Dr. Rui Ying Rachel Oh
Deputy
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Puschstraße 4
04103 Leipzig
Email
Tel.
Web
Research Interests
I specialise in interdisciplinary research that aims to deliver solutions to address real-world environmental problems. I believe that successful conservation solutions must involve working with nature and engaging with humans if they are to succeed. Currently, I am focused on investigating the inter-relationships between people’s nature/biodiversity experiences, connection to nature, environmentally protective attitudes/behaviour and health and wellbeing outcomes. I am particularly keen on investigating these relationships in the context of extreme urbanisation and climate change, and would love to extend research to South America, African and Asian cities. I very much enjoy drawing on public health, epidemiological and conservation disciplines to strengthen the evidence base for nature-health studies, and to develop policies and strategies that will benefit both people and nature. Do reach out if you’d like to chat more!
Scientific Career
since April 2021
Post-doctoral Researcher, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ and German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
2015 - 2018
Urban Ecology Researcher; National Parks Board of Singapore - my research focused on (i) using conservation genetics to mitigate extinction lag in bird species; (ii) improving outdoor thermal comfort in tropical greenspaces; and (iii) investigating the inter-relationships between greenspace use and health and wellbeing outcomes
2018 - 2021
PhD - University of Queensland (Biological Sciences)
Thesis: The interplay among nature experiences, nature connection, social influences, and health and wellbeing outcomes
2013 - 2014
Master of Philosophy - National University of Singapore (Geography)
Thesis: Surface elevation is a predictor of mangrove rehabilitation success in Indonesia
2008 - 2012
Bachelor of Science (Honours) - National University of Singapore (Biological Sciences)
Thesis: Biotic and abiotic barriers to natural forest succession on American Samoa
Publications
Index:
You could use our publication index for further requests.
2024 (5)
- Arenas-Castro, H., Berdejo-Espinola, V., Chowdhury, S., Rodríguez-Contreras, A., James, A.R.M., Nussaïbah, B.R., Dunne, E.M., Bertolino, S., Emidio, N.B., Derez, C.M., Drobniak, S.M., Fulton, G.R., Henao-Diaz, L.F., Kaur, A., Kim, C.J.S., Lagisz, M., Medina, I., Mikula, P., Narayan, V.P., O'Bryan, C.J., Oh, R.R.Y., Ovsyanikova, E., Pérez-Hämmerle, K.-V., Pottier, P., Powers, J.S., Rodriguez-Acevedo, A.J., Rozak, A.H., Sena, P.H.A., Sockhill, N.J., Tedesco, A.M., Tiapa-Blanco, F., Tsai, J.-S., Villarreal-Rosas, J., Wadgymar, S.M., Yamamichi, M., Amano, T. (2024):
Academic publishing requires linguistically inclusive policies
Proc. R. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 291 (2018), art. 20232840 10.1098/rspb.2023.2840 - Gillerot, L., Rozario, K., De Frenne, P., Oh, R., Ponette, Q., Bonn, A., Chow, W., Godbold, D., Steinparzer, M., Haluza, D., Landuyt, D., Muys, B., Verheyen, K. (2024):
Forests are chill: The interplay between thermal comfort and mental wellbeing
Landsc. Urban Plan. 242 , art. 104933 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104933 - Rozario, K., Oh, R.R.Y., Marselle, M., Schröger, E., Gillerot, L., Ponette, Q., Godbold, D., Haluza, D., Kilpi, K., Müller, D., Roeber, U., Verheyen, K., Muys, B., Müller, S., Shaw, T., Bonn, A. (2024):
The more the merrier? Perceived forest biodiversity promotes short-term mental health and well-being - A multicentre study
People Nat. 6 (1), 180 - 201 10.1002/pan3.10564 - Rozario, K., Shaw, T., Marselle, M.R., Oh, R.R.Y., Schröger, E., Botero, M.G., Frey, J., Ştefan, V., Ștefan, V., Müller, S., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Jaroszewicz, B., Verheyen, K., Bonn, A. (2024):
Perceived biodiversity: is what we measure also what we see and hear?
bioRxiv 10.1101/2024.04.03.587905 - Wu, M.Y., Chong, H.W., Tan, Y.Y., Lim, B.T.M., Wong, A.M.S., Oh, R.R.Y., Lee, J.G.H., Ng, E.Y.X., Rheindt, F.E. (2024):
Genomic data reveal shift in geographic source of an illegally traded songbird
Conserv. Genet. 25 (1), 179 - 187 10.1007/s10592-023-01564-9
2023 (3)
- Benra, F., Nahuelhual, L., Felipe-Lucia, M.R., Oh, R.R.Y., Kachler, J., Bonn, A. (2023):
Mismatches in the ecosystem services-wellbeing nexus: a case study for Chilean Patagonia
Ecosyst. People 19 (1), art. 2224448 10.1080/26395916.2023.2224448 - de Bell, S., Alejandre, J.C., Menzel, C., Sousa-Silva, R., Straka, T.M., Berzborn, S., Bürck-Gemassmer, M., Dallimer, M., Daysob, C., Fisher, J.C., Haywood, A., Herrmann, A., Immich, G., Keßler, C.S., Köhler, K., Lynch, M., Marx, V., Michalsen, A., Mudu, P., Napierala, H., Nawrath, M., Pfleger, S., Quitmann, C., Reeves, J.P., Rozario, K., Straff, W., Walter, K., Wendelboe-Nelson, C., Marselle, M.R., Oh, R.R.Y., Bonn, A. (2023):
Nature-based social prescribing programmes: opportunities, challenges, and facilitators for implementation
medRxiv 10.1101/2023.11.27.23299057 - Gillerot, L., Rozario, K., De Frenne, P., Oh, R., Ponette, Q., Bonn, A., Chow, W., Godbold, D., Steinparzer, M., Haluza, D., Landuyt, D., Muys, B., Verheyen, K. (2023):
Dataset S1 used for the paper "Forests are chill: The interplay between thermal comfort and mental wellbeing"
figshare 10.6084/m9.figshare.24420487.v1
2022 (5)
- Gillerot, L., Landuyt, D., Oh, R., Chow, W., Haluza, D., Ponette, Q., Jactel, H., Bruelheide, H., Jaroszewicz, B., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., De Frenne, P., Muys, B., Verheyen, K. (2022):
Forest structure and composition alleviate human thermal stress
Glob. Change Biol. 28 (24), 7340 - 7352 10.1111/gcb.16419 - Oh, R.R.Y., Zhang, Y., Nghiem, L.T.P., Chang, C.-C., Tan, C.L.Y., Quazi, S.A., Shanahan, D.F., Lin, B.B., Gaston, K.J., Fuller, R.A., Carrasco, R.L. (2022):
Connection to nature and time spent in gardens predicts social cohesion
Urban For. Urban Green. 74 , art. 127655 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127655 - Pottier, P., Lin, H.-Y., Oh, R.R.Y., Pollo, P., Rivera-Villanueva, A.N., Valdebenito, J.O., Yang, Y., Amano, T., Burke, S., Drobniak, S.M., Nakagawa, S. (2022):
A comprehensive database of amphibian heat tolerance
Sci. Data 9 , art. 600 10.1038/s41597-022-01704-9 - Sockhill, N.J., Dean, A.J., Oh, R.R.Y., Fuller, R.A. (2022):
Beyond the ecocentric: Diverse values and attitudes influence engagement in pro-environmental behaviours
People Nat. 4 (6), 1500 - 1512 10.1002/pan3.10400 - Tulloch, A.I.T., Oh, R.R.Y., Gallegos, D. (2022):
Environmental and public health co-benefits of consumer switches to immunity-supporting food
Ambio 51 (7), 1658 - 1672 10.1007/s13280-021-01693-w
2021 (2)
- Amano, T., Berdejo-Espinola, V., Christie, A.P., Willott, K., Akasaka, M., Báldi, A., Berthinussen, A., Bertolino, S., Bladon, A.J., Chen, M., Choi, C.-Y., Bou Dagher Kharrat, M., de Oliveira, L.G., Farhat, P., Golivets, M., Hidalgo Aranzamendi, N., Jantke, K., Kajzer-Bonk, J., Çisel Kemahlı Aytekin, M., Khorozyan, I., Kito, K., Konno, K., Lin, D.-L., Littlewood, N., Liu, Y., Liu, Y., Loretto, M.-C., Marconi, V., Martin, P.A., Morgan, W.H., Narváez-Gómez, J.P., Negret, P.J., Nourani, E., Ochoa Quintero, J.M., Ockendon, N., Oh, R.R.Y., Petrovan, S.O., Piovezan-Borges, A.C., Pollet, I.L., Ramos, D.L., Reboredo Segovia, A.L., Rivera-Villanueva, A.N., Rocha, R., Rouyer, M.-M., Sainsbury, K.A., Schuster, R., Schwab, D., Şekercioğlu, Ç.H., Seo, H.-M., Shackelford, G., Shinoda, Y., Smith, R.K., Tao, S.-D., Tsai, M.-S., Tyler, E.H.M., Vajna, F., Valdebenito, J.O., Vozykova, S., Waryszak, P., Zamora-Gutierrez, V., Zenni, R.D., Zhou, W., Sutherland, W.J. (2021):
Tapping into non-English-language science for the conservation of global biodiversity
PLoS Biol. 19 (10), e3001296 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001296 - Oh, R.R.Y., Fielding, K.S., Chang, C.-C., Nghiem, L.T.P., Tan, C.L.Y., Quazi, S.A., Shanahan, D.F., Gaston, K.J., Carrasco, R.L., Fuller, R.A. (2021):
Health and wellbeing benefits from nature experiences in tropical settings depend on strength of connection to nature
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 18 (19), art. 10149 10.3390/ijerph181910149
Further Publications
2021- Oh RRY, Fielding KS, Nghiem LTP, Chang C-C, Shanahan DF, Gaston KJ, Carrasco RL & Fuller RA. (2021). Factors influencing nature interactions vary between cities and types of nature interactions. People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10181
- Berdejo-Espinola V, Suarez-Castro AF, Amano T., Fielding KS, Oh RRY & Fuller RA (in press) Urban green spaces during a time of stress: A case study of social resilience during the COVID-pandemic in Brisbane, Australia
2020
- Oh RRY, Fielding KS, Carrasco RL & Fuller RA. (2020). No evidence of an extinction of experience or emotional disconnect from nature in urban Singapore. People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10148
- Nghiem LTP, Zhang Y, Oh RRY, Chang C-C., Tan CLY, Shanahan DF, Lin BB, Gaston KJ, Fuller RA & Carrasco, L. R. (2021). Equity in green and blue space availability in Singapore. Landscape and Urban Planning, 210, 104083.
- Tan CLY, Chang C-C., Nghiem LTP, Zhang Y, Oh RRY, Shanahan DF, Lin BB, Gaston KJ, Fuller RA & Carrasco, L. R. (2021). The right mix: Residential urban green-blue space combinations are correlated with physical exercise in a tropical city-state. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 57, 126947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126947
- Chang C-C, Oh RRY, Nghiem LTP, Zhang Y, Tan CLY, Lin BB, Gaston KJ, Fuller RA & Carrasco LR. (2020). Life satisfaction linked to the diversity of nature experiences and nature views from the window. Landscape and Urban Planning, 202, 103874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103874
- Meng YW, Forcina G, van Grouw H, Oh RRY & Rheindt FE. (2020) Historic and modern genomes unveil a domestic introgression gradient in a wild red junglefowl population. Evolutionary Applications, 00, 1 – 16. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13023
- Chang C-C, Cheng GJYC, Nghiem LTP, Song XP, Oh RRY, Richards DR & Carrasco LR. (2020) Social media, nature, and life satisfaction: global evidence of the biophilia hypothesis. Scientific Reports, 10, 4125. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60902-w
- Cros E, Ng EYX, Oh RRY, Tang Q, Benedick S, Edwards D, Tomassi S, Irestedt M, Ericsson P & Rheindt F. (2020) Fine-scale barriers to connectivity across a fragmented Southeast Asian landscape in six songbird species. Evolutionary Applications. 1, 1 – 11. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12918
- Wanger TC, Ainun N, Brook BW, Friess DA, Oh RRY, Rusdin A, Smithers S & Tjoa A. (2020) Ecosystem-Based Tsunami Mitigation for Tropical Biodiversity Hotspots. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 35(2), 96 – 100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2019.10.008
- Richards DR, Law A, Tan CSY, Shaikh SFEB, Carrasco LR, Jaung W & Oh RRY. (2020). Rapid urbanisation in a tropical city-state causes a shift from provisioning and regulating to cultural ecosystem services use over 50 years. Ecosystem Services, 46, 101193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101193
2019 and earlier
- Richards DR, Masoudi M, Oh RRY, Yando ES, Zhang J, Friess DA, Gret-Regamey A, Tan PY & Edwards P. (2019) Global variation in climate, human development, and population density as implications for urban ecosystem services. Sustainability, 11(22), 6200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226200
- Oh RRY, Yee ATK & Richards DR (2018) Community-driven skyrise greenery in a dense tropical city provides biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits. Landscape and Urban Planning, 169, 115 – 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2017.08.014
- Ng EYX, Garg KM, Low GW, Chattopadhyay B, Oh RRY, Lee JGH & Rheindt F (2017) Conservation genomics identifies impact of trade in a threatened songbird. Biological Conservation, 214, 101 – 108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.08.007
- Oh RRY, Friess DA & Brown MB (2017) Surface elevation as a predictor of mangrove rehabilitation success in abandoned aquaculture ponds, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ecological Engineering, 100, 325 – 334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.12.021
- Richards DR, Passy P, & Oh RRY (2017) Impacts of population density and wealth on the quantity and structure of urban green space in tropical Southeast Asia. Landscape and Urban Planning, 157, 553-560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.09.005
- Friess DA, Phelps J, Leong RC, Lee WK, Wee AKS, Sivasothi N, Oh RRY, Webb WL (2012) Mandai mangrove, Singapore: Lessons for the conservation of Southeast Asia’s mangroves. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 25, 55 – 65. https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/app/uploads/2017/06/s25rbz055-065.pdf