Daniel Ng

Daniel JJ Ng

Manager, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board
Email: Daniel_NG@nparks.gov.sg
PhD National University of Singapore

Alumnus

PhD NUS
BSc (Hons) NUS

Current designation:

Manager (Biodiversity)
Terrestrial Branch, National Biodiversity Centre
National Parks Board
Singapore Botanic Gardens, House 6, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569

Email: Daniel_NG@nparks.gov.sg

Areas of interest

Conservation Biology; Ecology, Climate Change, Aquatic systems

Background

I began studying freshwater crabs as an undergraduate—My Honours thesis was titled “The Status, distribution and population dynamics of the Singapore freshwater crab, Johora singaporensis”. During my graduate studies, I worked on amphibians and my PhD thesis was titled “Impacts of Climate Change on Singapore Amphibians”.

Projects:

I am working on an endemic Singapore freshwater crab, Johora singaporensis. Unfortunately, the global population of this critically endangered species is only known from a few small streams in Singapore. However, little is known about its ecology. Over the past year, I have determined its distribution, habitat preference and physiochemical properties of the streams that it inhabits. Currently, I am attempting to establish an ex-situ rearing and breeding programme for this species. In the near future, I will be investigating its population genetics and whether habitat improvement can increase their population size. In addition, I will also translocate individuals to a suitable site in an attempt to increase the range of this species. It is hoped that these efforts will help to bring it off IUCN’s 100 most threatened animals list.

 

Video of Johora singaporensis credits to Xin Rui Ong

 

Selected publications

  • Tay, Y. C., D. J. J. Ng, J. B. Loo, D. Huang, Y. Cai, D. C. J. Yeo & R. Meier, 2018. Roads to isolation: Similar genomic history patterns in two species of freshwater crabs with contrasting environmental tolerances and range sizes. Ecology and Evolution, : 1–12.
  • Ng, D. J. J., D. C. J. Yeo, N. Sivasothi & P. K. L. Ng, 2014. Conservation challenges and efforts for a critically endangered freshwater crab, Johora singaporensis. Oryx, 49(2): 345–351.
  • Ng, D. J. J. & D. C. J. Yeo, 2013. Terrestrial scavenging behaviour by the Singapore Freshwater Crab, Johora singaporensis (Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae). Nature in Singapore, 6: 207–210.
  • Yong, D. L., D. J. J. Ng, G. Xiong & S. D. Fam, 2013. Don’t cull wild birds yet. Science, 340(6133): 681–682.
  • Fam, S. D., D. L. Yong, D. J. J. Ng & G. Xiong, 2012. Denuclearization’s indirect consequences. Science, 338(6107): 605.
  • Bickford, D., S. Howard, D. J. J. Ng & J. Sheridan, 2010. Impacts of climate change on the amphibians and reptiles of Southeast Asia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19: 1043–1062.