|
|
 |
|
|
|
• Marine diversity and ecology
♦ Birds
Mailing address:
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
National University of Singapore
6 Science Drive 2
Blk S6, #03-01
Singapore 117546
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
Tel: +65-6516-5082
Fax: +65-6774-8101
Contact Webmaster
With the high diversity present in tropical regions, there exists a bewildering number of avenues for scientific research. South-East Asia is probably one of the last frontiers for biological pioneering research. Many species of insects and even the occasional mammal are still waiting to be discovered.
Correctly describing and naming species in itself sometimes seems
like an insurmountable task, but staff in the biodiversity group also
are involved in conservation work and study of the complex ecological
processes that exist in the tropical rainforest. This is not always
easy, given the dearth of information that may accompany a study
subject, but slowly, more information is being gathered on the
complexities of the rainforest.
All staff currently work in the Department of Biological Sciences. Terrestrial diversity research is focused mainly on the rainforest community. Both our botanists and zoologists work closely with one another. The staff and their respective specialities are as follows:
East and SouthEast Asiatic moss Floras
Monitoring of endangered moss floras worldwide (with the Bryophyte Committee of IUCN and IAB)
Identifying hot spots of moss diversity in Asia (with the Bryophyte Committee of IUCN and IAB)
Fungal plant diseases and symbiosis
Fungal airspora and allergies
Editing, coordinating and contributing revisions of the Angiosperm Flora of Singapore
Taxonomic revisions of tropical plant groups using molecular and other methods
Diversity and ecology of birds, bees, butterflies and primates to elucidate the effects of forest loss and degradation with implications for rainforest conservation
Use of arthropod assemblages in the rainforest as tools for environmental assessment and monitoring
The various staff involved in this research have also won national and regional recognition for their scientific work, notably the Singapore National Youth Award (Excellence in Science and Technology) (1993), National Science Award, (1995), and ASEAN Young Science and Technologist Award (1995). One student has also won the inaugural Nature Society Prize (Singapore) (1997) for writing the top thesis in conservation matters, while five others have won prestigious short-term research fellowships from the Smithsonian Institution and Paris Museum over the last 5 years. Staff are also serving in various regional committees under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
Currently, these staff serve on the editorial boards or are regional governors of no fewer than 12 regional and international journals, including the top ones in their respective fields. Publication wise, these staff and their students have been very productive, releasing over 50 publications in regional and international peer-reviewed journals between 1996 and 1997 alone.
To support the biodiversity program, the DBS has the the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity, a modern herbarium, complete electron microscope facilities, radiograph machines and processors, a modern photographic laboratory, a fully equipped computer room etc. These facilities are supported by some dozen technical staff.
