Photos 2007
Photos 2005/06

LSM4263 Field Studies in Biodiversity

Introduction

LSM4263 will introduce you to field biology, including the sampling design and techniques used in studying biodiversity and what to do with the data you collect. During field practicals, you will experience a range of tropical environments, in particular, coastal, mangrove, freshwater as well as primary and secondary forest habitats. In 2007, the 7-day field course was conducted on P. Tioman, Malaysia. Research projects will be conducted in small groups under the supervision of experienced field-orientated teaching assistants. This module involve overseas university students as well as NUS Life Science students and we hope you will also learn from each other.

Introduction to P. Tioman
Pulau Tioman is a rugged, pear-shaped island located ~45 km east off the state of Pahang in Malaysia.It is the third largest island, at 133.6 sq. km, off Peninsular Malaysia, with a length of ~19 km and a maximum width of ~11 km. The topography is mostly steep hilly slopes covered in tropical rainforest, with numerous peaks running along the central spine of the island. The island's low-lying areas are limited to coastal regions fronted by sandy or rocky beaches. It is along the coast that the majority of the villages are built and where the native population of ~3,000 live. The largest population centre on P. Tioman is kampung (=village in Malay) Tekek on the western coast, where most facilities and amenities are available. A small airstrip was built here in the late 1980's that allows small aeroplanes to land. The majority of visitors, however, arrive via ferries from Tanjung (=headland in Malay) Gemok, Kuala (= estuary in Malay) Rompin, Pahang or from Mersing, Johore, to the various villages on the island. The hilly interior and rocky slopes of the island harbour good tropical rainforest that has remained relatively undisturbed by the island's population. There are numerous stream systems that drain the southern two thirds of the island. The existence of a wide range of habitats contributes to the overall diversity of the island-there are hill and lowland dipterocarp rainforests, rapid flowing freshwater habitats, freshwater pools, mangrove forests and rocky shores.