Fresh look at Singapore's aquatic environment

Third book in series on biodiversity throws up some surprising insights
Ben Nadarajan Straits Times 31 Jul 10;

THE third book in the Private Lives series on Singapore's biodiversity will be launched next Monday.

The latest book will focus on the wide range of species living in Singapore's freshwater bodies. The previous two books were on the country's shoreline and its mangroves.

The series is sponsored by ExxonMobil through its Biodiversity Fund, which was set up in December 2005 through a donation to the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore's department of biology.

Proceeds from the sale of the books go back to the fund, which publishes guidesheets and books on nature and conservation for schools as well as the general public. The fourth book planned for the series will be on rainforests.

One of the new book's editors, Assistant Professor Darren Yeo Chong Jinn, said it is not meant to be a guide to the biodiversity in Singapore's freshwater bodies, but more to provide a glimpse, to get people interested in some of the 'strange and unusual' aspects.

'Some of these animals really surprise us - we think they're gone, then they suddenly show up again,' he said. 'It's amazing how resilient some of them are.'

Prof Yeo said many people may think that a book on freshwater species would just be about fish and prawns, but there are other species in the ecosystem such as insects, frogs and birds as well, all featured in the book.

In fact, the cover photo is of the purple swamphen, standing among wetlands. This bird, which is closely related to the chicken, is quite uncommon but can be found even in artificial wetlands, such as those at Kranji.

There is also a chapter titled Temasekia which highlights species which were important in the country's heritage. These are species which were either first discovered in Singapore or named after some part of the country. This group includes prawns, crabs and aquatic bugs.

The book also features contributions from academics, biologists and overseas experts, as well as amateurs who have a keen interest in the topic. National water agency PUB has also contributed a chapter on human and societal involvement with freshwater bodies.

The other two editors of the book are Mr Kelvin Lim, the Raffles Museum's collections manager, and field ornithologist Wang Luan Keng, who is the museum's education and research officer.

Prof Yeo, who lectures on freshwater biology, the ecology of aquatic environments and biodiversity, said: 'Conservation of freshwater resources is very important as the freshwater ecosystems provide us not only with fresh water for daily use, but also other, perhaps less tangible, benefits such as temperature regulation, biodiversity, and even aesthetics and recreational opportunities.'

Raffles Museum head Peter Ng said that after 150 years of 'relentless development' in Singapore, it was very surprising that the extinction rate of fish, for example, was just 40 per cent and not closer to 90 per cent.

'It is hard to imagine that any of the freshwater biodiversity would have survived,' he said.

benjamin@sph.com.sg

Private Lives: An Expose Of Singapore's Freshwaters will be available for sale at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, as well as bookstore Nature's Niche. The hardcover version is $35, while the paperback costs $22.