Our shores in Pioneer Magazine!

Thanks to Sheena Tan, there was a feature about Singapore's shores in the latest issue of Pioneer, a magazine of the Singapore Armed Forces!

"The Singapore that many locals know is one that boasts skyscrapers, shopping centres and endless construction works, but Ms Ria Tan begs to differ" writes Sheena. So much classier than what I usually say in my talks: "Singapore got marine life, meh?!"

11 Feb (Sat): Tanah Merah clean up - first of a year round effort

Step up to make a difference for the amazing living shores at Tanah Merah! Join the first of a series of year-round clean up on 11 Feb (Sat), 8.30-10am, meet at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal Departure Hall. Full details by Site Buddy Gladys Chua.

There's lots of work to do on 11 Feb, as this recent recce of the site shows. Bravo to International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) for initiating this effort!

Seagrass meadows may be oldest and largest organisms on earth

A seagrass species found in the Mediterranean is possibly the oldest and largest organism, reaching up to (15 km) wide and may be more than 100,000 years old.

Posidonia oceanica by M. San Felix from LiveScience.com

Wow! I wonder how old our seagrass meadows are?!

Sea cucumber poop good for reefs

Sea cucumbers could help buffer reefs from ocean acidification due to climate change.

A sausage-like string of sea cucumber poop, seen on Pulau Semakau.

A recent study found that sea cucumber poop raises the pH level of the water, thus countering the effects of ocean acidification. While their ammonia waste fertilises and provides nutrients for coral growth. As they eat sand, they also release dissolved calcium carbonate, a key component of corals.

Mega Marine Survey digs up 100 species!

Thanks to Grace Chua of the Straits Times, we learn that the Mega Marine Survey has uncovered 100 species, some are new to Singapore or to science, even though we are only one-third through the project!

Among the featured creatures is this anemone which we found deep into the mudflats of Lim Chu Kang. This bumpy, warty sea anemone so new to science, it does not even have a scientific name yet. We have fondly nicknamed it Bill and we've seen it at other locations in Singapore too.