REEF ECOLOGY LABORATORY

Previously known as the Herpetology Laboratory, the laboratory was renamed in 1986 when the Reef Ecology Study Team (REST) was formed to meet research needs in the fields of coral reef ecology and coastal management. The Laboratory's varied research projects reflects the interests of Assoc. Prof. Chou, with studies on:

• the benthic ecology of riverine and coastal ecosystems
• artificial reef development
• coral and reef fish biology
• nudibranch taxonomy and distribution
• polychaete taxanomy
• bioactivity in marine organisms
• coastal management
• skink taxonomy and distribution

On-going Projects

• RP 910404
  Artificial reefs as a marine resource enhancement tool.
  This project monitors two reefs, one constructed from hollow concrete blocks and the other from discarded rubber tyres, which were established in September 1989 under the ASEAN-US Coastal Resources Management Project (CRMP). Seven years of monitoring the sessile and fish communities have shown that the artificial reefs have established a relatively stable fish community, although coral recruitment on the subrata is still low due the depths at which they were deployed.

• RP920303
  Biological monitoring of the coastal environments of Singapore
  Jointly funded by the Ministry of Environment, this project monitors the development of the benthic soft-bottom communities of several coastal river systems, namely Sungei Buloh, Sungei Punggol, Singapore River and Kallang Basin.

• RP960303A
  Chemical ecology of coral reef fauna and fauna, with emphasis on gorgonian(Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) corals.
  Chemically-mediated interactions between coral reef organisms are being studied, especially with respect to chemical defense. Both field and laboratory assays are used to determine the existence, if present of chemical defense organisms in sessile reef organisms. In particular,we are interested in chemically-mediated anti-predation and anti fouling mechanisms in these organisms.

  The group studying chemical ecology in the Reef Ecology Laboratory is headed by Dr. Nigel Goh. Other team members include Justin Sih (Research Assistant), Adelene Tay (Honours student), and Celeste (undergraduate student). Active collaboration and cooperation is carried with Dr. Michael Holmes of the Bioscience Center, NUS. Students interested in persuing graduate studies in chemical ecology are invited to contact Dr. Nigel Goh .

• Reassessment of the nudibranchs of Singapore.

• Sedimentation impacts on coastal and marine benthic communities.

• Taxonomy of Malaysian and Singapore Scincidae (Reptilia:Sauria)

• Physical and Chemical defenses in gorgonians (Octocorallia: Gorgonacea) from Singapore

• Developing a computer-based taxonomic tool for the identification of polychaetes.

  Involvement in other projects

  • ASEAN-US Coastal Resources Management Project (CRMP) 1985 to 1990

  • GR05905A
    ASEAN-Australia Living Coastal Resources Project (LCR) Phase 1 (1985 to 1991) and Phase 2 (1991 to 1994) This project involved institutions from the (than) five ASEAN countries, and Australia (notably AIMS, NRIC and CSIRO). The project undertook to assess and monitor the major coastal ecosystems in Singapore, namely the coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. Phase 1 began in 1985 and was concluded in 1991, but its success prompted more funding for Phase 2, which ended in 1994. Numerous workshops, training courses and seminars were conducted, ranging from database management, survey techniques and data analysis. The highlights of the project included the Second Symposium on Living Coastal Resources, held in conjunction with the Third Science and Technology Week in Singapore (June 1992), and the Third Symposium on Living Coastal Resources in Bangkok (May 1994).

  Publications

  Books/Proceedings

  1. Koh, E.G.L. & L.M. Chou, 1989. Mushroom corals of Singapore.
  2. Chou, L.M. (ed.) 1992.Third Science and Technology Week Conference: Vol. 6 Marine Science.

  Posters

  1. The Hard Corals of Singapore Nos. 1 to 4
  2. Singapore's Diverse Reef Life (free with the purchase of one set of The Hard Corals of Singapore)