Objectives

LSM3254 Ecology of Aquatic Environments To be introduced to concepts and aspects of aquatic/freshwater conservation Scope Conservation/management of water as a resource Conservation/management of freshwater biodiversity and habitats
References: - Dodson, S. 2005.Introduction to Limnology. McGraw-Hill Chapters 8, 12 - Lodge, D.M., et al. 2006. Ecological applications 16(6): 2035-2054 - Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Current State and Trends. Findings of the Condition and Trends Working Group. Chapters 7, 20

Aquatic/freshwater conservation and management

Darren Yeo Dept of Biological Sciences

Conceptual framework What do we mean by freshwater/ aquatic conservation?

Conservation/management of water as a resource sustainable use Conservation/management of freshwater environments, habitats, and biodiversity
Major fluxes of freshwater in global water cycle that define renewable supplies for ecosystems and human use Precipitation (P) - Total renewable freshwater supply falling as rain/ snow over land. Ultimate source for:
Recharge of soil and groundwater + surface waters (=runoff) Evapotranspiration (ET)

Blue Water Flow (B) - Net renewable freshwater supply in surface/ subsurface runoff (RO) after ET losses (=green water, G) Water Use (U) - water withdrawn by humans from blue water or nonrenewable sources Non-sustainable Water Use (Uan) where Ua > Ba Consumed Water (C) - water losses from blue water
Evaporation and consumption by ecosystems (Ciws) Water lost as ET after being withdrawn for use (i.e. water resource management) (Ca)

Cycle of Accessible Freshwater on Earth

Conceptual framework
Environmental flow: the base or minimum amount of water required by an ecosystem to sustain/renew itself

Return flow

After water harvested for human use Important concept for planning human water use

Human effect on the water cycle

Freshwater ecosystem services

Ecosystem goods and services: benefits humans obtain from ecosystems
Tradeoffs between various ecosystem services
Provisioning service (e.g., harvesting food) may lead to decline in cultural service (e.g., aesthetic enjoyment of biodiversity)
Ecosystem services

Provisioning

Supporting

Regulating

Cultural

Freshwater ecosystem services

Restoration Restoring degraded habitat to previous condition
Reviving lost ecosystem services Improving aesthetics

Sustainable water use in Singapore

Singapore, a water-scarce tropical island
Limited by:
Large population (4.5 million) Limited land area No natural lakes or large rivers

Many factors to consider poorly understood ecological interactions difficult to accurately predict outcome E.g., restoring extirpated macrophytes in European lakes
Watershed management (in addition to lake management) Fish predator management Active replanting

Protected supply catchment <5% land area

Rehabilitation Improving desirability of species Producing different community E.g., Great Lakes
Response to collapse of lake trout fishery Stocking native lake trout/non-native salmon

Water use: 1.36 billion litres/ day (~360mgd)

Heavy dependence on imported water (40-50% of total)

Sustainable water use in Singapore

Public Utilities Board (PUB) Singapore s water agency dealing with water management Two main aspects to sustainable use:
Managing supply Managing demand

ABC Waters Programme

ABC=Active, Beautiful, Clean PUB initiative Objectives include:
Developing clean, aesthetically pleasing places for water sport, recreational, and community activities Instilling sense of stewardship

i.e. cultural ecosystem services

Major challenges to conservation of freshwater biodiversity and habitats in Singapore Habitat loss/modification Pollution Aquatic invasive species

Habitat loss or modification of natural habitat

Physico-chemical habitat changes Changes in the water levels and flow Examples:
damming of rivers* canalization of waterways* anthropogenic acidification *Necessary trade-offs for ecosystem services provision of freshwater flood control disease vector (mosquitoes) control

Regaining lost cultural ecosystem services (opportunities for recreation, aesthetic enjoyment) through:
habitat restoration - enforcement of nature area protection laws habitat rehabilitation - ABC waters programme (Public Utilities Board), Park Connector Network (National Parks Board), etc.

Pollution
Potential sources of pollution of Singapores urban freshwater ecosystems:
Industrial effluent (e.g., oils, heavy metals, etc.) Domestic effluent (e.g., detergents, endocrine disrupting compounds) Surface runoff from roads, parks, and gardens

Aquatic invasive species

Potential problem in Singapore freshwater ecosystems Alien species
Species that occurs outside its native range through human influence (Lodge et al., 2006)
= Non-indigenous, non-native, exotic, or introduced species

Invasive species
Alien species that spreads widely, becomes locally abundant, or spread into natural areas AND causes (or likely to cause) net harm (negative impacts) to economy, environment, or human health* (Lodge et al., 2006)
= nuisance or pest species

Fertilizer runoff from golf courses, parks and gardens, agricultural/horticultural areas ! cultural eutrophication

Impacts: *Net harm:

Harm > Benefit Additional component in policy/legal documentation Immediate or delayed Direct or indirect Can you name some possible impacts?

Aquatic invasive species in Singapore

International/regional trade hub status Numerous introductions and pathways
Escapes (e.g., water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes) Deliberate releases Unwanted pets or for religious reasons (e.g., the red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans) Aesthetic reasons (e.g., koi, Cyprinus carpio) Other reasons (e.g., peacock bass, Cichla orinocensis)
Biological control (e.g., guppy, Poecilia reticulata)

Aquatic invasive species in Singapore

Few detailed studies Ecology and impacts poorly known for most species Artificial to semi-natural habitats. But still pose potential threat to native biodiversity and ecosystems Examples: Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) S American cichlid (Acarichthys heckelii) Freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) Black-striped mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbaiena) Red-eared slider or terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Potential protein source (e.g., the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus)

Favour artificial habitats

Interconnectedness of the aquatic environment

Water flows downhill/rivers flow to the sea i.e. upstream/freshwater and downstream/marine environments are inextricably linked Poor upstream/freshwater habitat management or conservation practices may impact downstream/marine habitat (and vice versa) How might this influence management/conservation planning?