Have you ever wondered – perhaps while travelling in a boat or chilling out by the beach – about what might be living in the waters around you?

Launched in November 2010, the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS) aims to perform a comprehensive “stock-take” of Singapore’s marine biodiversity.

The three-year-long survey is headed by NParks, and also involves research partners Tropical Marine Science Institute and the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research – together with over 200 volunteers from all walks of life. Corporate sponsors Shell Companies and the HSBC Care-for-Nature Trust Fund have also donated generously to the survey.The CMBS comprises mudflat surveys, intertidal/subtidal surveys and seabed surveys. Volunteers for the mudflat surveys, which are currently ongoing, have been literally knee-deep in mud, helping to uncover what organisms are living in the mudflats all over Singapore.

Volunteers Terry and Jane Heppell shared: “We enjoy volunteering our time and effort to a worthwhile cause. It’s also great to have the opportunity, first hand, to see and sometimes feel, the weird and wonderful creatures found on our shoreline, and as a bonus to get a little information from the experts. Of course, we also enjoy meeting like-minded individuals.”

Another volunteer, Cliff Ho, finds the CMBS “an exciting, growing and enjoyable experience”.  “It is truly gratifying to serve a cause,” he said. Apart from the usual polychaetes (segmented marine worms), nemerteans (ribbon worms), snails and shellfish, the survey also uncovered various surprising finds of species which were not known to inhabit mudflats.

Many volunteers are surprised by the diversity of life that can be found in mudflats – a seemingly inhospitable environment. Said Ria Tan, a volunteer: “The survey has been an eye opener for me! To finally see for myself the teeming life found in our mangrove mud. Not just worms and snails, but even octopus, moray eel and colourful fishes!” The contributions of these passionate volunteers are instrumental to the success of this survey, which in turn helps in safeguarding Singapore’s natural heritage.

If you are interested in volunteering your time for the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, contact Jonathan Ngiam at jonathan_ngiam@nparks.gov.sg

Volunteer Zhao Wan Ting, a student at Raffles Junior College, found it interesting as well as challenging to sieve through the mud and pick out all the living things.

Various species of molluscs found in our surveys.

 
The polychaetes are common inhabitants of the mudflats.

 
A species of Moray Eel that was found during a mudflat survey.

By Jonathan Ngiam