Patch Biodiversity & Performance in Singapore
Singapore - with its 300 parks, 4 natural reserves, and countless park connectors - takes pride in being a biodiverse city. But do mere numbers alone translate to greater biodiversity? A quick review of literature on this topic has informed us that the biodiversity of flora in a certain region depends not just on the quantity - but on the size, shape, and connectivity of the different ‘green patches’ that make up its regional ecology.
A heat map of trees in Singapore's Residential Neighbourhoods & Public Parks -
However, does Singapore's meticulously curated state-maintained ecology fit these theories? In particular, (i) what is the relationship between patch size and biodiversity in Singapore? (ii) Do factors like connectivity and infrastructure have an impact on patch biodiversity?
A Map showing all the Public Parks in Singapore
The project probed these questions by exploring the current levels of biodiversity* in the individual green patches in Singapore. This will allow us to ascertain if the relationship between patch size and the biodiversity of flora in Singapore conforms to contemporary theories of natural biodiversity (which suggests that bigger patches have greater biodiversity). Moreover, this helped us identify patches that are weaker in the biodiversity index - allowing us to isolate patches that need more attention.
Concept Image Illustrating the Differences between Shannon and Numerical Biodiversity
Then, by conducting a suitability analysis of all the green spaces in the city, the project seeks to identify patches with greater edge areas (i.e. exposure to roads) that require greater attention in management. This is important as prior studies suggest that patches with greater exposure to roads see greater impacts on populations of animals and plants on the edge of patches.
Concept Image explaining how the variable 'percentage exposure from roads' was defined
Overall, this study seeks to assess and inform Singapore’s current conservation efforts in protecting biodiversity, which will be useful to relevant planning authorities involved in future ecological developments of the city.
Biodiversity (number of recorded unique species per patch) in Singapore's Parks
Shannon Biodiversity Index in Singapore's Public Parks
Team Members : Ishmam Ahmed, Brendan Ng.