Late Quaternary peat formation and vegetation dynamics in a lowland tropical swamp; Nee Soon, Singapore

Taylor, David; Yen, Oh Hwee; Sanderson, Peta G.; Dodson, John

doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(01)00249-8

Cited by 50 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…2a). Based on sampling this material to 2m depth, we do not believe it is a peat soil, which was reported in the past (Taylor et al, 2001), because the organic matter content is less than the 65% threshold defined by the FAO (Andriesse, 1988). The highest percentage of organic material we measured was about 40-50%.…”

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 88%

The hydro-geomorphic status of Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest catchment of Singapore

Nguyen¹,

Wasson²,

Ziegler³

2018

GBS 70(Suppl.1) Nee Soon

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ABSTRACT. This paper presents initial findings from research on the hydro-geomorphic status of Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest catchment in Singapore. The hydrological system of Nee Soon contains a swamp that is best described as an organic-rich wetland, with organic matter content as high as 40% near the surface (too low to be classified as peat). Total longterm denudation rate in the catchment is an estimated 23.4 ± 2.08 Mg km -2 yr -1 , with physical erosion (5.6 ± 0.5 Mg km -2 yr -1 ) and chemical weathering (17.8 ± 1.58 Mg km -2 yr -1 ) accounting for 24% and 76% of the totals, respectively. Age dating of a 1.95-m sediment core from the lower swamp indicates several distinct periods of variable sediment deposition (0.04 to 0.009 cm y -1 ) since 15,000 BCE, across a variety of climate regimes. A missing layer, representing more than a 7000 year period, verifies substantial channel erosion in the swamp occurring since 1950. Accelerated erosion associated with forest conversion to agriculture in the upper catchment could not be verified through examination of sediment cores. High concentrations of several heavy metals (e.g. As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr, V) in the lower catchment, compared with the upper catchment, appear to be natural (e.g. related to differences in the underlying bedrock), rather than contamination. The very high concentrations of lead, copper, and zinc associated with firing activities in the military range in the lower catchment are spatially isolated (e.g. shooting berms), and currently not posing a threat to the swamp environment. Other hydrogeomorphic degradation processes/activities now include disruption to hillslope soils and streams by trampling and mountain biking, back-flow of reservoir release water into the lower swamp area, and atmospheric deposition of contaminants.

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Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 88%

The hydro-geomorphic status of Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest catchment of Singapore

Nguyen¹,

Wasson²,

Ziegler³

2018

GBS 70(Suppl.1) Nee Soon

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“…A similar situation may be suggested for Lake Matano, southern Sulawesi (Hope, 2001), where there is little sedimentation from the LGM to the late Holocene, though climatic causes were not invoked. However, the potential for people to cause changes in the hydrological system leading to changes in erosion and sedimentation cannot be ignored (Taylor et al, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental change and peatland forest dynamics in the Lake Sentarum area, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Anshari

Kershaw

Kaars

et al. 2004

J Quaternary Science

102

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Four short pollen and charcoal records from sites within and around Lake Pemerak on the margins of the Danau (Lake) Sentarum National Park in inland West Kalimantan, supported by modern surface samples from the Reserve, provide a partial picture of lowland equatorial vegetation and environments over at least the last 40 000 years. They demonstrate general stability in the distribution of wetland and ombrotrophic (or raised) peatlands through the recorded period with dominance throughout of peatland and swamp forest. However, there was marked variation in sediment accumulation rates and in the floristic composition of the vegetation. The period prior to the last glacial maximum appears to have been the time of most active peatland growth and contrasts with the perception, from previous studies on largely coastal and subcoastal peatlands in Indonesia, that the Holocene was the time of major tropical peat accumulation. A general increase in charcoal, just prior to about 30 000 years ago, suggests that burning became more frequent, and is attributed to initial human impact rather than climate change. The subsequent latest Pleistocene period, embracing the Last Glacial Maximum, is marked by a peak in montane-submontane rainforest taxa, strongly indicating a substantial lowering of temperature. It appears that much of the Holocene is not recorded but recommencement of peat accumulation is evident within the last few thousand years. At the time of fieldwork access to the central part of the Lake Sentarum system was inhibited by strong El Niñ o drought conditions, but this area has the potential to provide a longer and more continuous history of environmental change for the region.

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“…The ground surface of most places in Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest is covered by a shallow layer of peat and there is some variation in the microtopography of the forest (Taylor et al, 2001;Corlett, 2011). Because the water table is so close to the soil surface, periodic to semi-permanent flooding can be observed .…”

Section: Physical Environment Of Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the water table is so close to the soil surface, periodic to semi-permanent flooding can be observed . In addition, depressions in the topography are often saturated with water, forming small pools and slow-flowing streams Taylor et al, 2001). Usually, the clear water in the swamp forest is stained a dark-tea colour, a result of tannin leaching from slowly decomposing plant matter under waterlogged soil conditions .…”

Section: Physical Environment Of Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Usually, the clear water in the swamp forest is stained a dark-tea colour, a result of tannin leaching from slowly decomposing plant matter under waterlogged soil conditions . Some of the larger streams have bed deposits of coarse-grained sand that probably originates from the Triassic Period Bukit Timah granite formation that constitutes most of the basement rock below the swamp (Taylor et al, 2001). Soil analysis conducted at the Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest in the mid-1990s revealed that the first 5 cm of the soil layer was rich in organic matter (approaching 80% to 90% loss-on-ignition by mass), though the content decreased rapidly beyond that depth to less than 50% loss-on-ignition by mass .…”

Section: Physical Environment Of Nee Soon Freshwater Swamp Forestmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The biological, ecological and conservation significance of freshwater swamp forest in Singapore

Clews¹,

Corlett²,

Ho³

et al. 2018

GBS 70(Suppl.1) Nee Soon

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ABSTRACT. The Nee Soon stream drainage in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve is virtually the last remaining fragment of primary freshwater swamp forest in Singapore. The forest type has been poorly studied in the Southeast Asia. The hydrology, water quality, as well as aquatic flora and fauna all have great theoretical and practical significance. The ecology and management of the Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest are reviewed, with remarks on their national, regional and global contexts. This review sets the scene for a three-year integrated conservation and management study completed in 2016.

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Late Quaternary peat formation and vegetation dynamics in a lowland tropical swamp; Nee Soon, Singapore

Cited by 50 publications

References 24 publications

The hydro-geomorphic status of Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest catchment of Singapore

The hydro-geomorphic status of Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest catchment of Singapore

Environmental change and peatland forest dynamics in the Lake Sentarum area, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

The biological, ecological and conservation significance of freshwater swamp forest in Singapore

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