The mangrove system in Pulau Ubin is a part of Chek Jawa Wetlands where several ecosystems can be found – sandy beaches, rocky beaches, mangrove and coastal forests, seagrass lagoon and coral rubble. A great diversity of systems in its small area. The picture below is a map of Pulau Ubin and it show the areas of mangroves (circled in red) and where today’s scenic boardwalk sits (area circled in brown).

The mangrove ecosystem consist of trees or shrubs that grow in shallow and muddy saltwater or brackish water. They are found at the interface between land and sea (as seen in the map) and are an unusual, challenging and unstable environment for plants to grow.  During high tide, roots of mangrove plants are completely submerged in seawater, while they are exposed to the sun during low tide. The soil is very fine grained and soft, rich in organic matter but lacking in oxygen below the surface. Many mangrove trees have unique adaptations in their roots, leaves and fruits to flourish in the fluctuating water and soil conditions. Aerial roots emerge out of the soil and water to enable them to breathe above waterlogged soil. Stilt or Prop roots outgrow branches, trunks of the mangrove or already existing stilt roots. Both are able to trap plastic or debris to prevent pollution of the sea. Ultimately, the mangrove forests act as a physical barrier which can protect the livelihood of humans against tidal influences in the region.

Besides that, a rich biodiversity of organisms such as the fiddler crab, mudskipper and mud lobster are also prominent in the mangrove forest. Over the last decade, many species of bats (some of which are rare) were discovered on the island and the Great Mousedeer, once thought to be locally extinct, were rediscovered in a study done by NUS and NParks researchers in 2008. It is also the largest area of mangrove forests in Singapore, sheltering 35 ‘true’ mangrove species out of the 70 recognised by IUCN’s list of ‘true species’.

Pictures from: http://happychekjawa.wordpress.com/

Indeed, the Mangrove forest and its surrounding environment houses many species of organisms that have not been even heard or seen of by many. Such biodiversity cannot be found on mainland Singapore and are rare and precious to Singapore. The loss of it is devastating for nature lovers and ecologists.