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Living Together - Plants, Animals & Ecosystems

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Living Together - Plants, Animals & Ecosystems

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1. Where are the ecosystems found in Singapore?

2. What are the causes / threats that harm these ecosystems?

3. What are the species found in the ecosystem? Why are they important to be conserved?

4. What natural resources are available to conserve them and how to use them sustainably?

5. Why is it important to conserve these ecosystems?

6. What efforts have been done in Singapore and overseas / globally?

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Conservation efforts: Some countries have a Mangrove Restoration Project. Volunteers plant mangrove seedlings over a portion of the mangrove swamp. The trees that develop will protect low-lying areas against strong wind, waves and tides. Adopt a Mangrove Programme is a campaign initiated at Pulau Ubin to

raise awareness about conservation and restoration of degraded areas to

reduce the impact of global warming and climate change.

Why we should conserve:

Ecosystems provides us with clean air, water, and food, protects against natural disasters, supports biodiversity, mitigates the impacts of climate change, and promotes sustainable development

Where ecosytems are found in SG:

As a small yet highly diverse nation, lying within 1 to 2 degrees of the Equator, Singapore has many ecosystems within a small area. Some of these can be grouped under terristrial and Freshwater Ecosystems, and others under Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. They are characterised by high species diversity and complexity of interactions. In the tropics they tend to be structurally complex, stable, and containing many long-lived creatures with low reproductive rates.

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Questions we came out :

1. Question: Describe the role of rainforests in the global carbon cycle and explain how deforestation impacts this cycle.

Answer: Rainforests act as carbon sinks, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and storing it in biomass. Deforestation reduces the number of trees available to absorb CO₂, leading to higher atmospheric CO₂ levels and contributing to global warming. Additionally, the burning or decomposition of cut trees releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

Conservation efforts

2. Biodiversity Conservation:

• Singapore Green Plan 2030: This plan includes specific targets for conserving natural habitats, enhancing urban greenery, and restoring native ecosystems.

• Species Recovery Programmes: Legal frameworks support the protection and recovery of endangered species through habitat protection, research, and breeding programs.

3. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):

• EIA Requirements: For certain projects that may impact natural habitats, an EIA is mandatory. This helps assess the potential environmental impacts and ensures that necessary measures are taken to mitigate any adverse effects on the rainforest and biodiversity.

4. Public Awareness and Education:

• Community Involvement Programmes: Laws and policies encourage public participation in conservation efforts through community-based initiatives, educational programs, and volunteer opportunities in nature reserves and parks.

5. International Commitments:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Singapore is a signatory to the CBD, committing to international standards for biodiversity conservation, which are reflected in its national laws and policies.

Singapore

1. Bukit Timah nature reserve, central catchment nature reserves

2. Hill mynah, greater racket-tailed drongo, brown tree snail. It improves ecosystem

3. Natural resources -> wood, can be used sustainably:

recycling paper, not throwing them after a single usage

Leaf

4. Because resources are tangible, and they cannot grow back under the time that it is being consumed

5. Policies can be seen above

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Mangroves provide unique habitats for a diverse range of species, including plants, invertebrates, fish, and birds. Conserving mangrove habitats ensures these species have a stable environment to thrive in.

People can help conserve mangrove habitats by ensuring that they do not litter and disrupt the natural life in the ecosystem. They can also volunteer in mangrove clean ups to help clear out the rubbish in mangrove roots.

We are to preserve mangroves as they filter pollutants and trap sediments, maintaining water quality in coastal areas. This benefit supports the health of marine species and ecosystems both within mangroves and downstream. Many species such as fishes, mudskippers and crocodiles live within mangroves and are interconnected through food webs and ecological relationships. Conservation efforts ensure that these interactions remain intact, preventing cascading effects on other species and the ecosystem as a whole.

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Found in singapore where?

Sister's island - designated as a Marine Park and is kay site for coral conservation and research

Threats to coral reefs

Corals are highly fragile ecosystems and vulnerable to coral bleaching

Corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae which is a primary food source and gives corals their colour

Increase in ocean temperature causes algae that lives on corals to leave them

Without algae, corals lose its major source of food, turn white and are vulnerable to diseases which may lead to death

Coral reefs expected to decline by up to 90% if ocean temperatures increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius

Coral reefs are home to millions of aquatic species like fish, seahorse and sea turtles

When corals die, these species loses their food source and habitat, their population may decline, affecting the other species that depend on them, this the entire ecosystem is affected

Increase in ocean temperature → algae leave coral → coral lost major food source, turn white, vulnerable to diseases → coral die → some aquatic species' habitat and food source gone → population decline → after other species dependent on coral eating aquatic species → entire ecosystem affected

Ocean acidification

·         Oceans are important natural carbon sinks due to presence of phytoplanktons which absorb carbon dioxide as they photosynthesise

·         Increased carbon dioxide emissions lead to oceans absorbing excessive amounts of carbon dioxide

·         leads to carbonic acids forming in the water, making oceans acidic

o    dissolves calcium carbonate, needed by aquatic organisms such as corals, mussels, and oysters to form their skeletons and shells

·         Coral reefs eroding faster than new corals can form

o    Coral skeletons shrink, species that depend on them for food, habitat and shelter from predators are negatively affected and may potentially go extinct

How the conservation of species and sustainable use of natural resources contribute to the conservation of corals reefs

People visiting coral reefs should practise safe and responsible diving. Divers should not touch the reefs as they may damage the coral animals. Divers should not anchor their boats on the reef as they may kill the corals.

Some guidelines for visitors to the reefs should be followed:

• Avoid using sunscreen as some ingredients in sunscreen can be harmful to corals.

• Avoid purchasing living corals as this will encourage people to extract live corals for sale.

• Avoid polluting the coastline with trash, especially non-biodegradable plastic. Such marine debris may be blown or washed away into the ocean. They can be harmful to coral reefs.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

Plant more coral reefs so there will be an increase in reproduction rate

Clean up rubbish around the coral reefs so that algae on the coral reefs will be able to photosynthesize and continue to work as a primary source of food for coral reefs