Singapore launches first seagrass restoration project to protect coastal ecosystems
seagrass restoration
initiative
On May 29, a team of researchers and assistants began seagrass transplantation efforts at East Coast Park as part of Singapore's first seagrass restoration project. The group collected and potted seagrass for relocation to the Sisters' Islands, marking the start of a national initiative focused on understanding seagrass reproduction and developing sustainable transplantation practices.
The restoration project is co-led by Dr Samantha Lai, deputy director at the National Parks Board's (NParks) National Biodiversity Centre, and Dr Ow Yan Xiang, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI). Launched in September 2024 with nearly S$1 million in funding from OCBC Bank, the project aims to recover
seagrass meadows
and enhance
marine biodiversity
.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder
War Thunder
Play Now
Undo
Also read:
World Sparrow Day 2025: Sparrows are important for the ecology and there need to protect them from extinct
Seagrass meadows offer critical ecosystem services, providing food and shelter for marine life, acting as nurseries for fish larvae, stabilizing sediment, and serving as carbon sinks. The project addresses the rapid annual loss of seagrass beds in Southeast Asia, estimated at 5 per cent.
Live Events
Focus on seagrass reproduction and transplantation techniques
Dr Ow's research, based at the St John's Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML), centers on the sexual reproduction cycles of tropical seagrass. Unlike their temperate counterparts, tropical species do not have well-documented flowering patterns. Singapore hosts 12 known seagrass species, but only two sickle seagrass (
Thalassia hemprichii
) and tape seagrass (
Enhalus acoroides
) and have well-characterized reproductive cycles.
'These two species tend to have longer lifespans and thus bigger biomasses, so their fruits and flowers are more visible,' said Dr Ow to The Straits Times. 'But for the 10 other species we have in Singapore, we really have no idea when they flower.'
Dr Lai's team is focused on refining transplantation methods to ensure seagrass survival. They pair donor and recipient sites with similar water, sediment quality, and hydrodynamic conditions to minimize shock during transplantation. The goal is to increase survival rates of transplanted seagrass, which have historically been low due to human activity or marine life such as crabs.
Monitoring and challenges of seagrass transplantation
The research team monitors newly transplanted meadows using leaf length measurements and pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometers, which assess the plants' photosynthetic activity. The team works during low tide periods, typically lasting about two hours, and often faces weather-related challenges such as thunderstorms.
Also read:
Startups show off ocean-preserving tech at Paris trade fair
Dr Lai noted that in one transplant site, nearly all leaves had disappeared within two weeks, but added that the rhizomes appeared healthy. 'The seagrass may grow back,' she said to The Straits Times.
Beyond ecosystem support, seagrass meadows reduce coastal erosion through their underground root systems and rhizomes, while also capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide. 'Seagrasses punch above their weight,' said Dr Ow. 'They occupy such a small area of our ocean space, just 0.1 per cent, but they provide so many ecosystem functions.'
Public engagement and future coastal development plans
Singapore's seagrass restoration efforts coincide with upcoming coastal development initiatives, including land reclamation. Dr Lai highlighted that the restoration project is taking place at a site reclaimed in the 1960s and 1970s, where seagrass has since regrown. 'This gives us hope that when we do the future Long Island reclamation, we can recreate these habitats to get the species to come back,' she said.
Volunteers will play a key role in expanding restoration efforts. NParks' Team Seagrass citizen science program, established in 2007, monitors seagrass meadows in Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau, and Cyrene Reef. These volunteer-led efforts will support transplant activities at future sites.
Also read:
Largest Harappan metropolis struggling for preservation
Public participation has been strong. 'Growing up in an urbanised society, most of us really have no opportunity to go out and look at what's happening at our coastlines,' said Dr Ow. 'But I think it is very encouraging, having the public show more awareness not just of the seagrass, but also the natural
coastal ecosystems
that we have, that really helps to let policymakers know that this is what people care about.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Smart sewers to AI safety: Young innovators from Gurgaon shine at science contest
Gurgaon: Eight students from the city participated in the State-Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC) under the INSPIRE-MANAK scheme 2024–25 to showcase their innovative ideas. The competition was held to encourage students between the ages 10–15 to come up with science-based solutions for real-life problems. Selected from over 70 entries, each student received Rs 10,000 and will represent the city at the state-level round. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gold Rates Today in Gurgaon | Silver Rates Today in Gurgaon Hridayesh Khetrapal from CCA School developed a smart sewage system that blocks trash while allowing rainwater to flow, addressing the city's recurring waterlogging issues during the monsoons. His project uses sensors to control a gate in the drain. During dry weather, the shutter remains closed, preventing plastic bags and trash from entering the sewer, and during rainfall, the gate automatically opens for water. The idea helps keep drains clean, reduces street flooding, and protects water bodies from getting polluted. Another innovative project came from Abhay Bailey of Amity International School, Sector 46, who created 'Rakshak', an AI-based threat detection system. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Passive Income Ideas Sitting at Home Mone Click Here Undo Abhay's system uses artificial intelligence to spot threats in real time — something even CCTV cameras can't do as quickly. His project has received national awards and a grant from NCERT's PRAYAAS programme. Lakshay, a student of GMSSS Kherki Matka, built a device that checks the health of electric motors that are used in places such as factories, water pumps, and even lifts in buildings. When a motor breaks down, it can cause accidents or big damage. With the help of sensors, his project monitors temperature and voltage. It also flags any glitch and immediately sends an SMS and switches off the motor to prevent damage. It's a smart and safe way to avoid motor failure — something that can help farmers and industries. Prisha Bhatia, from Blue Bells Public School, Sector 10, also worked on a smart sewage system, proving how common — and ignored — this problem is. Like Hridayesh, her system also uses smart gates and sensors to allow only water, not waste, into the drains. Parth Chitlangya from DAV Public School, Sector 49, designed a gas cylinder trolley — a simple tool with a big impact. Carrying gas cylinders is a daily task in many households, and it can be dangerous, especially for elderly people or helpers. Parth's trolley makes it easy and safe to transport cylinders without lifting them, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. Aayansh Borgharia from Salwan Public School, Sector 15, tackled a problem many don't even think about — dirty air conditioner filters. In the city's dusty environment, ACs need regular cleaning, often leading to slow cooling and wastage of electricity. His auto-cleaning AC system will keep air clean and save power without needing regular servicing. Tanisha Rana from Amity International School, Sector 46, focused on health. Her project helps in the early detection of asthma attacks. With the city's poor air quality, asthma is a growing issue. Rana's system uses wearable sensors to track breathing and send alerts before an attack happens. It could help parents and doctors act early and avoid emergencies, especially for school-going children. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
400-mile fossilised volcanic arc discovered in this country and why it matters
Around 800 million years ago, Earth looked very different from the world we know today. Continents were shifting, oceans were closing and opening, and the foundations of our modern planet were being laid during the Tonian period. One of the most significant players in this tectonic drama was the Yangtze Block in what is now South China. A new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth has revealed surprising insights into this ancient history. Using deep boreholes and advanced geophysical surveys, scientists discovered evidence of a vast, fossilised volcanic arc hidden beneath the Sichuan Basin, a finding that may reshape our understanding of continental tectonics and magmatic processes in the Tonian world. During the Tonian period, the Yangtze Block was undergoing major geological transformations, as per . The supercontinent Rodinia was fragmenting, and in this process, the Yangtze Block broke away from its original position. This movement set off a series of tectonic collisions, including one with the so-called China Ocean Plate. As the oceanic plate slid beneath the lighter continental crust of the Yangtze Block, a process known as subduction, it generated intense volcanic activity along the plate margins. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Lakh+ Have Transformed Their Smile Toothsi by MakeO Book Now Undo These volcanic chains, or magmatic arcs, are similar to modern-day systems such as the Andes in South America. One well-studied example from this period is the Panxi-Hannan volcanic arc along the Yangtze Block's edge. Until now, most research had focused on these continental margin arcs. The idea that significant arc-related volcanism could exist deep within a continental interior remained largely unexplored. Digging deeper into the Sichuan Basin The breakthrough came when researchers investigated the Sichuan Basin, a massive sedimentary basin within the Yangtze Block. Studying continental interiors is notoriously difficult because younger rocks often cover the ancient formations beneath. But in this case, seven deep boreholes, reaching depths of 3.6 to 6.5 kilometers, provided valuable rock samples. Combined with aeromagnetic surveys, the team could peer into the deep crust and reconstruct the region's tectonic history. Their analysis uncovered something remarkable: an iron-rich strip of rock stretching for nearly 700 km (about 400 miles) beneath the basin. Radiometric dating of the samples revealed ages between 820 and 770 million years, squarely placing them in the Tonian period. This discovery pointed to the existence of a fossilized magmatic arc belt far inland, between 400 and 900 kilometers from the Yangtze Block's northwestern edge. Such an extensive inland arc was unexpected and challenged previous assumptions that these volcanic belts were confined to continental margins. Flat-slab subduction: A possible explanation How could a volcanic arc form so far from the plate boundary? The researchers suggest a process known as flat-slab subduction. In typical subduction zones, the descending oceanic plate quickly dives steeply into the mantle. But in flat-slab subduction, the plate instead travels horizontally for long distances beneath the continent before sinking. This allows magmatism and related volcanism to occur much farther inland. The authors propose that the inland arc beneath the Sichuan Basin may be an extension of the Panxi-Hannan arc system, created by such flat-slab subduction of the China Ocean Plate beneath the Yangtze Block. This finding has broad implications for our understanding of Earth's tectonic and magmatic evolution during the Tonian period. By extending the known circum-Yangtze continental arc system into the interior of the block, the study highlights the complexity of early plate interactions. It also offers practical insights. Magmatic arcs are often associated with valuable mineral resources such as copper, gold, and rare earth elements. Identifying buried arc systems like the one beneath the Sichuan Basin could guide future geological resource exploration in Asia and beyond. Moreover, the study encourages geologists to look for similar fossilised inland arcs in other parts of the world, which may have been overlooked due to thick sedimentary cover. What began 800 million years ago as a collision between plates has now given scientists a window into the deep past of our planet. The hidden magmatic arc beneath the Sichuan Basin is more than just an ancient geological curiosity, it's a reminder of the dynamic forces that have shaped Earth's crust, influenced the distribution of resources, and continue to shape the landscapes we live on today.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year
SpaceX marked a major milestone in 2025 by launching its 100th Falcon 9 mission of the year, sending 24 Starlink broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:26 p.m. EDT on August 18 (9:56 p.m. IST). The Falcon 9 rocket, using its first stage Booster 1088 for the ninth time, successfully reached preliminary orbit within nine minutes and deployed the satellites roughly 50 minutes later. This addition expands SpaceX's Starlink constellation to over 8,100 active units, further enhancing global internet coverage for its clients and reaffirming the company's record-setting pace of reusable rocket operations. SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster 1088 achieves ninth successful flight Booster 1088 has become one of SpaceX's most reliable reusable rockets, completing its ninth mission during this launch. After deploying the Starlink satellites , the first stage safely returned and landed on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Pacific Ocean. This milestone underscores SpaceX's continuing success in reusability, with the company completing its 489th Falcon 9 landing and 454th reflight overall. The ability to reuse boosters reduces launch costs and accelerates the company's ambitious schedule of missions, including both Starlink deployments and other commercial, government, and scientific launches. Starlink constellation surpasses 8,100 active satellites With this launch, SpaceX's Starlink network now comprises more than 8,100 active satellites, providing near-global broadband coverage. Since the first launch in 2018, over 9,400 Starlink satellites have been deployed. This rapid expansion allows SpaceX to serve underserved regions, support remote communities, and provide critical connectivity in disaster zones. The new satellites will strengthen network capacity, improve connection speeds, and reduce latency, helping Starlink maintain its position as the largest satellite internet provider worldwide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Significance of the 100th Falcon 9 flight of 2025 Reaching 100 Falcon 9 launches in a single year is a historic achievement for SpaceX, highlighting the company's unmatched launch cadence and operational efficiency. Combined with three suborbital Starship test flights, this marks a total of 103 missions for the year. SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of rocket reusability, cost reduction, and satellite deployment, setting new benchmarks for the global aerospace industry and paving the way for future exploration and connectivity projects.
