Biodiversity in the city: TEE Lab research featured in The Straits Times

We are proud to share that recent research from the Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab (TEE Lab) at the Asian School of the Environment (ASE), NTU, was featured in The Straits Times as part of the SG 60 special on Singapore's "City in Nature" vision.

The study, led by Dr. Tharaka S. Priyadarshana and Associate Professor Eleanor Slade, highlights the overlooked ecological value of road verges in supporting urban biodiversity. Road verges with a higher diversity of flowering plants attract more butterflies and species by offering year-round nectar, as different plants bloom at different times. While the road verges studied are not formally part of Singapore's nature ways, they serve a similar ecological function on a smaller scale by providing resources such as nectar and shelter. Their work supports Singapore's broader City in Nature initiative by showing how even small green features contribute to urban ecological connectivity.

This research aligns with the ongoing doctoral work of Nicole A. S.-Y. Dorville, a PhD student in TEE Lab. Nicole's project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Singapore's Nature Ways for biodiversity and their ability to serve as thermal refuges for animals and humans.

Read the full article from The Straits Times here, and visit our TEE Lab research page to explore our current projects in tropical entomology, urban ecology, and conservation science.