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'Fossil'
ferns found
The
discovery of Dipteris conjugata on Pulau Sarimbun, Western
Johor Straits, 4 March 2003
‘It grows also on the sea cliffs at Labrador
in Singapore Island (formerly also at Kranji)’. So wrote the late
Prof R.E. Holttum in his Flora of Malaya,
Volume II, Ferns - first published in 1954.
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| As a keen student
of indigenous flora, I hung on to his words tenaciously, especially
his references to former localities of rare ferns. A fern so rare
presently, that only a few privileged researchers have so far been
blessed to see the isolated individuals growing in what are now off-limit
military areas of Pulau Tekong and Poyan Reservoir. |
| Fate
has since dealt a fatal blow on the large Dipteris colony on the cliffs
of Labrador. In his book ‘Common Ferns
and Fern-allies of Singapore’, published in 1984, Prof Wee Yeow Chin
lamented that ‘Today, its presence at Labrador has yet to be established,
as the original large colony of the plants on the cliff fronting the
beach is there no more. No doubt, it may still exist somewhere within
the area, struggling desperately to survive.’ |
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A few black and white photos are what that is left for present students
to appreciate the fern’s past glory in this most celebrated site.
One such picture (circa 1960s) can be found in the book ‘Rhythm of
the Sea, The Life and Times of Labrador Beach’, published in 1994.
Readers are left in no doubt about the fern’s historical significance
on Labrador. Prof Leo W.H. Tan (et al), the author, had succinctly
revealed at the beginning of his introduction that ‘The original 4
hectares of cliff-side vegetation at Labrador was set aside for conservation
in order to protect the habitat of the primitive
fern, Dipteris conjugata.’ He was, of course, referring
to the Nature Reserve Ordinance enacted in 1951, under which the fern
was originally protected. |
| Since
then, the conservation status of Labrador had undergone a long roller-coaster
ride. But recent re-designation of Labrador as a Nature Reserve in
November 2001 gave hope and a place of permanence for the survival
of the few remaining Dipteris there. A rare photograph of the ‘last
clump’ can be found in ‘A Guide to the Threatened Plants of Singapore’
by Prof Hugh Tan (published in 1995). |
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Where else can
one find Dipteris in Singapore then? How about Kranji, the district
mentioned by Prof. Holttum and where Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
is situated now? While other rare plants had been discovered from
time to time in Sungei Buloh, Dipteris had remained illusive by far,
that is, not until we chanced upon Pulau Sarimbun (an island west
of Sungei Buloh) while surveying shorebirds in the Western Johor Straits
on 4 March 2003. It was a day we shall never forget for the rest of
our lives!
We were simply overwhelmed by the sight of the Dipteris. They were
everywhere! We could see them all around the island, draping extensively
over the steep slopes, like some Mesozoic ‘butterflies’ flapping their
paired leafy ‘wings’ triumphantly in the wind. The Dipteris colony
is simply huge. Had it not been for our recent acquisition of a15-foot
motorboat ‘Mangrovian’ and our newfound mobility at sea, we would
have remained in the dark even now. We felt incredulous that it is
only now (since Sungei Buloh became a park in 1993) that we finally
solved the Holttum’s ‘Kranji puzzle’.
Until now, the ferns were relatively ‘so near’ and yet ‘so far’. But
it is precisely the nature of this ‘nearness’ that brings home to
us the importance of adjacent ecosystems that mutually benefit each
other as seed areas as well as sites for trans-migration of marine
animals, such as the otters, and avifauna. |
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Paradoxically, it takes the island of Pulau Sarimbun to remind us
that Sungei Buloh does not exist as ‘an island’
by itself. The river of life that links it to the mangroves and mudflats
at Mandai and Lim Chu Kang, as well as the Horseshoe Reef near Pulau
Sarimbun helps to ensure the continuous exchange of genetic material
from one community of plants and animals to another. (See Map
and Flora of Pulau Sarimbun) |
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| Given
that we have no control over nature areas being removed for development
immediately across our narrow straits, it is up to us to mitigate
adverse ecological changes by retaining as much of our own adjacent
ecosystems to the left and right of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
This is particularly true for Mandai mudflats which ‘are a major feeding
area for birds that roost at Sungei Buloh’- an important revelation
provided by the study of Profs. Murphy D. H. & Sigurdsson J. B. in
‘Birds, Mangroves and Man: Prospects and Promise of the New Sungei
Buloh Bird Reserve’ published in 1990. |
But
one thing for sure, our discovery has definitely re-opened a brand
new site for the ecological studies of Dipteris conjugata as
well as other floristic works. Perhaps, one
day someone might even find the inspiration to study the genetic link
between Dipteris here and those thriving atop Gunong Pulai, which
on a clear day, looms large over Pulau Sarimbun. Yes, why not. I believe
dear Prof Holttum is smiling from the heavens right now!
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| Acknowledgement:
Joseph Lai is a former conservation officer of Sungei Buloh Wetland
Reserve (SBWR). This article is dedicated to former colleagues in
SBWR, especially co-discoverers James Gan, Soon Lian, Ramakrishnan
and Supardi. |
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