--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
NIE/NTU's School of Science
& The Singapore Institute of Biology

Present a seminar by

the Earl of Cranbrook (the former Lord Medway)

"THE PAST 40 000 YEARS:
EVOLUTION OF THE WEST MALESIAN ENVIRONMENT"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Thursday, 19 August, 1999
3.30pm - 4.00 pm: Tea
4.00pm - 5.00 pm: Seminar

The Executive Seminar Room, Room 238.1
Ooi Tiong Ham Building, National Institute of Education
469 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259756
(Telephone: 460-5132 Facsilime: 469-8928)

All Are Welcome

Below: Seminar synopsis, About the speaker, and Examples of his mammal
literature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Synopsis of the seminar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
At the approach of the year 2000 in the international calendar, the topic of
climate change raises issues that are truly millennial, if not apocalyptic.
Predicted increases of 1.3 ­ 3. 6 degrees Celcius in global mean annual
temperature in the coming century carry implications of huge significance to
ecology, agriculture and many other aspects affecting society and the economy.

On a millennial scale, however, the world climate has never been stable. In the
effort to understand likely outcomes of future change, it is instructive to look
at past climates in S. E. Asia, and sift the evidence for consequential impacts.

Some features of the present climate of the West Malesian biogeographical region
directly reflect its global position at equatorial latitudes: the small to
negligible annual variation in day-length, high levels of insolation, and cycles
of rainfall driven by annual the procession of the intertropical front. Other
geographical factors include the influence of the  sea, which surrounds
Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and the islands of the archipelago, and the
effects of the monsoon cycle of adjoining continental Asia.

At a smaller scale, topography affects the local distribution of rainfall. The
resulting equable and perennially humid climate supports characteristic
terrestrial vegetation types, notably evergreen tropical rainforests.

Popular literature tends to depict these forests as very ancient, and a stable
environment for millions of years. This perception is challenged by current
knowledge of global climatic changes of the late Quaternary and Holocene era.

The archaeological programme of the Sarawak Museum, and work by the Sabah
Museum, have yielded dated samples running through this period. The longest
series from any site was provided by the excavations at Niah.

In the West Mouth, the earliest dates derive from the centre of the site at -106
inch level, where two samples yielded compatible Carbon14-dates with overlapping
95% confidence limits in the age band  40 500 - 40 600 years. These basal
deposits contained human skeletal remains and artefacts, and fragments of bone
from mammals and other vertebrates, some of which are likely to have been the
remains of animals eaten by human visitors.

This talk will review the archaeo-zoological evidence, and offer new conclusions
on the evolution of the local climate  during the last 40 000 years, the likely
environmental changes and the consequences for the animals and prehistoric
people inhabiting this region over that long period of time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
About the Speaker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Gathorne (Earl of) CRANBROOK ,  BA (Cambridge), MA, PhD (Birmingham), DSc
Aberdeen (Hon.), DL (Suffolk), Chartered Biologist & FIBiol., Cranfield. Deputy
Lieutenant (Suffolk),  Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ)., Johan Bintang
Sarawak (Hon.), Gold Medallist, Royal Geographical Society (1995), first arrived
in Singapore on the Raja Brooke in 1967.

Formerly with the Sarawak Museum (1956-8), in Indonesia (1960-61) and at the
University of Malaya (1961-1970).  Has worked for a total of 44 years as an
environmental biologist, working in South East Asia, the UK and Europe.
Specialist in the biology and management of the cave swiftlets, the "birdsı-nest
soup birds" and the biology of living mammals and archaeozoology of the
Malaysian region.

Immediate past chairman of English Nature, the U.K. government body for
promoting nature conservation in England (1990-98), and former member of the
U.K. Round Table on Sustainable Development (1994-99). Present chairman (1996-)
of ENTRUST, the Regulator of Environmental Bodies under the Landfill Tax
Regulations 1996; also chairman (1998-) of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
(Natural Environment Research Council) Advisory Committee.   Hereditary peer in
the UK House of Lords (since 1978), and a member and three times chairman (most
recently, since 1998) of subcommittee 'C' (Environment, Public Health and
Consumer Affairs) of the House of Lords Select Committee on European Affairs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Examples of his mammal literature
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Medway, L., 1969.  The wild mammals of Malaya and Singapore.  Oxford Univ.
Press, Lond., 128pp.
Medway, L., 1977.  Mammals of Borneo: Field keys and an annotated checklist.
Monogrs mal. Br. r. asia. Soc. 7: 1-172.
Medway, L., 1978.  The Wild Mammals of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) and
Singapore.  Second edition.  Oxford Univ. Press, Kuala Lumpur, 128pp.
Medway, L., 1983.  The Wild Mammals of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) and
Singapore.  Second edition reprinted with corrections.  Oxford Univ. Press,
Kuala Lumpur, 131pp.

Dear friends,

This is about the Science Centre Guide to the mangroves I & II.

If you detect any errors in print (typos, facts) as you use the book, please
email me - a list is being compiled that will be available via email, and
eventually in the web. If they allow us changes later (second edition), we can
correct them in print as well.

We have found three so far, but there are bound to be more.
Book I
p.72: Legends at bottom - Acrostichum missing "h" (twice)

Book 2
p. 14: Common insect orders (figure) - Labels for figures (Isoptera &
Hymenoptera) should be exchanged

p. 168: Pulau Ubin info - Police post no wrong! 542-8664 is correct, not "8864"
Thanks!

Cheerio!

Otterman

--
N. Sivasothi (Mr)
Research Officer
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences
The National University of Singapore
Kent Ridge 119260
Republic of Singapore

Email: sivasothi@...
Tel: +65-874-2969
Fax: +65-779-2486

--------------------------------------------------------------------
"A HISTORY OF ORCHID PROPAGATION"
--------------------------------------------------------------------

BY

PROFESSOR J. ARDITTI
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology
University of California, Irvine,
California, U.S.A.

Wednesday, 11 August 1999: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hosted by: Professor Hew Choy Sin
NUS Department of Biological Sciences

Biology Conference Room
Block S3,  Level 5
NUS Dept. Biol. Scis., Sci. Fac.
The National University of Singapore
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Visiting Fellow No. 2

PROFESSOR SONG DAIXANG
Institute of Zoology, CHINA
30th July 1999 - 1st September 1999
Research area: Spiders
Host/collaborator: Dr. Li Daiqin [Email: dbslidq@...]

Song Daxiong is a full professor in zoology in the Institute of Zoology,
China Academy of Science and now he is working at the Department of Biology,
Hebei University, PRC. He is the vice-president of China Zoological Society,
vice-president of China Arachnological society, Correspondent of the Centre
Interational de Documentation Arachnologique.

He is also the chief editors of a few regional journals.  His current
research interests include taxonomy and biology of spiders, biodiversity of
arachnids.  He has published more than 200 papers and more than 10 books on
invertebrates, including three volume Fauna Sinica: Arachnida: Araneae -
Theridiidae, Thomisidae & Philodromidae, and Lycosidae.

Prof Song came to NUS as the second RMBR fellow and he will work on
Singapore spiders.  He will stay in NUS till the end of August.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
"THE CAVE SHRIMPS OF CHINA"
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Cai Yixiong
Systematics & Ecology Lab
NUS Department of Biological Sciences


FRIDAY, 6th August 1999: 4.00pm - 4.30pm

Biology Conference Room
Block S3,  Level 5
Science Faculty
The National University of Singapore

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Synopsis
--------------------------------------------------------------------
19 species in two genera of atyid freshwater shrimps
are reported from Chinese subterranean water,
including eight stygobiont and 11 stygophile species.

Of these, nine are new to science. Results of
morphological comparison suggest that the Chinese
subterranean shrimps may originated from some
epigean Caridina species. The adaptations of these
cave shrimps are discussed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

This will be followed by second session at the same venue,
which is not about biodiversity:


Seminar 2: 4.30pm - 5.00pm

Title: The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha in
zebrafish embryonic development

Speaker:  Ms Liu Lihui, NUSDBS

Note: he hopes to have a discussion with the audience about the possibility
of translocating this species in the future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
2. "The Banded Leaf Monkey (Presbytis femoralis femoralis)
     What is its future in Singapore?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Slide talk by Mr Carsten M. Huttche
Managing Consultant of Environmental Professionals (ENVIRO PRO)

Saturday, 24th July 1999
2.30  - 3.30 pm

Seminar Room at the
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre

In the course of his field work for his MSc thesis in 1993, Carsten Huttche
conducted surveys at the Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forest confirming the
presence of a group of Banded Leaf Monkeys (Presbytis femoralis femoralis).

The population is threatened with extinction in the Nature Reserves. In his
talk, he hopes to provide an understanding of these shy creatures and their
future in Singapore.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
"The Banded Leaf Monkey (Presbytis femoralis femoralis)
What is its future in Singapore?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
Slide talk by Mr Carsten M. Huttche
Managing Consultant of Environmental Professionals (ENVIRO PRO)

Saturday, 24th July 1999
2.30  - 3.30 pm

Seminar Room at the
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre

In the course of his field work for his MSc thesis in 1993, Carsten Huttche
conducted surveys at the Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forest confirming the
presence of a group of Banded Leaf Monkeys (Presbytis femoralis femoralis).

The population is threatened with extinction in the Nature Reserves. In his
talk, he hopes to provide an understanding of these shy creatures and their
future in Singapore.

-----------------------------------------------------------
MONDAY, 19th July, 1999: 4 pm - 5 pm
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Soft Corals: Biological and Ecological Features"

by

Prof. Yehuda Benayahu.
Tel Aviv University
ISRAEL

Biology Conference Room
Block S3,  Level 5
Science Faculty
The National University of Singapore

-----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURING:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Live sex of soft corals!!

Broadcasting or brooding? Reproductive strategies of soft coral.

Are zooxanthellae faithful partners of soft corals?
How do corals acquire zooxs and when?

Are azooxanthellid soft corals successful?

Farming soft corals for rehabilitation purposes- dream or reality?

Pyramids - and not in Egypt!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Mangroves and birds in monsoonal tropical Australia"
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Richard Noske
Northern Territory University,
Australia

FRIDAY, 16th July 1999: 4 - 5 pm

Biology Conference Room
Block S3,  Level 5
Science Faculty
The National University of Singapore



--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Week: "A Brief on NParks"
--------------------------------------------------------------------

DR. TAN WEE KIAT
National Parks Board
Singapore

Wednesday, 21st July 1999: 4 - 5 pm

Biology Conference Room
Block S3,  Level 5
Science Faculty
The National University of Singapore

"The Banded Leaf Monkey (Presbytis femoralis femoralis)
What is its future in Singapore?"

by Mr Carsten M. Huttche
Managing Consultant of Environmental Professionals (ENVIRO PRO)

Saturday, 24th July 1999
2.30  - 3.30 pm

Seminar Room at the
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre


In 1993, in the course of his work for his MSc thesis, Carsten Huttche
conducted a  field survey at the Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forest confirming
the presence of a group of Banded Leaf Monkeys (_Presbytis femoralis
femoralis_).

The population is threatened with extinction in the Nature Reserves. In his
talk, he hopes to provide an understanding of these shy creatures and their
future in Singapore.

CAMBODIA, THAILAND, & TIOMAN FORAYS
Thursday, 8th July 1999: 4pm - 5pm

Speaker:  Mr Tan Heok Hui
Postgraduate Student
NUS Department of Biological Sciences

Venue: Biology Conference Room
Science Faculty: Block S3, Level 5

Heok Hui recently made several trips in the region with other postgraduates
in the coure of their research.  He shares with us anecdotes from these
trips:

Cambodia and Thailand - The main purpose of the field trips there was to
collect DNA samples of the large riverine catfish of the genus Hemibagrus
(Family Bagridae).  Along the way, the team came  across many other
interesting species of fish as well (15 mins presentation).

Pulau Tioman, Malaysia - The team climbed Gunung Kajang, the highest peak in
Pulau Tioman at 1050 m asl.  A tough climb, with lots of rattans, leeches,
bugs and salt imbalance.  Several aims were projected - to obtain rare
freshwater and terrestrial crabs, a rare cave fish, certain plants for
studies and to capture pictures for a possible upcoming book on Tioman.  The
only thing they missed were the rare crabs.  This slide show will showcase
the trials and tribulations of the team and the fauna and flora encountered.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science, NUS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Proudly presents

Prof Julian Dodson
University of Laval,
Quebec, Canada

"STUDY OF MOLECULAR ECOLOGY IN FISHES" [Seminar: 9am - 10am],

Tea (10-10.30am) &

"THE UTILITY OF MOLECULAR MARKERS IN SOLVING A WIDE VARIETY
OF PROBLEMS IN ANIMAL ECOLOGY" [Workshop, 10.30am - 12.30pm]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
11th June 1999
DBS Conference Room,
Block S3, Level 5
Science Faculty, NUS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
SEMINAR Abstract
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
The role of molecular ecology in understanding the population biology of
fishes will be examined through case studies:
Case study #1; Defining population structure and phylogenetic relationships
within a marine species, the capelin (Malotus villosus); using mitochondrial
DNA to understand marine biogeography.

Case study #2; Population-specific retention areas of the larvae of an
estuarine species, the rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax); using mitochondrial
DNA
polymorphisms to test the member-vagrant hypothesis.

Case study #3; Individual reproductive success in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo
salar);
the use of microsatellite markers to assess the fitness of alternative
reproductive strategies.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
WORKSHOP Abstract
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
The seminar will be followed by a two-hour workshop considering the utility
of
molecular markers in solving a wide variety of problems in animal ecology.
The question and answer period from the seminar will be used to initiate the
round-table discussion.  Questions of participants will be used to launch
discussions of how to choose the best methods of analysis, identifying
weaknesses in the methods, identifying outstanding ecological questions, the
importance of theory and hypothesis testing, etc.  Come prepared to discuss
your own research.

--- end
----------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, 4th June: 4 ‹ 5pm.
------------------------------------------------------------
Conference Room,
NUS Department of Biological Sciences
Block S3, S3 Level 5

------------------------------------------------------------
Seminar 1: 4pm - 4:15 pm
------------------------------------------------------------
Seventy-five years of avian extinctions in Singapore:
Lessons for biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia.

by Ms Castelletta Marjorie
Postgraduate Student,
NUS Department of Biological Sciences

------------------------------------------------------------
Seminar 2: 4:20 - 5:00pm
------------------------------------------------------------
Ecology of Asian Elephants with A Special Reference
to Man-Elephant Conflict in South India

by Dr S. Rameshkumar
St. Anthony Junior College,
Tamil Nadu, India
------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry folks, about the last-minute notice!

TODAY, 4 pm

Tropical lowland rainforest birds on a highly urbanized island:
Monitoring, losses and lessons

Speaker:
Dr Navjot Sodhi
NUS DBS

Venue:
Conference Room
NUS Department of Biological Sciences
Block S3
Level 5

[This message contained attachments]

Hi all,

I am attaching the first announcement for this congress organised by SIBIOL.
Papers are welcome, and judging from the topics, several of you will have
relevant material to present.  Please read the attachment, for I have only
extracted a little to give you an idea of what it is about.

Cheerio!

Otterman
---------------
Excerpt from the attached first announcement:

ASIA-PACIFIC CONGRESS ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Date:  21-24 November 1999
Venue:  National University of Singapore

Organised by
The Singapore Institute of Biology (SIBiol)

Co-organisers
National University of Singapore (Department of Biological Sciences)
Nanyang Technological University (Division of Biology, School of Science)
National Parks Board Singapore
Singapore National Academy of Science

"Biology has improved our understanding of environmental processes and
increased our capacity to manage the environment.  Application of biological
knowledge towards slowing down or arresting unnecessary degradation of the
environment has become of greater significance in our endeavour to live in
harmony with nature. Advances in biology encompassing wide ranging
disciplines ranging from the molecular and cellular level to entire
ecosystems have demonstrated that sustainable development is not a dream but
an achievable goal.

This Congress on the Biology of the Environment is aimed at drawing
attention to the important role of biology in maintaining the integrity and
quality of the world around us. The organising committee extends a warm
welcome to you to participate in this meeting."

Topics for Scientific Sessions:
Habitat restoration
Conservation/preservation of habitat
Biodiversity
Endangered species
Species interactions
Environmental molecular biology
Environmental modelling

--- end ---

"Perspectives on Natural History Museums:
The Roles and Future of Biodiversity Research"

Title: Perspectives on Natural History Museums:
The Roles and Future of Biodiversity Research

1. Roles and destiny of natural history collections in developing countries.
2. The role of natural history museums in education - do they have one?
3. The future of basic, applied and strategic research in natural history
museums.
4. National proprietary of bioresources - does it signal the demise of
international and regional natural history museums.

Wednesday 5 May: 2pm - 4pm

Speakers: Postgraduate Students
BL5205 Presentation (Postgraduate module)
Department of Biological Science, NUS

Venue:  Conference Room
Department of Biological Science, NUS S3 Level 5

1) The History of Biospherics;
2) The Coral Reef Expedition on the RV Heraclitus

Wednesday, 5 May 1999: 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Venue: LT21, Block S3,  Level 1 (Science Faculty)

Hosted by: Prof Chou Loke Ming
Department of Biological Sciences, NUS

------------------------------------------------------------
Seminar 1: The History of Biospherics
Speaker: Mr John Allen
------------------------------------------------------------

Abstract:- This talk will focus on the historic steps which led to
Biospheric life support system approach to the study and intelligent
management of our Earth's biophere and the application to long term
human missions in space. Lessons will be drawn from the experience of
designing, developing and managing the 15,527 sg ft test module and
the 3.14 acre Biophere 2 closed systems, as well as from Russian and
NASA work.


------------------------------------------------------------
Seminar 2: The Coral Reef Expedition on the RV Heraclitus
Speaker: Miss Abigail Alling
------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract:- This talk will present the work of the Planetary Coral
Reef Foundation in the monitoring and mapping of coral reefs using
satellite technology. As well, the expedition and life on board the
84' sailing ship will be presented.


About the Speakers
---------------------
Mr John Allen is the inventor, conceiver, and co-founder of the
Biosphere 2 project and former Executive Chairman and Vice-president of
Biosperic Development for Space Biospheres Ventures. Mission One of
Biosphere 2 set a number of world records in closed life system work
including among other s sealing tightness, 100% waste recycle and water
recycle, and time of residence of humans. He is currently the Chairman
of Global Ecotechnics, a private research and development firm designing
and preparing to build advanced materially closed biosperic systems and
ecologically enriched biomic systems. In addition, Global Ecotechnics
owns and manages four ecological research systems in France, Australia,
Puerto Rico and England, and donates his time as Chairman of Planetary
Coral Reef Foundation, a non-profit corporation devoted to studying the
health and vitality of coral reefs, both in its base site in the Yucatan
and with Heraclitus, a research ship now in the Indian Ocean and
Southeast Asian seas. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London.


Abigail Alling is currently the President of the Planetary Coral Reef
Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the study of coral
reefs worldwide and to the development of ecological waste recycling
systems. As well, she is the Director of the Biophere Division for
Global Ecotechnics which is engaged in the design of a closed ecological
life support system and cybersphere for an inhabited Mars Base. Miss
Alling created and operated for four years the world's largest
artificial ecological marine system, a 1,000,000 gallon mangrove marsh
and ocean coral reef, for the Biopshere 2 project. She was one of the
original eight "biospherians" to live inside this closed ecological
system, for two years, 1991-1993 during which time she served as the
research director. A fellow of the Linnean Society, and Explorers Club,
and Committee member of Espace Mer, Abigail has led an expedition to
Antarctica on board the RV Heraclitus, has participated in expeditions
spanning the worlds oceans, and has conducted research projects with the
WWF, United Nations, National Geographic, and Marine Mammal Commission.
She received her M.S. from Yale University. She published numerous
papers on Cetaceans and closed systems and is co-author of Life Under
Glass: The Inside Story of Biosphere 2.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research &
The Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board
---------------------------------------------------------------------
present

"The Biodiversity and ethnobotany
of lichens in British Columbia, Canada"

by

Mr. TERRY TAYLOR
Terragen Laboratory,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Friday, 14th May, 1999: 6.30pm
Gardens' Briefing Room,
Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Host: A/Prof Benito Tan,
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
Faculty of Science,
The National University of Singapore
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The lichen flora of British Columbia of Canada is both diverse
and rich in species.  Even as a lesser known group of organisms,
the lichens are utilized by the native Indian tribes for various
purposes.

The seminar will explain first the biology of lichen as a
composite plant, show the great diverstiy of various lichen groups
found in British Columbia, and touch on the topic of ethnobotany.
The speaker, Mr. Terry Taylor, is a well known field naturalist in
western Canada who knows the flora of British Columbia very well,
including the lichens.

He is currently the botanical adviser of a biotechnological company
based in Vancouver, Canada.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
This seminar session was coordinated by the host
and Ms Ng Bee Choo, of Nature's Niche
---------------------------------------------------------------------

GEOGRAPHY SEMINAR SERIES

"Water Quality of a Mature Urban Catchment, Queenstown, Singapore River"
by Miss Lim Han She, M.A. Graduate Student, NUS Department of Geography

Chairperson: Dr Peta Sanderson Department of Geography, NUS
FRIDAY, 26th March 1999 3.30pm to 5.00pm

First Year Lab (AS2 02-3) Department of Geography, NUS
[Opposite LT13; if you are taking the internal shuttle from Science, drop
off at the first stop when the bus turns left after the old Admin building]

Abstract:
The process of urbanisation has resulted in water quantity and quality
changes in the affected rivers due to modifications in landuse patterns.
Until recently, research in urban hydrology has tended to focus on the
quantitative aspects of increased surface runoff whilst neglecting the water
quality aspects.

This study seeks to investigate the impacts of long-term urbanisation on the
water quality of a small catchment in the upper reaches of the Singapore
River, near the Queenstown housing estate. Water entering the Queenstown
catchment via precipitation and the quality of runoff that finally leaves
the catchment were studied with particular reference to sediments and
nutrients. A sampling strategy that involves both continuous water quality
monitoring and storm-event sampling was adopted.

With the data collected, an attempt will be made to develop rating
relationships between water quality parameters and hydrological parameters
as well as to compute the actual flux of sediments and nutrients through the
catchment.

On a broader level, the study hopes to fill a relative lack of urban water
quality research that is carried out in humid tropical areas. Also, an
insight on the supply of sediment and nutrients from urban land-based
sources into coastal estuarine areas may be obtained and the results may aid
in water resources planning and management in Singapore.


Speaker:
Lim Han She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in the Department of
Geography, NUS. She graduated from the Department in 1997 after obtaining
her Honours degree.


ENQUIRIES: Mrs Lim - 8743853
CONVENORS: A/P Ausafur Rahman, Dr Carl Grundy-Warr & Dr Peta Sanderson
Further info available: <http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/seminar.htm>

(Blind-CC: NUS Libraries, NUS/NTU staff/NParks [via ecotax-list], Science
Ctr, Natl Lib, SAS [via Habitat-list], MNS)

Dear friends,

Comprehensive books on mangroves are few and far between, and based on the
synopsis provided below, these volumes look promising.

I have not seen this book to review its contents, but am buying one myself
since a publication of this content cannot be ignored by mangrove
researchers.

You might consider purchasing this for the library, or recommending it to
your library staff.

-Received via Mangrove List
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ecology and Biodiversity of Indian Mangroves
by Kumudranjan Naskar and Rathindranath Mandal.
1999, 2 volumes, xxix, 754 p., colour plates, figures, tables, US$225 (set)
(less 40% discount. Free airmail delivery). ISBN 81-7035-190-1.

For an extensive annotated catalogue of book on Botanical Sciences please
visit:   http://www.vedamsbooks com/botanica.htm

-For enquiries, contact
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Achal Madhavan
Partner
Vedams Books International
Ph. No. 91-11-5724053
Fax: 91-11-5745114
12A/11 W.E.Area, Post Box 2674
New Delhi 110 005, INDIA
e-mail: vedams@...
http://www.vedamsbooks.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preface.

Part I:
----------
1. Introduction.
2. Geographical position of the Sundarbans, West Bengal--in the lower Ganga
delta. Geology and land types of the lower Ganga delta: the Sundarbans.
3. The major factors governing the mangrove ecosystem.
4. Mangrove environment and mangrove distribution.
5. Sundarbans biosphere reserve--its aims and objectives.
6. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem--a brief review.
7. Mangroves and the distribution of mangroves in the world: i.Definition of
mangroves. ii. World distribution of mangroves. iii. Origin and geological
status of mangroves. iv. Mangrove evolution and palynological studies. v.
The early mention or reports of the mangroves. vi. Salinity tolerance and
productivity of mangroves: A. Osmoregulation mechanism and salt balancing in
mangroves. B. Salt concentration and growth of the mangroves: a. Salt
exclusion. b. Salt extrusion. c. Salt accumulation. vii. Characteristics of
the mangrove flora.  viii. Protective and economic roles played by these
mangroves.

8. Mangrove ecosystems, mangroves and mangrove associated flora in the
Indian sub-continent: A. Mangroves in the west coast of India. B. Mangroves
in the east coast of India.
9. Present status and stresses on the mangroves and mangrove.
10. Present status and stresses on the mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
the Bangladesh Sundarbans.
11. Comparative studies of the mangroves of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh and
Indian territories.
12. Present status of management practices, vis-a-vis, Mangal Destruction in
the Sundarbans in Indian part.
13. Early history of the Sundarbans, the past and present botanical
activities on the mangroves in India.

14. Root architectures and intertidal adaptations of mangroves in the
Sundarbans of West Bengal, India: a. Pneumatophores. b. Knee roots. c. Stilt
or proop roots. d. Root buttresses. e. Pneumatothodes. f. Flanges. g.
Surface cable roots or plank roots.
15. Shoot, stem and canopy structures of the Sundarbans mangroves.
16. Leaf structures of the mangroves.
17. Flowers, fruits and seed germinations of the major mangroves.

18. Biological and ecological features of the mangroves and mangrove
associates in Indian Sundarbans: A. Major elements of the
mangroves. B. Minor elements of the mangroves. C. Mangroves associates or
back mangals. D. Other halophytic plants in the intertidal mangrove zones of
the Sundarbans, India. E. Few xerophytic plants on the sand dunes or river
bank. F. Algal flora of the Sundarbans.

19. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystems of the old world and new world: i.
Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Sri Lanka. ii. Mangroves and mangrove
ecosystem of Pakistan. iii. Atoll mangroves from the Republic of Maldives.
iv. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Mauritius. v. Mangroves and mangrove
ecosystem of the Republic of Seychelles. vi. Mangroves and mangrove
ecosystem of east coast of Africa: a. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
South Africa. b. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Mozambique. c.
Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Tanzania. d. Mangroves and mangrove
ecosystem of Kenya. vii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Madagescar
Republic. viii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Thailand. ix. Mangroves
and mangrove ecosystem of Singapore. x. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
Malaysia. xi. Mangroves of Matang on the west coast of Peninsular Malaya.
xii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Indonesia: a. Mangroves in Java. b.
Mangroves in Sumatra. c. Mangroves in Indonesian Kalimantan. d. Mangroves in
the Sulawesi. e. Mangroves in the Irian Jaya. xiii. Mangroves and mangrove
ecosystem of Philippines Islands.  xiv. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
Vietnam. xv. Mangroves and
mangrove ecosystem of Kampuchea. xvi. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
Burma. xvii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of S.W. Japan. xviii.
Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of other Pacific Islands. xix. Mangroves
and mangrove ecosystem of Fiji. xx. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of
Papua New Guinea. xxi. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Australia. xxii.
Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of New Zealand. xxiii. Mangroves and
mangrove ecosystem of the new world tropics and sub-tropics.


Part II:
----------
20. Morphometric features of the mangroves and associated flora of
the Sundarbans: i. Key to the families. ii. Taxonomic enumeration of the
true mangrove families: Family: I. Rhizophoraceae. II. Avicenniaceae. III.
Sonneratiaceae. IV. Combretaceae. V. Arecaceae. VI. Sterculiaceae. VII.
Meliaceae. VIII. Euphorbiaceae. IX. Myrsinaceae. X. Rubiaceae. XI.
Plumbaginaceae. XII. Pteridaceae. XIII. Acanthaceae. XIV. Tiliaceae. XV.
Malvaceae. XVI. Rutaceae. XVII.Fabaceae. XVIII. Asclepiadaceae. XIX.
Amaryllidaceae. XX. Chenopodiaceae. XXI. Boraginaceae. XXII. Convolvulaceae.
XXIII.Aizoaceae. XXIV. Verbinaceae. XXV. Loranthaceae.
XXVI. Poaceae. XXVII. Tamaricaceae. XXVIII. Solanaceae. iii. Other frequent
back mangal families: Family: 1. Barringtoniaceae.
2. Bignoniaceae. 3. Malvaceae. 4. Asclepiadaceae. 5. Pandanaceae. 6.
Meliaceae. 7. Tamaricaceae. 8. Chenopodiaceae.
9. Verbinaceae. 10. Cactaceae. 11. Lauraceae. 12. Poaceae. 13. Cyperaceae.
14. Ruppiaceae. 15. Sapotaceae. 16. Araceae.
17. Cuscutaceae.

21. Anatomical features of the mangroves: Family: I. Rhizophoraceae. II.
Avicenniaceae. III. Sonneratiaceae. IV. Combretaceae. V. Arecaceae. VI.
Sterculiaceae. VII. Meliaceae. VIII. Euphorbiaceae. IX. Myrsinaceae. X.
Rubiaceae. XI. Plumbaginaceae. XII. Pteridaceae. XIII. Acanthaceae. XIV.
Tiliaceae. XV. Malvaceae. XVI. Rutaceae. XVII. Fabaceae. XVIII.
Asclepiadaceae. XIX. Amaryllidaceae. XX. Chenopodiaceae. XXI.
Boragiaceae. XXII. Convolvulaceae. XXIII. Aizoaceae. XXIV. Verbenaceae. XXV.
Loranthaceae. XXVI. Poaceae. XXVII. Tamariaceae. XXVIII. Solanaceae.

22. Critical estimation on the anatomical features of mangroves and their
Halophytic adaptations in the saline zones.

23. Overview on the mangroves anatomy and successions.

24. Palynology of mangroves : its impact on the
past and present evolutional, ecological and biodiversity estimation.

25. Filamentous algal flora of the Sundarbans attached with the soil,
mangrove roots and stem or trunk bases.

26. Selected bibliography on the mangroves.

27. Index.

"Mangroves--the threatened coastal intertidal halophytic flora play very
dominant and important roles in the estuarine mouths, sea-land interphase
areas or deltaic ecosystems of both the tropical and sub-tropical zones,
especially in the highly populated South-East Asian countries, several
Pacific Islands and Australian coasts.  Inspite of their important roles and
immense ecological impacts, these mangroves and the mangrove ecosystems have
faced both biotic and abiotic threat and these highly productive mangrove
zones have been cleared or the mangrove ecosystems have also been degraded
very rapidly during the last three centuries.

"In these perspectives, the mangroves and the mangrove associates of the
Indian Sundarbans are described in relation to their morphometric features,
anatomical characteristics and also with their distinct halophytic
adaptations. Besides their structural and habitat distinctness, their
economic importances, distributions in the
different mangrove habitats of the Indian sub-continent and the mangals of
both old and new world tropics and sub-tropics are also highlighted based on
the pioneer works on the Indian and world mangroves." (jacket) No. 14426


For an extensive annotated catalogue of book on Botanical Sciences please
visit:    http://www.vedamsbooks com/botanica.htm

*** Please email me at sivasothi@... to confirm your attendance, with
"Brossard" in the subject line ***

The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity & National Geographic Channel Asia
present:
A DISCUSSION WITH GEORGES BROSSARD
Date: Tuesday, 16th Mar 1999: 10 am

Venue: Department of Biological Sciences Conference Room
Faculty of Science, NUS; Blk S3, 5th Floor

Format: 90 min (Lecture: 45-60min; Q&A: 15-30mins [flexible])

Provisional Title of Talk:
CHALLENGES  FACING NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS -
AN ENTOMOLOGISTıS PERSPECTIVE

We expect that a number of people attending this talk would have also
attended the previous Saturday's (National Library, Sat 13 Mar) or the
previous eveningıs (BTNR, Mon, 15th Mar 99) talk on "Insectia: From Fear to
Fascination".  The founding director of Montreal's Insectarium, he is a
passionate communicator with 20 years experience of research, expeditions
and popularising the cause of insects.

The content of this NUS talk will complement his public lectures.

We are hoping to tap Mr. Brossardıs expertise and experience in the setting
insectaria in various countries and have invited him to talk about the
following:

o How he got started in setting up insectaria?
o What were the problems and challenges he encountered in setting up the
insectaria? E. g.:
i) Legal/administrative problems in conducting field collections or bringing
specimens in/out of various countries;
ii) Bureaucracy/ Resistance from authorities;
iii) Lack of public interest towards entomology; and
iv) Securing public/private funding
o How did he deal with the various problems?
o His specific experiences in setting up insectaria with various countries,
especially those lacking strong support for natural history collections.

There will be a Q&A session , so avail yourself of this opportunity.

Dear people,

ZRC trip for Northland Secondary School.

Two trips:

1.    65 participants (Secondary 4 students)    11 Feb. 1999 (Thursday),
Afteroon

2.    70 participants (Secondary 3 students)    1 April 1999
(Thursday)(not April fool ah!), Afternoon

Teacher In Charge:     Mrs. Manonmani Graetz.

We will need two demonstrators for each day.  Interested parties, please
liaise with Siva.

Thank you.

Swee Hee
for N. Sivasothi

THE ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF SINGAPORE: RECONSTRUCTIONS FROM MODERN AND
FOSSIL POLLEN ANALYSIS

Speaker: Ms Oh Hwee Yen
M.A. Candidate
Department of Geography, NUS

Chairperson: Dr. Neil Coe
Department of Geography, NUS

Date/Time: Friday, 29th January 1999
3.30pm to 5.00pm

Location:  First Year Lab
Department of Geography, NUS
(Blk AS2 #02-3; next to the LT13 theatrette)

ABSTRACT

Ms Oh Hwee Yen is currently pursuing her M.A. in the Department of Geography
(NUS). In her research, she will attempt a re-construction of the
environmental history of Singapore from the late last Glacial (18 000 Before
Present) to the present.  The current study is an expansion of Ms Oh's
Honours's thesis (Geography Department, NUS) which begged enough questions
to warrant further research.  Of particular interest is the presence of an
apparently humid environment in Singapore during the late last Glacial.
This and other points of interest will be explored in the M.A. project.

The aim of environmental re-construction will be achieved mainly with the
aid of pollen analysis of sediment cores extracted from Nee Soon swamp,
Singapore.  The information gleaned from the pollen study would then
contribute to the establishment of the vegetation history of the swamp.  The
sequence of vegetation change is eventually interpreted based on the
ecological preferences of the various vegetation pollen types encountered.
In the final re-construction, evidence from the study of abiotic components
(e.g. stratigraphy, sedimentology) would serve as a means of verification,
in addition to an examination of modern pollen deposition-vegetation
relationships.

ENQUIRIES: Mrs Lim - 8743853  CONVENORS: A/P Ausafur Rahman, Dr  Carl
Grundy-Warr & Dr Peta Sanderson

Dept of Geography Seminar Series

SIGNATURES OF EL NINO AND ITS IMPACTS IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION

     Speaker: Lim Tian Kuay
     Deputy Director (Science)
     Meteorological Service Singapore
     Ministry of Communications

     Chairperson: A/P Lim Hock
       Director
      Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing
      N U S

     Date/Time: Friday, 22nd January 1999
      3.30pm to 5.00pm

     Place:  First Year Lab (AS2 02-3)
      Department of Geography, NUS

Abstract
Among the environmental issues threatening economic growth in the
Asia/Pacific region is year-to-year incidence of drought, floods and marine
storms which create substantial disruption and severe economic dislocation.
Such impacts associated with El Nino have ranged in the billions of US
dollars for the region, and have profound implications for the region's
ecosystems, economies and human populations.  Extended periods of drought
and heat can increase the susceptibility of urban settlements and forest
lands to fire, can disrupt food production and water supplies, and in
developing regions, can occasionally lead to massive human migrations.

The 1997-98 El Nino event, possibly the most significant climate event of
the century, has brought into focus the urgent need to better understand the
climate phenomena and their impacts on different sectors of society.  The
direct economic losses attributed to the last major El Nino (1982-83) were a
staggering US$8.7 billion.

This seminar will provide an overview of the El Nino phenomenon and its
impacts in the Southeast Asian region.

About the Speaker
As the Deputy Director (Science) at the Meteorological Service Singapore,
Ministry of Communications, he oversees the use of science and technology to
support the provision of meteorological services to meet the needs of
aviation, shipping, specialised services, military operations and the
general public.  In the course of this work, he oversaw the development and
implementation of operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modeling.
With this effort, advanced scientific method was introduced and it provided
the platform for objective weather forecasting in Singapore.  In 1996/1997,
he revamped the weather services provided to the general public.
Sophisticated visualisation of higher resolution weather information was
introduced to the TV stations.  Graphical weather information was also
introduced to the newspaper media.


ENQUIRIES: Mrs Lim - 8743853  CONVENORS: A/P Ausafur Rahman, Dr  Carl
Grundy-Warr & Dr Peta Sanderson

Note - Seminar is at the DBS Conference Room [Blk S3, Level 5]

Title: Exploring the Earth's Biodiversity: The Unfinished Agenda

Speaker:  Dr Indraneil Das
Associate Professor, Institute of Biodiversity & Environmental Conservation
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

Date/Time: Thursday,  14 January 1999: 3 - 4 pm
Venue :  Biology Conference Room [Block S3,  Level 5]

Hosted by: Peter Ng (crabman)

NOTE - Seminar is at the DBS Conference Room [Blk S3, Level 5]

Title: Forests and Plant Geography of China: Evidence from Bryophyte
Distribution

Speaker: Professor Timo Koponen
Department of Ecology and Systematics
University of Helsinki, FINLAND

Date/Time: Wednesday, 13 Jan 99: 10am
Venue: Biology Conference Room [Block S3, Level 5]

Hosted by: Benito Tan (mossman)

Dear friends,

Benito Tan of the NUS DBS Cryptogam Laboratory will have two mossy visitors
in Jan 1999.

Prof. Timo Koponen and his wife, Dr. Aune Koponen
Department of Ecology and Systematics,
University of Helsinki, Finland

Will visit the NUS (and also the University of Malaya)

Period: 11th - 18th January 1999.


-------------------------
Seminar, 13 Jan 99: 10am
-------------------------

Title: "Forest and Plant Geography of China: Evidence from Moss
Distributions"

Speaker: Prof. T. Koponen

Venue: NUS DBS Biology Seminar Room,
Blk S1A, Level 4
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 13
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM

TITLE: The Magnitude of Global Biodiversity And Its Decline

SPEAKER: Prof.  Nigel N Stork
Director, The Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology &
Management (CRC-TREM),
James Cook University, Australia
HOST:  Dr Li Daiqin, The Raffle Museum of Biodiversity Research, NUS
Department of Biological Sciences

WHERE: Biology Seminar Room [Block S1A, Level 4], NUS Department of
Biological Sciences
WHEN:  Friday 11 December 1998: 3pm - 4pm

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Prof. Nigel Stork is the Director of the CRC-TREM, in which there are more
200 scientists from four major universities and other insitutions, including
University of Queensland, University of Sydnay, James Cook University,
Griffith University and CSIRO. Before he joined CRC-TREM, Prof. Stork worked
at the Natural History Museum in London for sixteen years where he headed
the biodiversity Division in the Entomology Department.  His research
interests span the fields of systematics and ecology particularly focusing
on insect diversity and tropical forests, global species richness and
extinction.  He has worked for UNEP, UNESCO and IUBS on various
interantional projects and recently
coordinated Section 7, Inventorying and Monitoring of UNEP Global
Biodiversity Assessment project.  He has edited or co-edited 7 books
including Biodiversity Assessment: a guide to good pactice (1996) for the UK
Department of Environment and Canopy Arthropods (1997).  This latter book
summaries much of the current canopy research on arthropods around the
world.

Prof. Stork has carried out research on canopy arthropods in tropical
rainforests of South-East Asia, Australia, West Africa, Central and South
America.  He co-wrote the successful proposal to establish a European
Rainforest Canopy network and wrote the successful RIEF grant proposal for
the indicators for sustanable forestry (funded by CIFOR) effects of
disturbance on the pollination biology of dipterocarp forests in Thaiand
(funded by CIFOR).  After he jioned CRC-TREM in Australia, he is still
actively involved in front-line research at the same time managing large
terms of researchers and non-researchers (>200).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription
to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and
select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EcoTax List.  Members only.  All enquiries to ecotax-owner@onelist.com

TITLE: The Magnitude of Global Biodiversity And Its Decline

SPEAKER: Prof.  Nigel N Stork
Director, The Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology &
Management (CRC-TREM),
James Cook University, Australia
HOST:  Dr Li Daiqin, The Raffle Museum of Biodiversity Research, NUS
Department of Biological Sciences

WHERE: Biology Seminar Room [Block S1A, Level 4], NUS Department of
Biological Sciences
WHEN:  Friday 11 December 1998: 3pm - 4pm

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Prof. Nigel Stork is the Director of the CRC-TREM, in which there are more
200 scientists from four major universities and other insitutions, including
University of Queensland, University of Sydnay, James Cook University,
Griffith University and CSIRO. Before he joined CRC-TREM, Prof. Stork worked
at the Natural History Museum in London for sixteen years where he headed
the biodiversity Division in the Entomology Department.  His research
interests span the fields of systematics and ecology particularly focusing
on insect diversity and tropical forests, global species richness and
extinction.  He has worked for UNEP, UNESCO and IUBS on various
interantional projects and recently
coordinated Section 7, Inventorying and Monitoring of UNEP Global
Biodiversity Assessment project.  He has edited or co-edited 7 books
including Biodiversity Assessment: a guide to good pactice (1996) for the UK
Department of Environment and Canopy Arthropods (1997).  This latter book
summaries much of the current canopy research on arthropods around the
world.

Prof. Stork has carried out research on canopy arthropods in tropical
rainforests of South-East Asia, Australia, West Africa, Central and South
America.  He co-wrote the successful proposal to establish a European
Rainforest Canopy network and wrote the successful RIEF grant proposal for
the indicators for sustanable forestry (funded by CIFOR) effects of
disturbance on the pollination biology of dipterocarp forests in Thaiand
(funded by CIFOR).  After he jioned CRC-TREM in Australia, he is still
actively involved in front-line research at the same time managing large
terms of researchers and non-researchers (>200).