December 28, 2009
Image: Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford
December 26, 2009
The New York Times
For the many disappointments of the recent climate talks in Copenhagen, there was at least one clear positive outcome, and that was the progress made on a program called Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Under this program, key elements of which were agreed on at Copenhagen, developing countries would be compensated for preserving forests, peat soils, swamps and fields that are efficient absorbers of carbon dioxide, the primary heat-trapping gas linked to global warming.
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Posted in Climate Change, News 
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December 20, 2009
Once again, Blog volunteer Jimmy Goh returns from a trip at Hantu Island with some fascinating macro insights into local seas. What a lovely perspective of these usually skittish animals! (Above: Ornate goby)
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December 17, 2009
The effects of ocean acidification on corals are particularly concerning since one quarter of all marine species depend on coral reefs for homes, nurseries, feeding grounds and spawning sites
Ocean acidification is the process caused by increasing man-made carbon dioxide emissions, by which the oceans are becoming more acidic.
When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it combines with seawater to produce carbonic acid, which increases the acidity of the water.
Rising carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels for energy, has led to a 30 per cent rise in ocean acidity from pre-industrial levels, as measured by a fall of 0.1 units in the pH of ocean surface waters.
If carbon emissions growth continues at the current rate, the pH of ocean surface water will fall 0.2 units by 2050, lower than at any time in the last 20 million years. By the end of this century, the pH will have fallen 0.4 units from its natural level – close to a doubling of ocean acidity. The change is happening 100 times faster than at any time in the history of the planet.
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December 17, 2009
Rising carbon emissions could hit fish stocks around the world
Previous studies have focused on the impact of acidification on coral reefs but not other marine organisms
Commercial fishing in the northern hemisphere will be devastated by rising carbon emissions, according to the first major study into the impact of ocean acidification.
A report by the marine NGO Oceana, presented to delegates at the Copenhagen Climate talks this week, has highlighted how higher acidity disrupts all marine organisms abilities to grow, reproduce and respire.
The worst affected countries, based on current fish catches, consumption, the importance of coral reefs and projected level of acidification in their coastal waters, are expected to be Japan, France and the UK. The United States and China are also expected to suffer.
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December 6, 2009
Last Sunday, a full boat of veteran and brand new divers to local waters, took to the sea with the Hantu Blog dive guides. Despite the onset of the monsoons, the weathered stayed fair and sunny all through the day. Reportedly, the underwater visibility was also very accommodating, which made the first dive into Singapore waters for some first timers a little more comfortable! I might give a huge Thank You to volunteer dive instructor Jimmy Goh for once again sharing his experience of Pulau Hantu with us by taking the effort to take these wonderful photographs while guiding newbie divers (it’s a big effort!). Jimmy’s photos have been featured on the blog several times, and have received a lot of positive comment from our readers. So to his favour I have to admit that if you’re wondering why the pictures in this post look a little different from his pictures in earlier posts, it’s because he’s using my camera, which is an inferior model to his! (Above: Slender Ceratosoma nudibranch)
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November 24, 2009
Designing innovative coastal protection using ecosystem-based approaches
By Peter Todd
Increasing urbanisation in Singapore has resulted in extensive replacement of natural habitats with man-made habitats. A good example is the artificial seawall, that has becomes a ubiquitous feature of the coastline. Being vertically very steep, and structurally quite simple, this compressed intertidal region represents a very stressful habitat that does not support the kind of diversity expected at the seashore. One explanation for the paucity of life on seawalls is the absence of a wide range of microhabitats. The aim of this study is to test whether complex concrete tiles attached to seawalls can enhance their biodiversity. Understanding how to improve the value of seawalls as surrogates of natural habitats is important for intertidal biodiversity conservation on modified shorelines.
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November 24, 2009
The Nature Conservancy has come up with a special list of things you can do during this gift-giving holiday season, that won’t cost the Earth!
Celebrate the joy of the season with Mother Nature herself by giving something back to the planet while sharing it with a loved one. It’s also something that’s different, unexpected, doesn’t come with wrapping paper, and that will last much more than just a day!
Put down a coral reef in Southeast Asia on your holiday shopping list this year!
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