In my research, I use functional traits – such as maximum photosynthesis, wood density or seed mass – that reflect species’ life histories and environmental niches to examine how these traits moderate species distributions, performances and demography during ecological succession. Dominant trait values significantly and consistently change along successional gradients, reflecting a shift from resource acquisition to resource conservation strategies.
Of course, in urban environments where greenery is selected, planted, and managed, trait ranges can be harder to predict or alternatively, may converge around functions related to desirable ecosystem services. The relationship between the plant functional traits that underpin their adaptivity and the availability of ecosystem services remains complex and understudied, particularly in tropical urban environments.
Team
Benefits of Greenery (BOG)
For the past 3 years we have been collaborating with Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) of the National Parks Board and Prof. Tan Puay Yok (NUS) to assess the relationship between functional traits of common urban tree species and received ecosystem services. In particular, we are interested in whether complex functions such as evapotranspiration can be triangulated by correlation with more readily (and affordably) measurable physiological traits.
We have categorized basic leaf traits for Singapore’s top 100 tree species and are conducting a variety of analyses on subsets to tease out correlation for both interspecies and intraspecies traits.
Devesh and Kiah Eng are working on maximum photosynthesis rate, leaf osmotic potential, and vessel parameters for 15 species while our collaborators provide sapflow data for estimating overall evapotranspiration and water budgets.
Jared is leading another research package looking at shading potential for 50 species based on allometric growth models and hemispherical photography of tree crowns.
Future Traits Work
We are also gearing up to begin a multi-year project with ETH Zurich, the Future Cities Lab, and other partners to examine urban tree functional traits in Madagascar with respect to urban green infrastructure for flood control.
We will be advertising for a PhD scholarship under this project soon!
Collaborators
