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Elemental concentration in a potentially protected forest catchment in Singapore

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  • Material transport and cycle in watersheds
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Abstract

A total of 24 soil samples, including 4 subsurface, 34 water samples and 17 sets of hydrological survey data were collected in a soil investigation and hydrological survey campaign from August 2017 to September 2018 at a small Dermawan forest catchment, Singapore. The study was to understand and evaluate the catchment’s soil and stream status through the assessment of elemental concentrations and their possible sources. Dermawan catchment exhibited a distinct neutral environment in both soil and stream water, with remarkably high concentration of Ca, Mg and Ba in both matrices. Most elements in Dermawan forest have higher concentration than those from other forested catchments in Singapore though we believe that they occur naturally, mainly due to the close proximity between the catchment’s soil and stream. These elements most likely derived from the underlying Gombak Norite geology (for soil) and indigenous soil (for stream water). Despite that the catchment is in natural status, localized anthropogenic disturbance to the catchment is obvious given the enrichment of various metals. Therefore, further investigations and management attention are needed given the sensitive nature of hill stream in the Dermawan forest, which is recognized as one of the rare and important habitats in Singapore for biodiversity conservation.

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Acknowledgement

This research was conducted as part of “Hydrology Baselines and Eco-hydrological Modelling for Stream Rehabilitation in Singapore” project supported by Singapore’s National Park Board (NParks).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen, Dong Eon Kim, Jiandong Liu & Shie-Yui Liong

  2. National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, Singapore, Singapore

    Yixiong Cai

  3. NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen

  4. Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen

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  1. Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen
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  2. Dong Eon Kim
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  3. Jiandong Liu
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Correspondence to Canh Tien Trinh Nguyen.

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10201_2020_620_MOESM1_ESM.pptx

Supplementary file1 Figure S1. Distribution of Ba, Co, Cr and Cu concentrations in the catchment. DEM: Digital Elevation Model; BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S2. Distribution of Mn, Ni, Pb and Sr concentrations in the catchment. DEM: Digital Elevation Model; BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S3. Distribution of Ti, V and Zn concentrations in the catchment. DEM: Digital Elevation Model; BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S4. Elemental concentration (Al, V, Zn and Ba) in stream water at two survey locations plotted with rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S5. Elemental concentration (Fe, Co, Pb and Ca) in stream water at two survey locations plotted with rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S6. Elemental concentration (Mg, Sr, Cr and Ti) in stream water at two survey locations plotted with rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S7. Elemental concentration (Mn, Cu and Ni) in stream water at two survey locations plotted with rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S8. Dermawan stream parameters (Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen) in relation to rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S9. Dermawan stream parameters (TDS and TSS) in relation to rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. Figure S10. Dermawan stream parameters (Conductivity and pH) in relation to rainfall at Clementi and Bukit Panjang rain gauge stations. BG: Bukit Gombak. (PPTX 115893 kb)

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Nguyen, C.T.T., Kim, D.E., Liu, J. et al. Elemental concentration in a potentially protected forest catchment in Singapore. Limnology 21, 453–463 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-020-00620-4

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