Diatom and Geochemical Indicators of Acidification in a Tropical Forest Stream, Singapore

Abstract

Streams within Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, one of the last remaining patches of primary forest in Singapore, could be becoming more acidic due to anthropogenic pollution. Through the use of diatom and geochemical analysis, this study aims to employ paleolimnological techniques to evaluate the potential acidification of Jungle Falls stream, which is within the reserve. With acidification issues in Southeast Asia rising, and a lack of scientific research in this area, a secondary aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of paleolimnological indicators in acidification studies within the region. It is shown that there is a record of anthropogenic acidification at Jungle Falls stream, indicating that the stream is becoming more acidic, potentially due to trans-boundary air pollution into Singapore. Furthermore, paleolimnological analysis of acidification in tropical environments is a useful technique for monitoring anthropogenic pollution, and further work, such as the construction of a regional diatom dataset, would strengthen this technique.