Walk In A Park

1. Walk In A Park Southern Ridges Park-Hort Park 23 May 2013

2. Group Members • Beth Lim • Linn Tham • CelestTeng • Zoey Chua

3. What Is The Project About? Key Question: • How do we keep a balance between urban and natural  environment? Key Learning Point: • Keeping a balance between urban and natural environment is in the best interests of Singapore, and this can be done via scientific and social means.

4. What Do We Already Know? • Each habitat has its specific "cove of treasures”. • Urban development will affect these "treasures" and measures must be taken to minimize these effects.

5. Main Content

6. How Does Urban Development Affect Nature? Animals • When trees are cut down to build new houses, some animals will be made homeless.  The animal population may also be wiped out in order for these houses to be built and developed. • Animals will be restricted to small parks, reducing their freedom to roam around the earth. Plants • More trees will have to be cut down to be used in the construction of buildings, like apartments, tourist attractions, etc. • If the trees are cut down, there will be soil erosion and many plants will be destroyed.

7. What Has Been Done To Minimise The Threat To The Ecosystem 1. Recycling Bins • These recycling bins (urban development) encourage visitors at Hortpark to recycle.  This way, fewer plants (nature) have to be used to make resources like paper.   • Additionally, recycling bins encourage people not to litter.  This will allow animals and plants to thrive in a better environment.

8. What Has Been Done To Minimise The Threat To The Ecosystem • Walking Trails There are trails to allow visitors to the park to look at the plants at close range.  This way, the visitors would not trample on the plants. • Works To “Recreate” Land These construction works are to recreate the land after a landslide so that more plants and animals can live there.

9. Types Of Plants We Encountered Smilax • This is a type of invasive plant that is native in Singapore. This is also known as the "a mile a minute" plant, although the plant obviously does not grow a mile a minute. Rubber tree • This tree produces latex, a source of natural rubber and its fruit is a hard lobed capsule. Upon ripening, the fruit explodes and the force sends the seed flying a good distance away from the rubber tree. This explosive action is a dispersing method. Plants need to disperse their seeds so as to avoid overcrowding. When plants are overcrowded, they have to compete for nutrients, space, sunlight and water. Overcrowding usually results in a more unhealthy plant. It is usually thinner but taller than normal plants because it needs to grow taller to reach for sunlight.

10. Types Of Animals We Encountered Black ant • I found this ant interesting as it was golden. However, on closer inspection, I found out that it was an ordinary black ant that had flecks of golden pollen stuck to it. It is a interesting way of observing how insects help pollinate plants. Black-Naped Oriole • This is a type of bird that we spotted near Raffles' summer house. It had a black nape, as referenced in its name and it helped to pollinate the plant. Please refer to slide 11 for exact details.

11. Three Features of the Ecosystem 1. The Black-Naped Oriole • This bird aids in seed dispersal.  They eat the seeds of the fruit and since the seeds cannot digested, it would be excreted.  The seeds would then be dispersed.  This would allow seeds to be available at many places: a) If a certain area is destroyed, the other seeds at other areas can still survive. b) This would prevent overcrowding.  Overcrowding is detrimental as it would lead to competition for nutrients, food, space and light.  Thus, the dispersal of seeds would prevent overcrowding and allow the plants to grow well.

12. Three Features of the Ecosystem 2. Plant Defence Mechanisms • Some plants have defence mechanisms that help protect itself against danger. • An example of these plants are bamboos that have thorns that protect itself against danger.  This bamboo is known as the BambusaBambos.

13. Three Features of the Ecosystem 3. Food Chains This is a natural feature of the ecosystem.  It allows the survival of some animals, although it may mean that other animals or plants have to die. • This natural process works such that the bigger and more powerful animals are at the top of the food chain. • However, the smaller animals in the food chain are very important too. If they become extinct, the whole food chain would have to be altered.  

14. This is a clean world, where people recycle and do not litter This is the world that exists right now, because of Man that litter and do not recycle.

15. DANGER This is an image of the soil erosion at the forest trail  at Hortpark. There was a landslide a few years ago at Hortpark. However, they were able to stop it by adding a layer of concrete.

16. Thank you for your undivided attention!