TK-4

Fung Tze Kwan

Academic qualifications

M.Sc. in Biology, National University of Singapore

B.Sc. (Honours) in Life Sciences (Specialisation in Biology); Minor in Forensic Science, National University of Singapore

Research areas

Seed dispersal; mammal ecology; conservation science; applied ecology; ecosystem functions; nature-based solutions

Research interests

Tze Kwan's research focuses on quantifying the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning as nature-based climate solutions with application for conservation and  climate policies. She is particularly interested in animal-plant interactions in relation to tropical forest restoration. Her research interests include the feeding ecology and seed dispersal role of the common palm civet (Paradoxurus musangus), as well as ecosystem functions and services in human-modified landscapes.

Biography

Tze Kwan is a research associate with nine years of experience in leading ecological research and field surveys in forest, freshwater and urban environment in Singapore. Her research interests include animal-plant interactions (seed dispersal), tropical forest restoration and biodiversity conservation. Her current work aims to understand and quantify the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem functions as nature-based climate solutions with application for conservation and climate policies. Tze Kwan is also a wildlife consultant, a member of the IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group, the Biodiversity Roundtable of Singapore, and the Vertebrate Study Group (Nature Society Singapore). Active in engagement with stakeholders and public outreach, Tze Kwan delivers public and research talks, and is part of the organising committee of the NUS Toddycats!, the volunteer arm of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

Selected publications

  1. Richards, D.R.#, Fung, T.K.#, Leong, R.A.T., Sachidhanandam, U., Drillet, Z. & Edwards, P. J. (2020). Demographic biases in engagement with nature in a tropical Asian city. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231576.
  2. Drillet, Z.#, Fung, T.K.#*, Leong, R.A.T., Sachidhanandam, U., Edwards, P. J. & Richards, D.R.. (2020). Urban vegetation types are not perceived equally in the provision of ecosystem services and disservices. Sustainability, 12, 2076.
  3. Richards, D.R., Fung, T.K., Belcher, R.N. & Edwards, P.J. (2020) Differential air-temperature cooling performance of urban vegetation types in the tropics. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 50, 126651.
  4. Quek, Z.B.R., Chui, S.X., Lam, W.N., Fung, T.K., & N. Sivasothi. (2020). Autecology of the common fishtail palm, Caryota mitis (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Botany Letters, 1-11.
  5. Fung, T.K., Tan, M.K. & Sivasothi, N. (2017). Orthoptera in the scat content of the common palm civet (Paradoxurus musangus) on Pulau Ubin, Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 11: 37-44.
  6. Sha, J.C.M., Chua, S.C., Chew, P.T., Ibrahim, H., Lua, H.K., Fung, T.K., & Zhang, P. (2017). Small-scale variability in a mosaic tropical rainforest influences habitat use of long-tailed macaques. Primates, 1-9.

Features and publications in popular media

  1. Kwan, J. (2019). Protecting endangered wildlife in Singapore. The Straits Times, Singapore. 7 Sep 2019, Science.
  2. Wildlife Reserves Singapore (2019). Twin interests deliver double. In Wildlife Matters: 10 Years of Conservation in Singapore. Epigram, pp. 30-35.
  3. The Straits Times. (2017). The shy creatures of wild Singapore. The Straits Times, Singapore. 6 Mar 2017, Home.
  4. Khew, C. (2015). Civets on Ubin get GPS collars. The Straits Times, Singapore. 23 Jan 2015, Home, pB19.

 Conferences and presentations

  1. Fung, T.K. & Sivasothi, N. (2020). Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by the Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) in Singapore. Poster presentation at the 7th Frugivores and Seed Dispersal Symposium, Corbett Landscape,  India, 3 March 2020. David W. Snow Award - First Prize for Best Poster Paper.
  2. Fung, T.K., Richards, D.R., Leong, R.A.T., Drillet, Z., & Edwards, P.J. (2019). Role of vegetation types in adaptation for climate change. Poster presentation at the CREATE Symposium on Addressing Climate Change, Singapore, 6 December 2019. Best Poster Award.
  3. Fung, T.K., Jaffar, R., Ng, W.Y., Thomas, N., Xu, W., & Sivasothi, N. (2019). Understanding the feeding ecology of the common palm civet: Opportunities and implications for management and conservation in Singapore. Oral presentation at the International Congress for Conservation Biology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25 July 2019.
  4. Fung, T.K., Richards, D.R., Leong, R.A.T., Tan, C.Y.T., & Edwards, P.J. (2018). Influence of vegetation and urban form on bird diversity in a dense tropical city, Singapore. Poster presentation at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 18 December 2018.
  5. Fung, T.K., Richards, D.R., & Edwards, P.J. (2018). Decomposition in surface soil in human-modified landscapes of tropical Singapore. Oral presentation at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Kuching, Malaysia, 4 July 2018.
  6. Fung, T.K., Sivasothi, N. & Ng, P.K.L. (2016). Frugivory and seed dispersal by the common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) in a degraded landscape in Singapore. Conservation Asia 2016, joint conference between SCB-Asia and ATBC-Asia-Pacific, Singapore, 2 July 2016. Best Student Oral Presentation Award.