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:

• A/P HTW Tan - ecology and systematics of angiosperms
• A/P Benito Tan - systematics and conservation of bryophytes
• A/P TK Tan - ecology of fungi and fungal diseases
• Dr. NS Sodhi - avian ecology and conservation.
• Dr. DQ Li - diversity of arthropods in the rainforest

back to top

1. East and SouthEast Asiatic moss Floras

2. Monitoring of endangered moss floras worldwide (with the Bryophyte Committee of IUCN and IAB)

3. Identifying hot spots of moss diversity in Asia (with the Bryophyte Committee of IUCN and IAB)

4. Fungal plant diseases and symbiosis

5. Fungal airspora and allergies

6. Editing, coordinating and contributing revisions of the Angiosperm Flora of Singapore

7. Taxonomic revisions of tropical plant groups using molecular and other methods

8. Diversity and ecology of birds, bees, butterflies and primates to elucidate the effects of forest loss and degradation with implications for rainforest conservation

9. 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.

back to top