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SINGAPORE: Twenty new species of fauna were recorded at Pulau Ubin during a biodiversity study of the island, including a type of spider that is new to science, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post on Friday. (September 25th).
Six of the fauna species are new to Singapore and comprise four types of spiders, a butterfly and a bird.
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The Ubin Comprehensive Biodiversity Survey (CUBS) also recorded 13 species of fauna new to Pulau Ubin, such as bats, birds and dragonflies.
“The unique biodiversity found in Pulau Ubin is fascinating. This has been confirmed by new findings from our (CUBS),” said Mr. Lee.
Piranthus sp. was first collected in Brunei in 2012. (Photo: Paul Ng)
“There have been more than 160 field studies, involving citizen scientists from various nature groups, researchers and NParks since CUBS began in 2018. Since then, 20 new species of fauna have been recorded, including the Piranthus sp. , a new species of spider recorded for science “.
The black-winged flycatcher-shrike (left) and the buff-rumpled woodpecker. (Photos: Lim Kim Keang, Dillen Ng)
The new species of spider was first collected in Brunei in 2012 and later identified as part of a different genus. It had also been collected in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, mangroves in Lim Chu Kang.
A spider specimen was also discovered in a secondary forest in Pulau Ubin during the biodiversity study, and the researchers identified it as a new, undescribed species of the genus Piranthus.
The first two pairs of legs of female spiders are bright reddish orange.
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The study is still ongoing for the other taxonomic groups, including phasmids (leaf and stick insects), mammals, and moths. It is scheduled to be completed later this year. More than 200 people have participated.
Javan Pipistrelle (left) and white-banded punch. (Photos: Serin Subaraj, Khew Sin Khoon)
Yellow Featherlegs Damselfly (left) and Common Amber Wing Dragonfly. (Photos: Robin Ngiam)
In his Facebook post, Mr. Lee also announced that NParks is starting a reforestation project, with over 16,000 trees of more than 70 native species progressively planted at three sites in Pulau Ubin.
The sites, the 10-hectare Balai Quarry South, Sungei Teris (5ha) and Jalan Jelutong (1ha) quarry, were previously used for granite mining and aquaculture and have since been abandoned.
Carliphisis leontopolites (left) and Missing Marvelous Katydid. (Photos: Ming Kai)
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Currently, the sites are covered with non-native invasive plant species and do not support a great diversity of wildlife.
This reforestation effort is part of Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. As the name suggests, the movement aims to plant more than 1 million trees in Singapore over the next 10 years.
Reforestation at Pulau Ubin has been ongoing since 2001 at various sites on the island.
In addition, the floating wetlands project at Pekan Quarry in Pulau Ubin has been completed.
Short-tailed Damselfly (left) and Variable Sprite Damselfly. (Photos: Lee Hin Jin, Kah Ming)
The quarry is home to many species of wetlands that reside on the island. To improve it as a habitat, NParks piloted a floating wetland system at the quarry in 2015.
The total size of the new floating wetland system is now over 4,000 square meters, increasing the size of the floating wetlands in the quarry to cover approximately 20 percent of its water surface.
In addition to enhancing the biodiversity of Pulau Ubin, there are several measures to help the island’s inhabitants, Mr. Lee said.
These efforts include a plan to make Pulau Ubin more accessible to people from all walks of life, improvements to a makeshift “taxi rank” on the island, as well as home repairs.
Black-bearded tomb bat (left) and Horsfield’s long-legged bat. (Photos: Noel Thomas, Law Ing Sind)
“We want Ubin to be inclusive for everyone. We have plans to build a floating pontoon jetty at Ubin Living Lab, where wheelchair users can board and disembark seamlessly,” said Lee.
“Accessible Ubin, with the support of FUN and NParks, (has) drafted a proposed design for the floating pontoon jetty following consultation with stakeholders such as the community and agencies. We will finalize the design soon and begin construction work at from then on. “
