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GES > Lecture 5 Singapore Bio Diversity > Flashcards

Lecture 5 Singapore Bio Diversity Flashcards

1
Q

IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT? DO WE NEED TO CONSERVE IT?

A
  • loss of species leads to a disruption of ecosystem processes.
  • biodiversity takes millions of years to evolve.
  • species provide a rich genetic bank of bioactive substances.
  • species simply have the right to exist.
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2
Q

Estimated 3 – 100 million species present on earth.

1.4 – 1.8 million identified (average 1.5 million).

A

Based on the extinction rate of 1% per annum, the planet will loose 20% of its biodiversity by 2030.

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3
Q

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS:

A

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

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4
Q

Components of the Environment

A

Atmosphere (air)
- Shield earth from UV
- Moderates temperature - Life-support gases
Biosphere (life)
- Plants convert solar/chemical energy to organic matter
- Facilitate cycling of materials - Environmental cleansing
- Physical environment modification
Hydrosphere (water)
- Moderates climate- absorbs/ releases heat
- Contributes moisture to atmosphere and lithosphere
- Contributes essential elements/compounds
Lithosphere (soil)
- Contributes essential elements/compounds

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5
Q

(biodiversity also referred to as “the natural capital”).

A

Important to maintain healthy ecosystems in order to enjoy the goods and services.
Ecosystems are resource systems – they provide goods and services.

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6
Q

E.g. Forest Ecosystem

A 
Goods
Timber
Fuel wood
Pulp
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Traditional medicines (and poisons)
Services
Retard soil erosion
Regulate climate
Regulate water cycle
Energy flow and chemical cycling Carbon fixing
Purify air and water
Provided habitat to numerous species
World’s forests provide services valued at US$4.7 trillion per year.
Hundreds of times greater than the economic value.
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7
Q

Seagrass Ecosystem

A 
Goods:
Food
Medicine Fertiliser/fodder paper
Services:
Binds sediment
Reduced turbidity
Retards erosion
Pollution filter
Nursery (fish and shrimps) Support large invertebrate stocks Critical habitat of dugongs
Food for green turtles and young hawksbills
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8
Q

Phyllophorus sp. (sea cucumber)

A

present in algal beds at Changi, used in traditional medicine locally.

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9
Q

Significance of Biodiversity

A
  • Food
  • Medical and pharmaceutical importance
  • Construction materials
  • Physical environment protection
  • Balanced cycling of materials
  • Eco-tourism
  • Carbon fixation
  • Soil enrichment
  • Stores and purifies water
  • Filters and detoxifies pollutants and waste products
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10
Q

Clitoria ternatea butterfly pea

A

Clitoria ternatea butterfly pea (colouring for kueh kueh) or health tea

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11
Q

Preserved wild magnolia flowers

A

(love food, allergies)

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12
Q

Wild Tumeric

A

cancer, skin diseases, jaundice, liver complaints, asthma, wound

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13
Q

Cissus Quadrangularis

A

cold, acidity, piles, osteoporosis, anorexia

and fracture

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14
Q

Lalang grass roots

A

hemoptysis (expectoration of blood from some part of the respiratory tract), hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), hematuria (blood in urine)

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15
Q

Construction materials

A

Tree trunks and wooden planks are bound together using rattan, a similar species to bamboo.
The structures are anchored in the sea by driving large piles deep into the seabed creating a sturdy surface for the entire structure.

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16
Q

Physical environment protection

Mangrove roots

A

Mangrove roots prevents mud and sand from being washed away with the tide and river currents.

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17
Q

Physical environment protection

Mangrove trees

A

Mangrove trees also slowly regenerate the soil by penetrating and aerating it
(other creatures such as crabs and mud lobsters also help in. As the mud builds up and soil conditions improve, other plants can take root.
• Mangrove trees also reduce the damage from violent storms.
• e.g. 2004 Tsunami in India

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18
Q

Balanced cycling of materials

A

Forest – materials, water, nutrients etc.

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19
Q

Bacteria

A

Freshwater fish produce Ammonia in nitrate. Nitrosomonas spp consumes ammonia and convert it to Nitrate

Nitrobacter spp consumes nitrite and convert it to nitrate
Plant growth - plant use nitrate for growth

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20
Q

Mud lobsters

A
  • It excavates below the surface of the mud, pushing mud to the surface and making its home higher as it digs.
  • In this way, it helps to bring nutrients from deep underground to the surface, helping in the recycling of nutrients in the ecosystem.
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21
Q

Soil enrichment

A

earthworms

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22
Q

Filters and detoxifies pollutants and waste products

A

Biochemical Mechanisms of Detoxification in Higher Plants : Basis of Phytoremediation

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23
Q

Casuarina spp. (In India)

A
  • Absorb salt
  • Grow very fast
  • Trees are harvested to make paper • Soil remedia8on
  • In Japan, similar situa8on but different plants
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24
Q

Modified ecosystems depends on

A

external inputs e.g. pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers.

Natural ecosystems do not require these inputs to maintain productivity.

25
Q

Modified ecosystems have lower

A

productivity (carbon fixation) than natural ecosystems.

26
Q

Ecosystems are ____ , capable of renewal and regeneration.

A

resource systems

27
Q

Ecosystems provide services that

A

benefit human society.

28
Q

Healthy ecosystems provide a

A

wide range of services.
Use value, non use valua.

Direct, indirect, option value

non use value, legacy, intrinsic

29
Q

Stress reduces quality and quantity

A

Stress reduces quality and quantity of these services.

Local, Landscape, Regional, Continental, Global

30
Q

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

A

Introduced species. Over-exploitation.
Excessive habitat degradation.
Result in unsustainable use of biological resources.

31
Q

INTRODUCED SPECIES

A

Unintentional introductions
- Ballast water releases from ships, hull fouling.
- Organisms in or on timber/wood products, in packing materials and shipping containers/cargos.
- In or on various modes of transportation like cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, ships, etc.
- Organisms in imported nursery soils. - Organisms in imported fruits and
vegetables.
- Tourists and their luggage/equipment.
Intentional introductions
- Release of unwanted pets and aquarium animals into the wild (e.g. Red-eared Slider).
- Plants introduced for gardens/ landscaping.
- Biological control (e.g. House Crow).

32
Q

Over-exploitation (overharvesting)

A

Fisheries Forest Water Hunting

33
Q

Urbanisation

A

Habitat fragmentation Habitat degradation Habitat loss

Species extinction
&
Loss of Ecological Benefits (Goods and Services)

34
Q

Highly urbanised High population density Limited food production

A 
INPUTS
Energy
Food
Water
Raw materials Manufactures goods

OUTPUTS
Pollutants Greenhouse gases Solid waste Waste heat Manufactures goods

35
Q

SUSTAINABILITY?

A

Limited natural resources.

Heavy dependence on external inputs. Large ecological footprint. Environmental quality maintained.

36
Q

Ecological footprint

A

Using more resources than what we can produce.

Ecological footprint: the area of productive land and aquatic ecosystems needed to produce the resources demanded by people, and to assimilate the wastes produced.
Singapore considered to be among one of the most unsustainable nations in terms of ecological deficit per capita.

37
Q

Measures how much ecological capacity we occupy.

A

Globally: 1.7 global hectares per person.
Singapore: 7.2 global hectares per person* Available capacity 0.1 ha per person.
If everyone in the world lives like a typical Singaporean, we need 3.5 Earths to sustain all of us.

38
Q

NON-SUSTAINABLE APPROACH

A 
•  Pollute, then clean up,
•  Waste disposal (bury/
burn),
•  Increasing use of
resources
•  Population growth
•  Environmental
degradation
•  Protect species
•  Overexploit/degrade
natural capital
39
Q

SUSTAINABLE APPROACH

A 
•  Prevent pollution
•  Waste reduction (reduce/
recycle)
•  Efficient use of resources
•  Population stabilisation
•  Environmental restoration
•  Protect habitat
•  Protect natural capital
40
Q

POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

A
  • The environment supports life and life supports the environment.
  • Total environment protection (including ecosystems).
41
Q

We do not depend on our ecosystems for goods.

A

(In some countries, survival depends entirely on ecosystem goods).

42
Q

We do not depend much on our ecosystems for services.

A

(Most of the services replaced by human engineering e.g. shore protection. But some are depended on e.g. secondary forests around catchment area to maintain water supply in reservoirs).

43
Q

Can we utilise biodiversity to reduce our ecological footprint?

A

Example: Rooftop gardens (can reduce air temperature and lower energy cost).

44
Q

Is there any evidence of biodiversity protection?

A

We have nature reserves and parks.

NParks established the Biodiversity Centre in 2004 and the National Biodiversity Reference Centre in 2006.

Singapore Green Plan 2012 and the Sustainable Blue Plan 2016

45
Q

Let us examine three case studies:

A

A. Restoring Singapore River/Kallang Basin

B. Preserving mangroves/coral reefs at Pulau Semakau C. Mega Marine Survey Singapore

46
Q

Cleaning of Singapore River and Kallang Basin

A

10 year programme commencing 1977

Cost: US$150 million

TRIGGERING FACTORS:
•  Gross pollution
•  Biologically-dead rivers
•  Stench
•  Health risk
•  Open sewer and garbage
dump
47
Q

SOURCES OF POLLUTION

A
  • Pigs and duck farms • Unsewered premises • Street hawkers
  • Riverine activities
  • Vegetable wholesale activities
48
Q

Development Guide Plans

A

Singapore River – River of history and entertainment.

Kallang Basin – Basin of fun and entertainment.

49
Q

BOD = “Biochemical Oxygen Demand”

A

gives an indication of how much an aquatic habitat is polluted by sewage and organic waste. The breakdown of organic matter in water by microorganisms consumes dissolved oxygen – the greater the amount of organic waste, the greater the uptake of dissolved oxygen.

50
Q

TSS = “Total Suspended Solids”

A

refer to the amount of particles suspended in water. This is caused by sediment and detritus washed into the aquatic habitat, which affects water clarity and quality.

51
Q

CLEANING UP
269 tons rubbish removed.
0.5 million m3 contaminated mud removed.

A

IMPROVEMENTS
Aquatic biodiversity increased:
Singapore River: 18 Families (1986) to 47 (1992) Kallang Basin: 28 Families (1987) to 41 (1995)

52
Q

Example of development and ecosystem compatibility in Singapore?

A

SEMAKAU LANDFILL
Pre-development considerations.
• Protection of coral reefs and mangroves.
• Restoration of mangroves.

Mangrove rehabilitation at Palau Semakau

Rhizophora zone of the mangrove. Northern nursery on the right of picture.
The southern nursery with monoculture Of Rhizophora spp. at about 4 years old

53
Q

Comprehensive Mega Marine Survey

A

• Launched by NParks.
• Global and local experts from RMBR (now LKCNHM), TMSI, NUS, NTU as well as NGOs such as Nature
Society, Blue Water Volunteers and others affiliated with the Singapore Blue Plan, volunteers and enthusiasts.
• 2 massive expeditions:
- Northern Expedition was held on 15 Oct - 2 Nov 2012, - Southern Expedition was held on 20 May-8 Jun 2013.
• All information will go into a public national database that will be open to all.

54
Q

Ecosystems have a way of dealing with impacts

A

but in their own way and at their own time.

Need to appreciate this aspect and not place unreasonable expectations on ecosystems.

55
Q

Give ecosystems a chance to perform their environmental improvement and re-conditioning role.

A

(Whatever ecosystems can be maintained, should be maintained. If
man-made, they should be enhanced.)

56
Q

• No point in keeping the environment clean but biologically sterile.

A

(Technology can be employed to take over the environmental

conditioning function of ecosystems, but makes little economic or ecological sense.)

57
Q

HABITAT RESTORATION

A

Reversing environmental damage. Speed up repair operations.
Restoration should not be taken as the preferred management option.
Best management option is to protect in the first place. More economical and most effective.
Because of large extent of degraded habitats, restoration cannot be avoided.

58
Q

POINTS TO NOTE IN HABITAT RESTORATION

A
  • Understanding of ecological succession important.

* Habitat restoration is to help degraded habitats recover faster.

GES (7 decks)

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