Woo Yi Hui
Email: e0724783@u.nus.edu
MSc National University of Singapore
AlumNUS
MSc National University of Singapore
BSc University of Otago
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore
16 Science Drive 4
Singapore 117558
Tel: +65-65164255
Fax: +65-67795671
Email: e0724783@u.nus.edu
Research interests
Aquatic biology, Conservation biology, Crustacean ecology
Current projects
Tropical forest streams are highly susceptible to the negative impacts of climate change, where projections of altered streamflow and increased extreme weather events could threaten the survival of aquatic wildlife. Within tropical stream ecosystems, freshwater decapods such as crabs fulfill the roles of grazers and detritivores, playing an important role in leaf litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. Despite their crucial roles in freshwater ecosystems, one-sixth of all freshwater crab species are in high risk of extinction; with majority being restricted-range endemics living in heavily disturbed and fragmented habitats. Johnson’s freshwater crab, Irmengardia johnsoni is an endemic freshwater crab species found in Singapore which inhabits shallow, slow-flowing waters, characterized by low pH (5) and dissolved oxygen. Listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, threats to I. johnsoni include habitat fragmentation and modified drainage systems; however, climate change impacts (such as shifts in hydrological regimes, extreme weather events, temperature change) may further exacerbate existing threats or directly affect the species. One way to measure the species’ response to climatic change is functional response, through looking at how predator-prey interactions may shift under different environmental and ecological conditions. Hence, this study aims to assess how climate change-mediated rise in water temperature can affect functional response of Johnson’s freshwater crab. Specifically, to study the effect of water temperature at 26°C (habitat temperature based on field sampling) vs. 28°C (2°C temperature rise predicted by greenhouse gases emission scenario RCP 8.5) on functional response of Johnson’s freshwater crab.
Background