Job scope- Identify bird and butterfly visitors to roof gardens across approximately 32 buildings in Singapore. Study design will be developed with NUS and CUGE. Expected field work in an urban setting, 4-5 days per week, 1.5 years in total. Data collection, data entry and later preliminary data analysis will be required.

Requirements – BSc required. Life Sciences or general sciences degree preferred, but most important is an ability to use binoculars and to learn to identify urban birds and common butterflies of Singapore. Familiarity and experience with collecting basic data will be necessary.

Renumeration – To be advised on enquiry, commensurate with qualifications. There is a possibility of extension beyond 1.5 years, dependent on funding.

Contact – Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter, addressed to Assoc. Prof Edward Webb, at ted.webb@nus.edu.sg. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job scope
Sorting and identifying freshwater invertebrates.

Requirements

• No experience required – ‘on-the-job’ training will be provided, but some knowledge on aquatic macroinvertebrates and use of identification keys are desirable.
• Must be able to commit about two months (June to August -until school starts)
• Flexible but must be able to commit on most days.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Renumeration
Payment will be made based on an hourly rate commensurate with qualifications.

Contact

• Interested candidates are invited to email their CV to Hiu Fung (email: tmswhf@nus.edu.sg)
• Please indicate in the subject heading: “RE: Lab Assistant (Inland_Waters)”

Deadline for Applications: 10 June 2013

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

About Inland Waters Cluster, EMID at TMSI, NUS.
Ecological Monitoring, Informatics and Dynamics (EMID) research revolves around a cross-disciplinary, quantitative approach with a strong focus on operations and management, towards the overarching goal of sustainable resource management. The Inland Waters Cluster applies freshwater research through the development of assessment tools and environmetrics for ecological appraisal and prediction.

Laboratory Assistant, Casual Employment: two positions

The Inland Waters laboratory is actively seeking suitable candidates for the position of laboratory assistant to support various ongoing projects.

Responsibilities

• Assist in laboratory processing of benthic macorinvertebrate specimens such as Diptera larvae and Odonata nymphs obtained from streams and reservoirs in Singapore
• Laboratory processing will include:
  1. picking out macroinvertebrates and separate them from detritus and sediment.
  2. Cataloguing and preservation of specimens in ethanol.
  3. Identification of specimens to Order and/or Family level using microscopes and dichotomous identification keys.

Requirements

• Experience and knowledge on aquatic macroinvertebrates and use of identification keys are desirable but ‘on-the-job’ training will be provided.
• A conscientious attitude to laboratory work and keen interest in biology is essential.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Renumeration
Payment will be made based on an hourly rate and shall commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Contact
Interested candidates are invited to email their detailed resume and cover letter to Rayson (email: tmslbhr@nus.edu.sg) and indicate in the subject heading: “RE: Lab Assistant (Inland_Waters)”

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

EMID research revolves around a cross-disciplinary, quantitative approach with a strong focus on operations and management, towards the overarching goal of sustainable resource management.

Much of research undertaken is supported through contracts with local governmental agencies to monitor and assess the ecological status of Singapore’s aquatic systems, which provides a data- and opportunity rich environment for strategic and fundamental research.

The Inland Waters Cluster applies freshwater research through the development of assessment tools and environmetrics for ecological appraisal and prediction.

Research areas include:

• Protocol, design and operation of a National Biomonitoring Programme in Singapore.
• Quantified characterisation of habitats and biotic communities of freshwater systems.
• Translation of biological response to environmental conditions to ecological and water quality indicators, thresholds and guidelines.
• Ecological evaluation of environmental change following habitat creation or restoration.
• Prediction of effects of changes in land-use and climate through eco-hydrologic modelling and environmental impact assessment.

We are currently seeking to fill a number of research positions to meet emerging challenges and opportunities in this area of rapid growth. Successful applicants will increase the capacity of core expertise in freshwater biomonitoring in Singapore at TMSI, NUS developed through targeted programmes over the last five years.

Experience in freshwater research in South East Asia would be preferable. However, applicants with relevant skills in quantitative ecology and/or freshwater research elsewhere will be considered.

We are recruiting Research Assistants and Research Associates to join our research teams.

Ideal candidates will have experience in freshwater ecological field work, quantified sample collection methods, data handling, analysis and interpretation of ecological data. The primary responsibilities of these positions are:

• Field surveying of freshwater habitats
• Collection of aquatic invertebrates and water samples
• Processing of samples and parataxonomy of freshwater invertebrates
• Data handling and quantitative ecological analysis using statistical techniques
• Interpretation of ecological data and production of high quality scientific reports
• Publication of resultant research papers in peer-reviewed journals
• Assisting in supervision of part-time staff and interns
• Supporting laboratory technicians in laboratory housekeeping and maintenance
• Depending on experience, candidates will have opportunities to design and implement experiments to address research questions within the scope of the Inland Waters cluster.

Requirements

• The minimum qualification for research assistants is an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area.
• For the Research Associate positions, applicants should have, at minimum, a MSc in a relevant subject area with two years relevant post-qualification experience.
• Proficiency in oral and written English
• Experience of ecological fieldwork and parataxonomy. Experience in freshwater ecology is preferred but training in field methods and identification of taxa will be provided.
• A good general knowledge of aquatic ecology
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• A sound background in quantitative assessment methods and use of statistical software (such as SAS, R, SPSS, Statistica)
• Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as a with other team members.
• A valid Singapore Class 3 driving license (or equivalent for international applicants willing to obtain a local license) is highly desirable.

Salary
Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Unless otherwise specified, appointment is renewable annually subject to performance.

Closing date
Applications for these positions will be reviewed on 17th June 2013 after which shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. We also welcome speculative applications throughout the year. Please see the TMSI website for current vacancies: http://www.tmsi.nus.edu.sg/view/joblisting

Contact
Interested candidates are invited to email their resume and cover letter FAO Dr. Esther Clews to tmsec@nus.edu.sg.
Please indicate in the subject heading the position applied for with Inland Waters, EMID e.g. “Research_Assistant_Inland_Waters_EMID”.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Ng Jia Jun Daniel
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS

Fri, 31 May 2013: 9.00am
@ DBS Conference Room 2 (S1 Level 3, Mezzanine)
Supervisor: Asst Prof David Patrick Bickford

All are welcome

Abstract:

“Amphibians are the most threatened with extinction of all vertebrate groups and many populations are declining around the world. Climate change has been implicated in their disappearance and the effects of climate change include increased temperature and rainfall variability. These changes are particularly detrimental to amphibians because of their bi-phasic life history and physiology.

Tropical amphibians are especially vulnerable as they are close to their physiological thermal limits and small temperature increases can exceed their thermal tolerance. In my PhD, I  assess which amphibian species in Singapore are most vulnerable to climate change; determine whether amphibian declines are also occurring in Singapore; investigate warming vulnerability between tropical amphibian communities compared to subtropical or temperate counterparts; ascertain effects of elevated temperature and interaction with pH.

Main findings suggest that while some tropical amphibian species may be more tolerant to climatic warming than previously hypothesised, some species appear to be vulnerable to climate change. In addition, synergistic interaction between high temperature and low pH in reducing survival was observed. These findings will have implications for conservation planning efforts.”

Sleep deprived, he ran into this group of birders camped out around a particularly productive spot where several migrating warbler species were hanging out.

During the ensuing conversation, David mentioned he hailed from Singapore. One amongst the group mentioned that he knew several people from the Malaysian Nature Society – this didn’t ring any bells initially, until he introduced himself by his first name.

Then it all clicked, David says, because John Ascher, soon to be at the department in Singapore, had mentioned to David several months ago that Ben King was in the area and based at the AMNH.

An excited David announced this in all caps on Facebook page and his Facebook page was peppered with congratulatory (and facetious) posts.

Ben’s book (Ben King, Martin Woodcock & Dickinson, 1975. The Collin’s Field Guide to Birds of South East Asia. 480p.) was a bible for many naturalists starting out with birds in the 1980′s and 1990′s.

I asked David for the photo he thankfully took – and I am sure it will bring warm memories to many a biologist in this corner of the globe.

David Tan and Ben King chatted about the work which still needs to be done for the Southeast Asian birds, especially with little brown birds like flycatchers and babblers. This work is closely related to Frank Rheindt’s interests and to a lesser extent to David’s thesis work to come.

Buried in marking, I was really pleased to hear this news.

I have relied on birders for over three decades for the finer points. Ben King’s book was amongst the first bird book I referred to, and David is the latest of many birders I have consulted – before leaving for his stint abroad, he produced The Birds of NUS, a resource for undergrads.

A chance meeting with Ben King in Central Park? Well, you know what they say about birds of a feather.

The National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Science received a $1 million donation which will help it boost life sciences research and education at the university. The donation came from developer SingHaiyi Group and its parent company, Haiyi Holdings.

NUS said the gift will attract a matching grant from the Government, and a portion will be used to fund scholarships for some 50 graduate students at the Department of Biological Sciences over a period of two to three years, starting from this August.

From 2014, the gift will also fund up to 150 undergraduates who are pursuing an honours degree in life sciences annually, for their research projects.

Part of the $1 million gift will also support the Xiamen Winter Symposium, an annual life sciences conference jointly organised by the NUS Department of Biological Sciences and Xiamen University.

Thankfully, when I joined the department last July, my environmentally-conscious office mates and fellow Full-Time Teaching Assistants (FTTAs) already had a system worked out for recycling.

The FTTAs are green tea and milk tea junkies, and often, a bottle purchased from the canteen during lunch helps us through a tiring afternoon! A quick rinse is all the bottles need and they are left to dry at the sink.

The bottles will pile up in about three weeks, and are then packed away in reusable bags and the bottles are dropped off at the recycling bins in the Science Canteen during lunch.

Small and simple steps make for painless habits! Do you have a recycling strategy?

FTTAs Amanda and Hongxia bring washed and dried plastic bottles
to the recycling bins. Photos by Weiting.

Message from Life Sciences Undergraduate Program Committee, 22 April 2013:

“Dear students,

Registration is now open for LSM4263 – Field Studies in Biodiversity, Special Term IV.

Registration ends 07 June 2013.

This 4MC module will be conducted in Semester IV, AY2012-13. Though a detailed timetable will be available later, class begins Tuesday 25 June and ends Fri 26 July 2013.

To qualify, students must be:

continuing into their Honours year in AY2013/14

concentrating in Environmental Biology and

possess a CAP of 3.5 or above

expected to cover part of the module cost (not amounting more than SGD400).

The field trip is scheduled to be on Thurs 11 July to Wed 17 July 2013.

Class size is limited to 30 students and preference given to students with Biodiversity (LSM1103) and Ecology (LSM2251).

To register, complete the form at 

http://tinyurl.com/LSM4263-June2013-Registration

The list of successful applicants will be announced after the release of final examination results.

Best wishes,
Life Sciences Undergraduate Program Committee
http://www.lifesciences.nus.edu.sg“

Discus fish by niomix2008

Anita’s project aims to determine the different attributes and drivers associated with market demand for discus and its variation within and between discus strains for the ornamental trade. Such attributes include color, patternation, overall fish shape, bred type and price.

Potential differences in consumer preferences will be evaluated by conducting choice experiments and card sorting exercises, targeting towards actors involved at different levels of the market chain, including exporters, importers, retailers, breeders and end-buyers such as hobbyists from the general public.

Volunteers are required to act as surveyors and conduct consumer questionnaires and preference ranking exercises to both trade and public visitors from 30th May –  2nd June 2013 at Aquarama 2013 which is being held at Sands Expo & Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands.

If interested, please email Anita at anitawan.11@gmail.com.

OED is taking this opportunity to repair and improve the conditions of the roads that are shown in the map below.

Road resurfacing works will be carried out from 11 May 2013 to 15 June 2013, from 8.00pm to 7.00am the next morning, every day of the week (including public holidays).

These roads will remain accessible by motorists as the contractor will work on a single lane of the two-lane road at any one time before progressing to adjacent lane.

Signages and road marshallers will guide motorists in the affected locations.

If there are issues during the period, let OED know through their 24/7 Maintenance Hotline (6516-1515) or email oedhelp@nus.edu.sg

“Origin and spread of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Blattellidae)“

TANG Qian
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS

Fri, 3 May 2013: 3.00pm
@ S1A, #02-17
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Evans, Theodore Alfred

All are welcome

Abstract:

“The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is likely to be the world’s most widespread domestic pest, from large cities to rural areas, on all continents (except Antarctica) and across most latitudes.

How this situation transpired is unknown, even the origin of this species is unknown; the name indicates where it was named, as an invasive species. Historical records and morphological phylogeny suggest that the German cockroach is of African or Asian origin.

Considering the evidence from both sources, I hypothesize that the German cockroach and its Asian relatives share a common ancestor out of Africa, and that the ancestors of the German cockroach was brought to Europe and domesticated there.

Adaptation to buildings allowed for transportation by humans, and thus spread to the rest of the world.

I will test my hypothesis using different genetic markers on cockroach samples collected from over 100 cities or regions.  I will use various genetic analyses to trace the history of the Genus Blattella (ribosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA) and the species B. germanica (microsatellites). 

This study may also provide evidence for the expansion of B. germanica and suggest processes of domestication by pest species in the urban environment.”

One or more part-time assistant(s) are required to help with experiments, sampling  and sample processing in Singapore reservoirs from April to Dec 2013.

PUB: Local Catchment Water

Project description: Sampling and processing of samples from Singapore’s reservoirs as well as subculturing and aiding in experimental work on cyanobacteria in the laboratory.

Job Scope

1. Work when needed on experimental days (every 2 days) and one full day for filtration of reservoir samples.
2. Most work will be conducted on weekdays, but some experimental collection days may be on weekends and public holidays
3. Filter water samples, record and weigh freeze dried water samples
4. Assist in collection of samples for experimental work in the laboratory as well as filtration of samples on weekdays or weekends.

Requirements

Candidates should be:

1. Meticulous and careful with samples
2. Be able to come into the lab on a need to basis.
3. Knowledgeable about phytoplankton and sterile techniques is useful, but candidates with no prior knowledge can also apply as training will be provided.

Salary

S$8.74/hour

Contact

Please contact Maxine Mowe, Graduate student, Freshwater and Invasion Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. Email: maxinemowe@gmail.com or call 6516-4255.

At the recent department retreat, Theo Evans put up some slides for analysis which provide a quick idea of the research interests in this group.

Data source: department webpage.

Here they are:

The FTTA’s, Sylvia Law, Cai Hongxia, Xu Weiting and Amanda Tan, are enjoying a teaching break during Reading Week and used the time to sign up for John’s classes.

He was escorted to class today by my Mac buddies Laurence and Kenneth who sent me this photo after the first session:

L-R: Sylvia, Hongxia, John, Laurence, Weiting and Amanda.

Teaching staff including the FTTAs are always learning, seeking new ideas for implementation into lessons, skills which we think undergrads would find useful, techniques for more interesting lesson delivery or admin techniques which free up time for everyone.

We’re not trigger happy about implementation though. Each idea needs to be evaluated and tried out. So even as semester ends, we are sniffing out new ideas to wrestle with in the months ahead, before the tough Semester I begins.

And not all this learning is over formal sessions. Some of the best learning takes place informally over a meal!

We kick off with a state of the department review by the head.

Sometimes the news is good, sometimes it can be gloomy. As with everything in Singapore, it’s interesting to observe the influence of the economy on the status of the department and projections for the future.

It’s an intense schedule of short presentations and discussions so its impossible for anyone not to be clued into reality, defying the ability to be isolated in an ivory tower.

Science in a modern era is tiring this way but the exposure is unavoidable. Some of that reality should trickle down to students who ultimately do feel the effects.

It’s not all gloomy though. We tend to compare with the best objectively and the department is not half bad. And when comparative metrics are produced, debate invariably emerges as far as time allows. And then you get to observe personalities.

Which is the bonus when sitting through long meetings!

Paul Matsudaira starting with the state of the department review
 

The NUS Biology Crew at their breakout session at the department retreat.

She is one of several students who wish to contribute to regional efforts to protect and conserve. Since a job is not immediately available, getting involved as a volunteer is an excellent way to learn the ropes and be at the right place when an opportunity presents itself.

Chloe has been looking since she graduated last semester and thanks to Ng Bee Choo, wrote me recently with some wonderful news:

“Hi Siva,

I’ll be a volunteer on the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme (PBCP) under the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PBCFI).

For this three month stint (22 Apr to 22 Jul), I’ll be in the field helping out with biodiversity surveys, working in breeding and rescue centers in Negros and Panay, and possibly assisting with threatened species reintroduction projects on Negros, Panay and Cebu Islands.

Negros, Panay and Cebu, together with Masbate, make up the West Visayas – a region of PBCFI considers a conservation priority. The long-term goal of the PBCP is to establish a continuously developing network of Local Conservation Areas (LCAs) in the country.

For the first week in the Philippines, I’ll be helping [Ng] Bee Choo at the 6th International Hornbill Conference in Manila. During which I will meet the PBCP field personnel and firm up my itinerary, then tag along as they return to the field sites.

Thanks Siva!”

Happy Earth Day Chloe! Thanks for helping to make the world a better place!

Qualifying  Examination

“Population Structure and Gut Flora Diversity in Coptotermes gestroi in Southeast Asia”

Zhang Manping
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS

Tues, 23 April 2013: 1.00pm
@ DBS Conference Room ii (S1 Level 3, Mezzanine)
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Evans, Theodore Alfred

All are welcome

Abstract:

“Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Insecta: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), commonly known as the house termite, is one of the most destructive urban pests in Southeast Asia.  This species has gut microorganisms (protists, bacteria and archea) to aid wood digestion and nutrient intake. 

It appears to be an urban adaptor or exploiter, as it rare in natural forests, but common in urban centres; it has been found to infest up to 80% of buildings in Malaysia.

The species is invasive as well, and had spread though human trade to other geographic regions, including east and south Asia, North and South America, Europe and several islands in the Pacific, Caribbean and India Oceans. 

Although C. gestroi is an important pest species, little is known about its origins, endemic distribution, geographic spread, and adaptation to urban life. Indeed it is only in the last decade its taxonomy was resolved.

My project aims at uncover some of this unknown information, by elucidating the population structure and genetic diversity of C. gestroi across Southeast Asia and invasive populations using microsatellite markers.  A better sampling strategy (sampling in cities, countrysides and forest) and comparative Copototermes species would be adopted. 

Pyrosequencing survey of the gut flora diversity will be used as a facilitated method to reveal the dispersal pattern, and help understand adaptation to urban life.

A laboratory experiment that tests the effect of food types on gut flora diversity of C. gestroi will complement the pyrosequencing. 

My project intends to shed some light on

1. The origin and dispersal pattern of C. gestroi.
2. The underlying mechanism for wide distribution of the species.
3. The adaptive strategy of C. gestroi to urbanization.”

“Investigating the introduction and impacts of gastropods in Singapore’s fresh waters”

Ng Ting Hui
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS

Friday, 19 April 2013: 10.30am
@ DBS Conference Room (S3 L5)
Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Darren Yeo, Dr. Tan Heok Hui

All are welcome

Abstract:

“Introduction of freshwater gastropods are a concern globally owing to negative impacts like habitat-modification, competition with native species, and the spread of zoonotic parasites. In contrast to other native aquatic fauna in Singapore, which are usually found in unmodified habitats, freshwater molluscs here are almost exclusively found in human-impacted habitats, e.g., reservoirs and canals. Hence, it is suspected that many species may have been introduced. The lack of comprehensive information regarding native freshwater molluscs has made it difficult to determine the true status of many species found here. My inspection of museum collections and unpublished data found that only six species of gastropods were found here half a century ago, while the current malacofauna consists of 33 species, including freshwater bivalves. Preliminary data from a review of freshwater mollusc introductions to Southeast Asia shows that the aquarium trade has been most often proposed as a source for introductions, including in Singapore. A survey of the aquarium trade here revealed 58 species. While the results indicate that the trade is a likely introduction pathway, it is also implied that there are other potential pathways.

I also aim to investigate if the genetic diversity of local freshwater molluscs can resolve the status of cryptogenic species, and to examine the factors facilitating the spread of freshwater molluscs by investigating physico-chemical parameters and life history traits that may influence their distribution in canals. Finally, preliminary data indicates that the decline in distributions of native apple snail Pila scutata coincides with the introduction and spread of the confamilial golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata. Potential ecological overlap between these two species will thus be investigated. The results of the genetic and ecological studies will be used to determine the management measures necessary to control introduced freshwater gastropods in Singapore.”

“Morphological and Chemical Evolution in Sepsidae: An Evolutionary Approach to Phenomics and Shape Analysis”

Pitta de Araujo, Diego
Graduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS

Tues, 23 April 2013: 10.00am
@ DBS Conference Room (S3 Level 5)

Supervisor: Prof. Rudolf Meier
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Joanne Yew

All are welcome

Abstract:

“New advancements in morphological and chemical analysis are promoting a renaissance of the studies of phenotypes in the era of genomics. Here I propose to use a “phenomics” approach to fully explore the morphology and chemistry of Sepsidae flies. These flies have very complex and variable morphological structures most of which are used in sexual behaviour and serve as a model clade to study phenotypic evolution. I am combining several morphological imaging techniques (Visionary Digital, Light Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy) and chemical imaging (Ultra-Violet Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry) to understand key changes during sepsid evolution. The three main questions that be addressed in this research are: How much morphological and chemical change happened in the evolution of Sepsidae? Is there a phylogenetic pattern and correlation among different phenotypes? How to quantify morphological change in an evolutionary context?

I carried out a detailed morphological and chemical study of the mysterious osmeterium, a gland that is located on the hind tibia of males. I use UV-LDI Mass Spectrometry to solve the identity of its secretion, the time of secretion, and the secretion’s fate when it is transferred to the female’s body during mating. My preliminary morphological results pertain to the morphology of the head capsule and mouthparts and indicate variation among species, mainly with regard to the structure of the head capsule. For this part of the flies’ body there is little evidence for sexual dimorphism. The thorax morphology of sepsids varies among species with regard to the shape of thoracic plates and patches of micropilosity. I am also the first entomologist studying the male intromittent organ in sepsids and document its variation across the species.

Lastly, I propose to explore new tools in 3D design to create representations of morphological structures. I propose to use new techniques in shape analysis for advanced 3D visualization and shape measurement: evolutionary morphing, shape similarity and shape complexity. With these tools I hope to quantify and visualize how sepsid morphology changed over evolutionary time.”

Kathy Su obtained her Honours and Masters degrees at NUS has successfully completed her Ph.D. in France and is now back in Singapore to pursue her post-doctoral research at the Evolutionary Biology Lab.

Her doctoral research on the evolution of wing spot patterns in Drosophilid flies was recently published in the journal Science.

The study illustrated how the appearance of darkened wing spots within a group of closely related flies was orchestrated by the assembly of a gene regulatory network involving several pigmentation genes under the regulation of at least one shared transcription factor.

This study has broad implications and provides insights into the emergence of novel morphological traits and their subsequent diversification. Her study was also featured recently in the French press, Le Monde.

Congratulations Kathy on your recent publication!

“Ecology and Restocking of Giant Clams”

William Eckman
Graduate Student,
Dept. Biological Sciences, NUS

Tue 16 April 2013: 3.00pm
@ DBS Meeting Room
(S3 Level 5,General Office #05-010)

Supervisor: Asst Prof Peter Alan, Todd

All are welcome

Abstract:

“As giant clams inhabit shallow waters, primarily in developing nations, many of their species are in danger of becoming directly extirpated by human activity, or of being unable to reproduce due to falling population densities. Over their long lifespans, giant clams produce large numbers of offspring, which have low survival rates at the larval and juvenile level. This is a successful reproductive strategy in the absence of human intervention.

Archaeologists know that humans have been harvesting clams for thousands of years, but modern technologies such as commercial fishing boats and SCUBA gear are depriving clams of refugia from which to repopulate other reefs. Increasing water turbidity due to coastal development, eutrophication, and dredging can make deeper water uninhabitable to giant clams, forcing their populations to reestablish in areas where they are more vulnerable to harvesting, tropical storms, and increasing water temperatures.

There is a significant amount of scientific literature regarding giant clams, particularly regarding their anatomy, physiology, and their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. However, there are major gaps in the areas of their general ecology, reproductive behavior, and larval stages.

I will present the results of my experiments to determine giant clam larval tolerances to elevated water temperature, reduced light penetration, and reduced salinity.

I will also outline a proposed general ecology paper which will highlight and attempt to quantify the role that giant clams play in maintaining healthy reef ecosystems. There have been attempts in many countries to restock reefs with giant clams, although success rates have been low. Those efforts have not documented their strategy for placing clams in order to achieve high rates of survival and reproductive success.

I have carried out some preliminary investigations into giant clam reproductive behavior, and will continue and expand that work into a model resulting in guidelines for optimal clam placement. Clams in restocking efforts are initially placed in anti-predator cages, but their design is haphazard. I will experimentally compare several designs, including intertidal, benthic, and floating models, to determine which is most suitable for clam protection and growth in Singapore’s waters.

Finally, I plan to investigate the impacts of sediments on giant clams, using machinery which is capable of varying the timing and intensity of sediments to simulate various environmental or anthropogenic events.”

Application details at NParks webpage.

Responsibilities

The Biodiversity Information and Policy branch under the National Biodiversity Centre is responsible for developing biodiversity information products and services, coordinating and promoting collaboration and partnerships in enhancing urban biodiversity and ecology in Singapore, driving the implementation of policies and guidelines pertaining to biodiversity conservation and managing the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Key responsibilities

The successful applicant is required to facilitate and steer biodiversity research towards conservation priorities in support of Singapore’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, manage the research application and approval process, organize biodiversity research presentations and workshops and to regularly review the kind of biodiversity research being conducted in Singapore.

Requirements

• Degree from a recognized university and at least 3 years of work experience
• Have at minimum a first degree in a relevant discipline
• Keen interest and passion in biodiversity conservation
• Strong organization and analytical skills
• Good writing and interpersonal / communication skills
• Competence in database management and experience in using Global Information Systems (GIS) will be an advantage
• Some experience in doing scientific research work

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

See also other jobs at the NParks webpage.