Studies have shown that the presence of dragonflies and damselflies indicates low pollution levels in the environment (Lesch & Bouwman, 2018; Ho et al., 2018; Simon, 2012). This is due to their lifecycle, where the insect spends most of its life living in water, hence, water quality is very crucial for their survival (Samways and…

In previous blog posts, we have talked about sensitive plants that act as bioindicators that could potentially detect pollutants like ozone in the in Switzerland (links from previous blog post: Plants as bioindicators of ozone and Effect of Ozone On Native Plant Species in Switzerland). In Singapore, we also have natural bioindicators like insects and…

Singapore, located on the equator carries a suitable climate for a diverse forest ecosystem. There are four different types of forests in Singapore, each carrying its own distinctive characteristics. Lowland dipterocarp forests: These types of forests are dominated by tall trees from the Dipterocarpaceae, where tree species are characterised by their large canopies that forms…

As mentioned in previous posts, tropospheric ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant formed by photochemical reactions. Though some are from natural sources, as an anthropogenic air pollutant is sourced from the emissions from fossil fuel combustion. In the Northeastern United States, ozone is of regional scale importance due to long-range transport within slow moving and…

Though ozone presents a threat to the health of forests, interestingly, more sensitive species were also discovered to have the potential to serve as bioindicators of ozone. They could potentially be used to monitor ozone levels in more remote areas. Multiple studies have been conducted regarding this potential method of identifying ozone with biodiversity. This…

While the previous two blog posts have highlighted the sources as well as the impacts of plastics on forests, this post will aim to explore a few methods in which these plastics can be removed from forest environments. The simplest thing that everyone can start with right now is to limit, or if possible stop…

Plastics are very commonly used around the world. They get broken down into smaller fragments of microplastics upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, wind, or water erosion (He at al., 2018). Many of us may be familiar with the plastic problem in oceans and other water bodies, however, they are also evident in forests, particularly within…

The previous post provided a brief outline on how plastics enter forests, in this post, we will be going into more detail about the effects of these plastics. Plastic pollution carries a host of negative impacts on forest ecosystems and forest health. Perhaps the most dangerous of all are microplastics, as these microscopic pieces of…

Whilst the current curriculum in the GE3246 module has covered the discarding and impacts of plastics to marine environments, it is also important to recognise that plastic wastes are also quite commonly seen in forest environments. Plastics definitely carry an appeal for making our lives more convenient – be it the single use disposable cups…