Fish follow prey tracks left in the water

Much as an animal's footprint alerts a tracker to the direction it is headed, predatory fish can track the passage of their prey in water.

Prey leave vortex rings that alert predatory fish to the trail of another swimmer. The orientation of the ring generated a specific pattern of excitation in the fish's sensory system that tells it where the prey is going.

Another nem surprise at Tanah Merah

The Fire anemone (Actinodendron sp.)! The first I've seen on a mainland shore, it was spotted by Chay Hoon.So far, I've only seen this anemone at Pulau Semakau, Terumbu Raya, Kusu Island and on Beting Bronok off Pulau Tekong. As its common name suggests, it's not advisable to touch it.

Sandflies: the bane of our shores

Sandflies are the beasts I most dread on the shore. I fear them even more than mosquitos.

Why? Because I can't see or feel them when they bite. I only find out I've been attacked a few hours or a day later, when the bite marks itch ferociously. And continue to itch for weeks. Often turning into hideous ulcerating wounds that make people wonder if I have some sort of communicable disease.
This photo taken by James today is definitely of a sandfly. It was biting Chay Hoon, who patiently put up with the bite in the name of documentation. Tanah Merah is probably the most sandfly-infested shore that I've been to in Singapore in recent years.

What are sandflies?

"I Polunin": an exhibition of Malaya’s social and natural history

What was everyday life in Singapore like in the 1950s and 1970s? What was our biodiversity and natural surroundings like then?

Pulau Sudong, 1951, Ivan Polunin Collection

Dr Ivan Polunin, known among others for his work on natural history in our region, shares from his personal archives at an upcoming exhibition.

Nem surprise at Tanah Merah

I should know better than to underestimate a shore, but I never expected to encounter the Haeckel's anemone (Actinostephanus haeckeli) today!
And not just one, but two! The rest of the team saw another one as well!

Mass death at Johor fish farms: "worst environmental disaster in Malaysia"

More than 100 tonnes of fish being farmed in cages in Sungai Teluk Jawa, Johor went belly-up in what was described as one of the worst environmental disasters in the country in recent years.

They were farming the premium giant grouper and tiger grouper, mainly for export to Taiwan, China and Singapore. Kampung Teluk Jawa is one of the state's most popular seafood spots among locals and Singaporeans.

Where are the fish farms?

The 'two-headed' yellow-lipped sea krait?

The Yellow-lipped sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) is quite commonly seen on our shores. And I've seen it many times without realising that the snake has a trick up its tail!

Dr Arne Redsted Rasmussen made the fist observation of this snaky trick during a research dive. He saw the venomous sea snake go head first into a narrow crevice. Then suddenly he was surprised to see the snake pull its head out, as if the snake had been able to very quickly turn around inside the crevice. Moments he realized that the "head" was in fact the tail.

A closer study of Yellow-lipped sea krait specimens revealed a bright yellow horseshoe marking on both its tail tip and snout, distinctive from the rest of its body. Analysis of other sea krait species from museum collections found a similar distinctive color pattern in nearly 100 such species.

"The value of such an adaptation is twofold; it may increase the chances of surviving predator attack by exposing a less 'vital' body part, but more importantly it may deter attack in the first place if attackers perceive the tail as the venomous snakes head," said Rasmussen.

Pain killers from a soft coral

A compound harvested from soft coral off the coast of Taiwan could provide a new treatment for pain from intractable nerve damage.

Taiwanese scientists report promising early trial results in rats.

Several important drugs have already been developed from chemicals found in coral reef organisms. Among these is the antiviral AZT, a treatment for people with HIV, which is based on chemicals extracted from a Caribbean reef sponge. Reefs have also yielded treatments for cardiovascular diseases, ulcers, leukaemia and skin cancer.

Shore construction at Sungei Serangoon continues until Feb 2010

Work that first began in May 08 continues until Feb 10. Works include dredging, installation of a temporary cofferdam and the construction of the dam across Sungei Serangoon.

Tiniest marine algae may play big planetary role

Understanding the richness of ocean plankton biodiversity and how they function is essential to figuring out how climate is regulated by living organisms. The oceans produce more than half of global production of organic matter, due to the photosynthetic activity of marine phytoplankton.
Photo of ocean plankton from the Duke University website.

Calculations suggest that a few liters of tropical water may contain more than 1000 genetically-different species of haptophytes. A 2000 study suggests that the biomass of these organisms may be up to twice as important as that of cyanobacteria or diatoms, the two groups of phytoplankton classically considered as the champions of photosynthesis in open ocean waters.

Boosting fish farming in Singapore: what environmental impact?

Singapore fish farms to contribute 15% of our fish supply in the next five years, up from the current 4%. This is the plan by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), as part of efforts to diversify and stabilise Singapore's food supply.

How many fish farms do we have?
According to media reports, Singapore has 105 fish farms.


Where are these fish farms located?
I've seen many off Pulau Ubin (where Chek Jawa is located) and Pasir Ris, some off Lazarus Island and off Pulau Semakau.

Big fines to protect coral reefs

Hawaii is imposing serious fines on those who damage reefs. A tour company was fined nearly $400,000 and the state plans to sue the U.S. Navy when a guided missile cruiser ran aground near Pearl Harbor.

Coral get damaged when boats drop anchor on a reef, collide into reefs and sink on reefs. Does this sort of thing happen in Singapore too? Sadly yes.
Overturned and broken corals at Pulau Jong in July 2009, possibly due to a boat collision, from the colourful clouds blog.

Lim Swee Cheng's "Guide to Sponges of Singapore" and updates to wildfact sheets

After much anticipation, Lim Swee Cheng's fabulous Sponge Guide is now on sale! I rushed out to get my copy as soon as I heard of this.
Now we finally get to learn all about these fascinating ANIMALS (yes, they are not plants) of our shores!

Mangroves at Mamam, Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is already ready for National Day! With flags waving on Ubin Jetty in the morning sun.
This morning we explore the mangroves near Mamam.

Placid at Pasir Ris

It's not a low tide so it's time to check out the mangroves!
Chay Hoon and I spend a slow morning at Pasir Ris and strolled up Sungei Tampines.

Sijie, the scouts and sea turtles at Setia

Tan Sijie has been missed from our shore trips lately because he has been busy working on the larger issues. Today, his work has been featured in the news!
(Clockwise from bottom) Rover scouts Muhammad Isa, Ashok Kumar, Oliver Lim, Melissa Heng, Ong May Lwin, Tan Sijie and Nicholas Koh Yong Zhi saved turtle eggs, repaired homes and planted mangrove trees in Terengganu. Team member Parry Lim is not in the picture. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM

The Cove: dolphins of Taiji

This tense new film shows Japanese fishermen luring thousands of wild dolphins into a hidden secret cove in Japan where activists say they are captured for marine amusement parks or slaughtered for food.The movie premiers in the US this weekend.