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St John's Island
- Fringe reefs (grows directly from the shore). While there may be areas of shallow intertidal or sub-tidal sand bottom lying between the beach and the inshore edge of coral growth, there is no lagoon between the reef and shore.
- Coral reefs are found on the western and north-eastern edge of island.

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- More than 90% of transplanted coral reefs survived on Lazarus Island's seawalls http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/rescued-corals-thrive-on-sea-walls

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1) Warming seas > Coral bleaching
- May 2014:  Did not see any corals that were completely bleached, but did see many with white or yellowish patches. These were mostly on the high shore.
http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/st-johns-island-coral-bleaching-check-up.html#.WdsCk62B25w
- How Singapore is preparing for warming seas and coral bleaching: We will collect fragments of these species from as many colonies as we can find, and grow them out in various reef areas as well as in aquaria, to ensure that we are able to maintain the population. We will also out-plant them back on the reefs after the bleaching event passes. Meanwhile, NParks has initiated monitoring schemes to better understand how elevated sea surface temperatures may influence the photosynthetic responses of corals. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-ready-to-deal-with-threat-to-corals

2. Accidental Oil Spills
- E.g. Jan 2014 http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/01/two-collisions-with-oil-spill-near.html#.WdshF62B25w

3. Land reclamation

4. Sand replenishment of man-made beaches (e.g. Sentosa) > increased sedimentation and turbidity > higher stress on corals (factors which alter light in the marine environment will have a significant effect on calcification rates and reef development)

5. Algae blooms due to developments nearby (e.g. Tuas Spring Desalination Plant installing silt curtains to protect reverse osmosis membranes in 2015) http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2016/08/what-water-quality-issues-happening-now.html#.Wd8rKa2B25w

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The reef in Singapore can be subdivided into three main zones: the reef flat, reef crest and reef slope.

- The shoreline gives way to the shallow reef flat that may vary in width and depth--at very low tides, some parts of the reef flat are exposed to air and direct sunlight. Here, scattered about are small colonies of boulder-shaped knob corals (c), maze coral (Platygyra) and sponges of different colours. .
- Marine life on the reef crest is usually the richest. Almost every type of coral is represented: the brain corals (Lobophylliidae), bubble corals (Euphylliidae), pore corals (Poritidae), mushroom corals (Fungidae), cauliflower corals (Pocillopora), cave corals and disc corals (Dendrophylliidae), the table and staghorn corals (Acropora), anemone corals (Goniopora)and many others. Living among them are many other marine animals: Deep purple-coloured sea anemones, with their symbiotic clownfish are a common sight. Feather stars (Crinoidea) are cryptic by day, and hide in coral crevices. Attached on the reef substrata are the sponges (Porifera), sea squirts (Tunicata), feather-duster worms (Sabellida) and stinging hydroids (Hydrozoa). The other more mobile reef residents are the cowries, cone shells, nudibranchs, shrimps and crabs, which may be found in the crevices of the reef.

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Malay name: Sekijang Bendera or "deer flag". The European sailors called it “Sijang” and later the island was named St John’s island.

Chinese name: Qi Zhang Shang meaning "Mount Qi Zhang" refering to a hill (189 ft) in the island's centre, a Chinese reinterpretaion of Sakijang.

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I have compiled photos of common corals listed above, do take a look so we can have some fun trying to identify them heh heh:

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Singapore’s First Marine Park
- a platform for outreach, educational, conservation and research activities related to our native marine biodiversity.

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarinepark

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Pre-fieldwork Socratic questioning & framing

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Pre-fieldwork Socratic questioning & framing

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Students to be able to define intertidal zone/biodiversity, crustaceans beforehand. We can CFU.

1) What can we find in the intertidal zone?

We can get students to categorize under:

(i)Biodiversity, (ii)Landforms, (iii)Human activities

2) Do you think the intertidal zone is important? Why?

-Part of Coast

-houses biodiversity

--> Link to threat to coasts and conversational efforts

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Where: Northwestern tip of St John’s Island.   

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Where: Northwestern tip of St John’s Island.   

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https://www.nparks.gov.sg/~/media/nparks-real-chttps://www.nparks.gov.sg/~/media/nparks-real-content/gardens-parks-and-nature/diy-walk/diy-walk-pdf-files/st-johns-island-trail.pdf?la=enontent/gardens-parks-and-nature/diy-walk/diy-walk-pdf-files/st-johns-island-trail.pdf?la=en

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Italian Beach?

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Mature trees are the natural heritage of Singapore and serve as important green landmarks of our tropical Garden City.

There are 258 Heritage Trees in the Heritage Tree Register. The Heritage Tree Scheme advocates the conservation of Singapore's trees, and has initiatives such as the installation of lightning conductors and interpretive signage.

In order for a tree to be endorsed, it must have a trunk circumference (girth) of more than 5m; and/or a botanical/social/historical/cultural/aesthetic value.

11 heritage trees of 6 species can be found on St. John's Island.

Tembusu Tree
- native to Singapore
- berries are bitter; eaten only by bats and birds, and the Malayan Flying Fox (when there were many)
- wood extremely durable and resistant to termite attack -- suitable for heavy construction, bridges and carving

Common Pulai

- produces latex
- commonly used in landscape planting
- A. angustiloba has creamy white flowers, and side veins on leaves that are 0.1 inch or less apart, without visible reticulations
- A. scholaris has greenish yellow flowers and side veins that are 0.1-0.25 inches apart, with distinct reticulations between them

Penaga Laut

- Native to Singapore, critically endangered in the wild. Cultivated.
- beautiful leathery leaves, each with numerous slender veins running parallel from midrib to margin
- many uses: oil from seeds used to heal a multitude of skin ailments; resin, leaves, and roots have medicinal uses

Sea Fig (found near water tank, forested area)
- deciduous strangling fig that grows mostly on coastal areas and develops a vast crown formed by large spreading branches
- aerial roots grow from branches, as well as from the trunk and the base of lower limbs

Machang Pulasan
- Native to Singapore
- critically endangered in the wild population in Singapore

Tempinis Tree (found at edge of forest, near path to Tropical Marine Science Institute)
- leaves are oblong elliptic, ,tipped, thinly leathery and drooping
- young leaves are pinkish brown in colour
- flowers occur in hanging green spikes or catkins 8-20cm long
- fruits are round and enclosed at the base of the flower

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees

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1823: station for report boats that bring news of immigrants
1874: Lazeretto (quarantine station for sea travellers) built and St John’s Island becomes a quarantine centre that housed cholera and beri beri victims
1930: world recognition as a quarantine centre screening Asian immigrants and pilgrims returning from Mecca.

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When the mass immigration was closed, the island was used to house political detainees and ringleaders of secret societies.
Among its political detainees was S’pore’s labour movement pioneer Devan Nair, who was housed there from 1951 to 1953 for his involvement in anti-colonial activities. He later became Singapore’s third president from 1981 to 1985.

St John’s island was also used as a mass execution site during World War 2.

Later the holding areas were converted into a drug rehabilitation centre,

1975 it became a holiday campsite popular with schools and students.

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A third of the island on the eastern end was acquired by the Prisons' Department for the setting up of a prison detention centre for illegal immigrants and drug addicts.

The western end, on the other hand, was given a facelift with the construction of the S$30-million Marine Aquaculture Centre whose marine research facilities would take another third of the island.

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Others who lived on the island thought it was paradise, with modernity and peace on the island. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/retired-teacher-recalls-life-on-st-john-s-island-for-sg-heart-ma-8270588

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Regularly flies over the island, in search for prey

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Stalks fish by the water's edge with the striated heron

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It  spins its huge web at the forest
edge, which is also a habitat for many species of moths, butterflies, beetles and dragonflies.

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It lives on coral reefs and feeds
on small marine creatures.

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- spans about 40 hectares around Sisters' Islands and along the western reefs of both St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor.

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The location was chosen due to its variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.
Singapore’s waters are home to

More than 250 species of hard corals (32% of hard coral species found worldwide);

More than 100 species of reef fish

About 200 species of sponges

12 seagrass species

What are we doing to protect these wonderful creatures?
Check it out at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/news/2015/6/marine-conservation-action-plan-an-action-plan-of-the-ncmp

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http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/synanceiidae/horrida.htmhttp://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/synanceiidae/horrida.htm

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The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore and seashore and sometimes referred to as the littoral zone, is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide (in other words, the area between tide marks) -Wiki. Organisms living here must be able to tolerate alternating flooded and exposed conditions, along with high salinities, waves and currents (Friess & Oliver, 2015).

Crustaceans (Crustacea /krʌˈsteɪʃə/) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, woodlice and barnacles. -Wiki

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There's a small patch of mangroves on this island. It's dominated by two species - Bakau Pasir and Tumu.
Bakau Pasir - prominent prop roots,
Tumu - Knee roots which protrude above the ground
Both species produce long fruits (propagules)

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The Garden City Fund’s Plant-A-Coral, Seed-A-Reef Programme is a platform for organisations and individuals to support the habitat enhancement efforts at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park.

The Programme aims to enhance our marine biodiversity by providing areas for marine organisms to grow and reef fish to seek refuge. Coral nubbins (small coral fragments) will be transplanted from a coral nursery to Reef Enhancement Units (REUs).

https://www.gardencityfund.org/coral/

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Public Gallery at the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre

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Public Gallery at the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre

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There is a Sisters’ Islands Marine Park Public Gallery on St John’s Island which complements the outreach programmes at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. The Public Gallery features the rich marine biodiversity in Singapore's waters and provides an overview of the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, including a 3D diorama of its dive trails. A seminar room and teaching lab for school and community groups are also provided as extensions to the Public Gallery.

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/sisters-islands-marine-park/public-gallery

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St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML)

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St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML)

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St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML), Singapore’s only offshore marine research facility, is managed by National University of Singapore (NUS). The marine laboratory first opened on 3 October 2002 as a research facility of the Tropical Marine Science Institute, NUS.

https://www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/st-johns-island-marine-laboratory

http://sjinml.nus.edu.sg/

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Molluscs, which include snails, limpets, clams and cockles, usually have one shell (gastropods) or two shells (bivalves). The Marine Park is home to the Fluted Giant Clam. This locally Endangered bivalve, which can reach 45 cm long, is being studied and bred for restoration in local reefs. Some
molluscs, such as slugs, nudibranchs, octopuses and squids, lack shells.

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Pebble Crab (Family Leucosiidae) on St John's Island. This crab burrows very well, and the smooth carapace makes it look just like a polished pebble! (Tidechaser, 2009)

St John's Island is one of those few places left in Singapore that you can still see huge troops of soldier crabs (Dotilla myctiroides) (Tidechaser, 2009)

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http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/mammals/sousa.htm

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Usually found on large sea anemones. They do not eat/get eaten by the host anemone; believed to shelter in the anemone for protection and may feed on left-over (NParks, 2017).

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How nice to get a glimpse of a shy Clown anemone fish in a Giant carpet anemone! (Wildshores, 2015)

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What can you find here:                         1. Rare trees (Nyireh Laut and Tongkat Ali)                               2. Marine life (Limpets and reef worms)                               3. Reefs on western PulauTekukor, a part of the Marine Park.                                            

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What can you find here:                         1. Rare trees (Nyireh Laut and Tongkat Ali)                               2. Marine life (Limpets and reef worms)                               3. Reefs on western PulauTekukor, a part of the Marine Park.                                            

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"Natural rocky cliffs with some coastal vegetation, rocky shores. Flats rubbly with sparse reefs, some seagrasses"

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Sandy beaches and ‘bloodstained’ cliff faces of P. Tekukor (Turtle Dove)

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Previously known as Pulau Penyabong. Former ammunition dump. Never been inhabited. Soil cannot support useful plant life, no source of freshwater. Tales have it that cockfighting, death duels were held here.

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Conservation status: Listed for use as 'Sports and Recreation' in the URA Master Plan 2008, i.e., "Area to be used or intended to be used mainly for sports and recreational purposes." It is managed by Sentosa Leisure Group.

Current conservation activities: It is sometimes visited for scientific studies.

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http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/gold-ringed_cat-snake.htmGold-Ringed Cat Snake - a unique species of snakes commonly found in mangrove ecosystems. It can also be found in the mangroves on this island.

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Gold-ringed Cat Snake - Boiga dendrophila

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The image shows the northern tip of St John's Island. It features one of a natural rocky cliffs in Singapore. It also shows a natural coastal forest with many trees and plants now rarely seen in Singapore.

Credits:
http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2016/12/how-are-corals-at-st-johns-island.html#.Wd7ygmiCw2w

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1. Lazarus Island and Seringat Island are two of the Southern islands in the Central Region of Singapore

2. Islands included are: Kusu Island, Lazarus Island, Seringat Island, Pulau Tekukor, Saint John’s Island, Sentosa and the two Sisters’ Island

3. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) wanted to develop the Southern Islands, so land reclamation started in 2000 to link the two islands, forming a sand bank that created a lagoon.
The lagoon (see image above)
(retrieved from http://www.yachtcharter.sg/files/2011/11/Lazarus-Island-3.jpg)

(retrieved from
http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2010/04/seringat-kias-in-mizzle.html#.Wd72zWiCw2w)

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1. Next to St John’s Island lies Pulau Sekijang Pelepah, which was renamed Lazarus Island in 1899 when a lazaretto (quarantine hospital) was built on it.

2. Today, the island, which was linked to St John’s Island in the early 2000s, is home to a rich coastal hill forest with plants such as the Delek Air, Common Rhu and Sea Almond.

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1. Earmarked for residential development, similar to the Sentosa Cove

2. Seringat Island now part of the extended Lazarus Island (see earlier posts)

3. Roads have been paved for accessibility

4. Island features a man-made beach; sand was imported from Indonesia and mature coconut trees were transplanted onto the island to add a touch of tropical vibe as part of tourism development for Seringat Island

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https://mothership.sg/2017/06/beneath-st-johns-islands-tranquility-is-a-past-linked-to-drugs-diseases-political-detainees/

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http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/actiniaria.htmhttp://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/actiniaria.htm

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http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/ciriipedia/cirripedia.htmhttp://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/ciriipedia/cirripedia.htm

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'Although they may not look it, the waters around Singapore are home to a surprising amount of marine life. The island state is located at the intersection of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, within the Coral Triangle - an area considered to be the world's richest treasure trove of marine life.'

'Take, for example, the work done by Dr Tan Lik Tong, a lecturer from the natural sciences and science education academic group at the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) National Institute of Education. He is studying cyanobacteria - marine organisms associated with the harmful algae blooms that have caused mass fish deaths.

But his studies have shown that they are also a treasure trove of useful compounds. He told The Straits Times that a number of cyanobacterial compounds have undergone clinical trials for the treatment of human cancers in the United States.

For example, a synthetic molecule based on the chemical structure of a marine cyanobacterial compound known as dolastatin 10 has been developed, and is currently being used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. This refers to a a type of cancer originating from white blood cells.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/new-25m-programme-for-singapore-to-unravel-mysteries-of-the-deep

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'When invasive marine species such as barnacles and tube worms attach themselves to vessels, they can reduce speeds by more than 10 per cent, owing to drag, and raise fuel consumption of ships.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/national-lab-dives-deeper-into-sea-research

'The Asian green mussel, or kupang in Malay, is a delicacy enjoyed in this region, but in places like America they are considered pests.'

'The kupang is a hardy mussel that can withstand a range of temperatures and salinity. It attaches to hard surfaces, forming clumps in places such as on seawater intake pipes and vessels. Such undesirable marine growth on man-made surfaces is known as biofouling.

These clumps reduce vessel speeds by more than 10 per cent owing to drag, and increase fuel consumption of ships when they power up to overcome it.

The Asian green mussel, like other marine pests, can also damage engines and propellers and upset native ecosystems.

In the past 10 years, Dr Teo and her team - together with chemists from NUS and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - have developed new environmentally safe anti-fouling additives and materials, which prevent marine pests from latching on to vessels.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/giving-marine-pests-the-slip

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'Seagrass meadows, among the most endangered ecosystems on earth, play an outsize role in ensuring the health of the oceans. They shelter important fish species, filter pollutants from seawater, and lock up huge amounts of atmosphere-warming carbon.

The plants also fight disease, it turns out.

Scientists reported recently that seagrasses can purge pathogens from the ocean that threaten humans and coral reefs alike. (The first hint came when the scientists were struck with dysentery after diving into coral reefs without neighbouring seagrass.) But the meadows are vanishing at a rate of a football field-sized patch every 30 minutes.'

'Dr Joleah Lamb, a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University and lead author of the new study, said she hoped it would help draw attention to their plight. "We call seagrass the ugly stepchild of marine organisms," said Dr Lamb. "They don't get a lot of respect, compared to corals and mangroves."'

'"Killer whales are a big tourist attraction, but people probably don't realise that seagrass beds are really important as nurseries for the fish that the salmon require, which the killer whales require," said Dr Drew Harvell, a marine biologist at Cornell University and senior author of the new study."

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/humble-grass-with-huge-role-in-ocean-health

'Most of Singapore's seagrass have not been sexually reproducing for at least three to four years, and worried scientists are working to find out what is wrong.

A lack of sexual reproduction - creating new plants through flowers and seeds - could lead to decreased genetic diversity in seagrass populations here, making them more vulnerable to mass die-offs.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/growing-problem-for-local-seagrass