

Perhaps we should grow more native plants in all schools. This will enable our children to know and appreciate our gradually disappearing natural heritage.

Chong Kwek Yan”

“In search of Vanda Miss Joaquim”
The Straits Times Forum Online, 30 Sep 2011.

IS SINGAPORE’S national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, becoming extinct? Is it difficult to grow?

The only place where I can see the national flower is at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Singapore Tourism Board or National Parks Board should provide a list of places where we can view the national flower.

We should grow the national flower in all schools. This will enable our children to know and appreciate our national flower.

Lim Poh Seng

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