Figure 1: Our group doing water sampling using the HORIBA water quality meter. (Photo Credit: Gretchen Coffman, 9 Sept 2023.)

Imagine aliens encroaching on your house, slowly taking away pieces of it, leaving you with only a small area to live in. That’s how I would imagine mangrove forests to feel, with less than 5% of the original mangrove forests found in the early 1800s still remaining in Singapore. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) is one of these areas of mangroves and is the largest patch of mangrove area in mainland Singapore. While we are still fortunate enough to see these mangrove ecosystems in Singapore, people should visit SBWR before climate change and developments potentially decimate these forests.

Figure 2: Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) swimming in the river. Native to Singapore, it is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. (Photo Credit: Janelle Tan, 9 Sept 2023).

During our field trip with our NUS GE3255 Aquatic, Riparian and Coastal Systems class, we did water quality and vegetation sampling. To measure diameter breast height (DBH), we measured 1.3m from the base of the tree and wrapped the tape around the trunk to measure its diameter. The DBH is a measure of tree growth and maturity and can be used to estimate biomass. I also used a for the first time! It can be used alongside a survey tape and a formula to estimate the height of a tree. We also used the HORIBA water quality meter to collect data at the SBWR Main Bridge. The meter displayed a lot of information, such as the pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity of the water. A few trends appeared when I was analysing our data collected at various depths. For example, as the depth of water sampled increased, the salinity of the water increased, since saltwater is denser than freshwater. The meter was a medium of communication between us and the river water, translating its hidden information into numbers displayed on its screen.

Figure 3: Finlayson’s cymbidium (Cymbidium finlaysonianum) growing on a tree trunk, spotted by Prof Gretchen. Native to Singapore, it is endangered here. (Photo credit: Janelle Tan, 9 Sept 2023.)

Figure 4: My group using the clinometer to measure the height of a tree. (Photo credit: Dominic Tan, 9 Sept 2023.)

Figure 5: My group using the Secchi disc to estimate water clarity and water depth. (Photo credit: Dominic Tan, 9 Sept 2023.)

Mangrove ecosystems serve many purposes. They protect our shorelines and prevent erosion of land by reducing the impact of waves on the shore, protecting offshore ecosystems such as coral reefs. Mangroves also provide a habitat for many terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species. In light of these important roles they play, the conservation and restoration of these unique mangrove ecosystems are vital. This can be done through replanting a diversity of mangrove species to enhance the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Future research could also be conducted on whether it would be ideal for mangroves and mangrove associates to be planted on the wetlands in SBWR to increase the biodiversity of the ecosystem and provide a habitat for a larger variety of fauna.

The next time you visit SBWR, take the time to look at the mangroves surrounding you and thank them for the vital role they play in our ecosystem.