Environmental Science

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Environmental Science
At Plymouth we are determined to train students
to do something to stop the destruction of our
planet. Our interdisciplinary course, ranked
Excellent for the quality of its teaching, has
been formally recognised as being one of the best
in the country by the only National Subject
Centre for Environmental Science being located at
Plymouth
A key element of our approach is the use of
fieldwork to illustrate the points made in the
lecture theatre. Our students regularly go out
into the field in the UK, but we also believe
that fieldwork has to acknowledge the
international dimension of environmental
problems which is why we take our students
abroad for their residential field course.
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Malaysia
Exotic tropical fruits
Making traditional Malay kites
Coconut palms at dusk
This brief presentation shows just some of the
places images we encountered on our recent
field course in Malaysia. Every student on the
trip agrees that visiting Malaysia has
transformed their understanding of the
environment has stimulated them into exploring
more of the tropics as well as the rest of the
world. Why not join us experience the tropics
for yourself?
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SE Asia
Malaysia straddles the Kra Peninsula the north
coast of Borneo We explore sites on the
peninsula We are working only a few hundred km
from the equator, so conditions are hot humid
Left the very essence of the tropics coconut
palms swaying in a warm evening breeze
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Malaysia
.Upper Dipterocarp rainforest. 1500m in the Main
Range Banjaran Titiwangsa
Malaysia contains some of the most biologically
diverse ecosystems on Earth, many of which have
yet to be explored by science. Can the country
develop yet still keep its environment intact?
These are some of the issues we will explore.
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Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia still contains significant
areas of primary rainforest dark green on the
map but Malaysia wants to achieve developed
country status by 2020. The light green areas
(agriculture, plantations other agroecosystems)
the yellow areas (urban industrial
developments) bear testimony to the rate at which
they are pushing towards this target Under half
the original forest remains compared with less
than 100 years ago
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Malaysia
The worlds largest flower, Rafflesia (right)
grows parasitically on the roots of a forest
vine. How much longer will this species survive
in the face of relentless exploitation of the
rainforest? Forest conservation is just one of
many issues that students on the field trip will
consider
The flower of some species of Rafflesia can reach
one metre across
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Malaysia
The Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall. Just 45
minutes from the university
Before going to Malaysia, our students visit the
tropical biome at the Eden Project to familiarise
themselves with what they will see experience
in the tropics.
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Residential Field Course Malaysia
The Gap Road, Selangor leech socks catwalk!

• Selamat datang! (welcome
  in Malay)

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Course objectives
Experience one of the most biologically diverse
countries on Earth Visit sites of unique interest
scientific importance Sample a country that
blends several Asian cultures Work hard in trying
conditions it is hot, humid you need to be
continually vigilant about mosquitoes, leeches,
dehydration your diet But, above all, ENJOY
EXPERIENCE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
A student posing as Tarzan on a woody liana
(Entada spiralis). These incredible climbers,
locally known as monkey ladders, start off on the
forest floor then climb up to the canopy for
light some 50m above. They are strong enough to
swing on if cut can provide pure water to drink
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Kuala Lumpur
Above the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, completed
by the British in 1897. Top right Merdeka
Square, where independence from the British was
sealed. Bottom right the state mosque at Shah
Alam
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia where
the course begins
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Kuala Lumpur
Market famous for its fake watches
Masjid Jamek the first mosque
Durians in Chinatown
Petronas Twin towers. The worlds tallest building
Night skyline
Islamic architecture
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Kuala Lumpur
Will I pass my exams?
Left, typical pre-war shop-house selling unusual
commodities right student looking to the future
with a visit to a Chinese fortune-teller
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Kuala Lumpur
Green coconuts provide a cool, refreshing,
delicious drink which also comes in a sterile
container. They cost 15 pence each!
Malay schoolgirls pose with three of our
students. The Malays are amongst the friendliest
people on earth love to talk to westerners.
Right they recommend green coconut milk to our
students to slake their thirst
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Kuala Lumpur
Panoramic views from the Menara Telekom
reveal the regional geomorphology
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Batu Caves
A tower karst limestone outcrop to the north of
KL a religious shrine a site of major
scientific importance
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Batu Caves
Hindu Gods greet the faithful at the entrance to
the caves
Right the negative face of tourism. A
long-tailed macaque joins the consumer society
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Batu Caves
Exit from the Dark Cave
Millions of cockroaches feed off the bat guano
We go inside the cave systemwith thousands of
cockroaches for company
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Batu Caves
Scutigera a carnivorous mitripede approx 15cm long
Caveracer snake, length 1.5m, digesting a meal

• Snakes, scorpions, spiders, bats
  strange predators are everywhere.
• Many of these organisms occur only in Batu
  Caves nowhere else in the world yet the site
  contains a quarry!

Thousands of bats live within the caves
Cave toads Bufo asper are quite big
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Klang Gates Ridge
The worlds longest quartz ridge at 17km,
provides unique habitats is home to rare
endemic plant animal species, yet development
(bottom right) is destroying habitats on this
site We have special permission to climb the
ridge to observe the unique flora decide for
ourselves how best the site should be managed
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Klang Gates Ridge
Left spectacular views of the ridge. Top right
we halt half way up the climb, which is
exhausting. Bottom right this endemic plant, a
member of the coffee genus, is found nowhere else
in the world
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Rubber Research Institute
Rubber plantation, Sungai Buloh
The worlds premier research station for rubber
established by the British (1920s) in the middle
of the rainforest. 1.5 million ha of Malaysia are
covered by rubber plantations. What are the
consequences?
Hevea brasiliensis
Latex oozing from a tapped rubber tree
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Rubber Research Institute
Ethylene injection into the trunk to increase
latex flow
Grafting techniques for propogation
Various techniques are demonstrated. Malaysia was
once the top exporter of natural rubber
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Rubber Research Institute
The whole process from planting to the end
product is examined, as well as visiting the
stations museum. It surprised us to see a
picture of Plymouths famous Royal Albert Bridge
10,000km away in the heart of Malaysia! Top left
latex looks like milk top right pure rubber
ready for export to China
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Palm Oil Research Institute
Oil palm fruits the source of Malaysias recent
wealth
Traditional method of oil extraction, Africa
The development of Malaysias most important cash
crop is reviewed at this world-class research
institute resident scientists discuss the
environmental consequences of oil palm
plantations with us. Millions of hectares are
covered in oil palm Malaysia plans to clear yet
more land to increase production
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Palm Oil
Emissions are lower than from petrol
Over 2.5 million ha are covered in plantations
(right). Malaysias glittering new international
airports roof (above) represents palm fronds in
recognition of the importance of palm oil to the
nations economy. We are shown a car that runs on
a palm oil mix with diesel (top right). Is this
the biofuel of the future, from sustainable
plantations? We debate the pros cons with
PORIMs experts
Monocultural stand of Elaeis guineensis, the oil
palm. Origin West Africa
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Tin
The presence of commercially viable quantities of
tin attracted the attention of the British in the
nineteenth century. The British subsequently
added Malaya to the British Empire and
introduced mechanisation to the local tin
industry. Malaysia soon became one of the worlds
leading exporters of tin. However, the industry
is now in decline, leaving behind a legacy of
abandoned workings derelict land. Top tin
ingots. Bottom pewter, an alloy containing tin.
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Tin
A theme park built on a former tin mine site
Denkil tin dredge
The early economic success of Malaysia was based
around alluvial tin deposits. These were worked
by the British using floating dredges (top right
the last working dredge in the world, visited by
students). Novel reclamation schemes (top left)
transform formerly derelict sites (e.g. right)
into modern money spinners
Kinta Valley
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Paya Indah
Mechanisation means that areas can be quickly
cleared
Students in a peat swamp forest recently
subjected to fire
This former tin dredging site has been converted
into Malaysias only Wetland Conservation Centre.
Peat swamp forests are vulnerable to clearance
(above) and replacement with crops, such as oil
palm. We learn how vital such forests are not
just nationally but even globally-bottom left
devastating fires can even be seen from space
Smoke from Sumatra covering Malaysia Image
courtesy of Google Earth
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Paya Indah
Exotic epiphytic fern
Cyrtostachys renda
Manis javania
Peat swamp forests are biologically-unique sites
that need protection e.g. they are home to the
attractive lipstick palm (left) now used in
ornamental displays around the world. Above
pangolins (anteaters) are protected by law, but
are prized for their meat by locals. Terrapins
(left) can also find themselves on the menu.
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Putrajaya Cyberjaya
The Prime Ministers Office the mosque
Malaysia is creating two new cities to the south
west of Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya, that will house
all government departments Cyberjaya an
intelligent city based around the worlds
largest fibre optic system. We question this
relentless expansionist policy
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Kuala Selangor
Mangrove conservation area
Mangrove swamp on the Straits of Melakka which
we traverse. The going is slow very sticky
underfoot! Right a palm seed, brought in on the
tide, beginning to germinate
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Kuala Selangor
A new boardwalk provides access for the first few
hundred metres, but then its into the mud to
reach the sea.
A baby silvered leaf monkey (right) joined our
trek. He took a liking to bourbon biscuits!
Presbytis cristata
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Kuala Selangor
Telescopium spp.
Periophthalmodon schlosseri. Mudskippers can walk
even climb trees!
Interesting unusual fauna such as the
mudskipper above only occur in mangrove forests.
Dozens of species of brightly-coloured crabs
compete for food on each incoming tide
Uca spp
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Kuala Selangor
Left Mudskippers about to mate. Beauty certainly
is in the eye of the beholder! Right lizard
hunting crabs
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Kuala Selangor
Knee roots on Brugeria that allow the tree to
breathe
Prop roots on Rhizophora make progress difficult
Strange root seed adaptations to these saline
anaerobic environments Right a student exploring
the soil!
Vivipary in rhizophora
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Kuala Selangor
Varanus salvator
Silvered leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, hornets
nests interesting molluscs are a common sight.
Fortunately, salt-water crocodiles are rare!
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Fireflies Sungei Selangor
Fishing village, Bagan Tengkorak
Pasir Penambang
We go out onto the river at night to observe
fireflies (actually beetles) that occur only in
this estuary one other place in the world.
Right students relax in a riverside restaurant
whilst waiting for the sun to go down
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Fireflies Sungei Selangor
Kampong Kuantan
Out on punts after dark to observe rare
communities of fireflies (left) which congregate
in the mangroves lining the estuary. Developments
upstream are threatening the future existence of
these organisms.
Sungai Selangor at dusk
Pteroptyx spp
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Genting Highlands
We take the cable car to 1500m to see how hill
development can damage these fragile
environments Pristine rainforest has been cleared
to make a highland playground for the residents
of Kuala Lumpur but at what environmental cost?
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Genting Highlands
Clearing of hill forest has negative impacts upon
the ecology, hydrology, meteorology stability
of mountain ranges. We appraise whether
this particular hill development has taken
account of such factors, or whether money rules
Rainfall patterns change
Atmospheric temperatures rise
Clearance leads to landslides
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Main Range
Bamboo orchid
Looking for snakes lizards
Unresearched rainforest
Flowering ginger
We climb steadily through granite basalt hills,
stopping to walk along mountain streams and
explore virgin rain forest. Right a landslide
halts our progress
Road from Bentong to Gap
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Main Range
Crested lizard
Granite, 100 million years younger than that
found on Dartmoor, crumbles in a students hand
The Main Range is covered in pristine rainforest,
but is also geologically very interesting.
Weathered granites can be broken by hand! Top
right we are dwarfed by the giant forest trees
Right students negotiate a jungle bridge
spanning a river that marks the boundary between
two continents that were once thousands of
kilometres apart.
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Frasers Hill
Virgin rainforest at 1500 metres. Students follow
trails out into the forest to research this
pristine environment for themselves Much of this
forest has never been fully researched is the
last refuge for Malaysias dwindling population
of tigers. How much longer will this area remain
undisturbed?
Ranges that have never been scientifically
explored
Night walks through these hills revealed
brilliant displays of bioluminescence with
fireflies luminescent fungi stunning us with
their beauty
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Frasers Hill
Views from the hotel. Virgin rainforest stretches
hundreds of kilometres north to the Thai border
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Frasers Hill
Etlingera sp
Nepenthes gracilis
Insectivorous pitcher plants, exotic ground
gingers wild banana are just some of the rare
plants found here. Stick insects are common. Rare
birds abound
Musa spp
Hornbill
Stick insects are difficult to spot!
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Frasers Hill
Students spend time both day night out in the
forest studying flora fauna, soils the
gross geology
Bishops Trail
Harmless!
Centipede, length 25cm
Cicada, length 12cm
Last chance for the Asian tiger development here
could spell the end for the big cats
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Frasers Hill
Trapdoor spider
Liphistius malayensis
Spiders, forest tortoises, large moths soldier
ants abound
Lyssa zampa wingspan 20cm
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Frasers Hill
Reservoir beginning to fill
Students WWF Malaysia staff
After several days at Frasers Hill, the journey
down to Kuala Lumpur takes in the Sungei Selangor
dam hundreds of hectares of primary rainforest
were felled to make way for a dam that will not
meet the regional demand for water beyond 2007!
We question why it was built learn more about
the politics of logging
Forest cleared prior to flooding
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Elephant Conservation Centre
Kuala Gandah
There are less than 1000 elephants left in
Malaysia. This centre is trying to conserve them
but they face many problems. Students help wash
the elephants question why Malaysia is
indifferent to the survival of these animals.
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Forest Research Institute
Butresses not only support the tree but are also
involved with nutrient uptake
The trees seem to sense their neighbours
A research station based in lowland Dipterocarp
rainforest. There is so much to see learn.
Buttress roots, canopy shyness, gingers
lizards. The sound of cicadas can be deafening
the barks of gibbons pierce the forest air
Zingiber spectabilis
Mabuya multifasciata
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Forest Research Institute

Leeches are endemic to SE Asia. They are little
more than a nuisance, causing no pain or
infection.
Dont touch me Im poisonous!
Silvered leaf monkey babies have orange fur
Shy forest deer
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Forest Research Institute
Monitor lizard (2m long), python (caught trying
to steal chickens!), honey-bee hive entrance
made of wax. Just a fraction of the rich exotic
fauna on view
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Forest Research Institute
Left caterpillars demolishing a fern leaf. Top
Selaginella wildenovii a club moss that changes
colour in the breeze on the shady forest floor
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Forest Research Institute
The canopy walkway in the
dry the wet. Our chance to study the very roof
of the forest
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Forest Research Institute
A night walk added another dimension to our
knowledge of this site traversing the canopy
walkway in the dark was certainly an interesting
experience! Above students looking for
scorpions, which are night hunters
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Project days
Several days are devoted to project work,
followed by half-day seminar presentations.
Above students digging soil pits at FRIM.
Projects are carried out irrespective of the
weather!
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Project days
Winners of the best seminar presentation are
encouraged to sample the king of fruits i.e.
Durian (left) which reputedly smells like drains
is even banned in hotels!
Does birds nest drink take the taste away?
Its popularity may be due to its reputation as
an aphrodisiac!
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Project days
We relax in a Malay restaurant after the project
presentations. Students take part in the
entertainment. Top Malay wedding ceremony.
Bottom not sure what this is about! Right
student demonstrating the versatility of the sari
will you marry me?
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Conclusion
Working in the tropics is exhausting
- but you do make friends!
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Your next step
If you would rather see a monkey in a forest than
in a zoo, then why not talk to me about joining
one of the best Environmental Science courses in
the UK!

• JN Bull,
• School of Earth, Ocean Environmental
• Sciences,
• University of Plymouth,
• Plymouth,
• PL4 8AA
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Mobile [phone]
• Email jnbull_at_plymouth.ac.uk

Terimah kasih (thank you) for looking at this
short presentation of just one aspect of the
exciting Environmental Science course we offer at
Plymouth
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Environmental Science
Campus
Halls of Residence
Sutton Harbour, from where the Pilgrim Fathers
sailed for America, with the campus in the
background
Our
campus is just five minutes from the sea We offer
diving the underwater environment as a second
year module we are planning overseas field
courses that will incorporate diving in the
future Future destinations under consideration
include China, Africa islands in the Indian
Ocean