Marine Biology

Last Tuesday (14 Aug), instead of the usual lecture, we got to dissect a fish! The fish was a kembung fish (mackerel). The aim of this practical was for us to look at the fish's swim bladder and possibly find its brain.

We were all quite excited for this practical! Dr Tang first showed us a quick demonstration; (in no particular order) we had to slice the fish from the "ass up" (hhahahahaiusdgfksudvbkdf), so we use our scissors and cut it from the hole which is the fish's anus. We would then slowly open the fish up to look at its organs and find its swim bladder, situated near the spine (as illustrated in the image below) which was something that required skill, as the swim bladder is very very easily ruptured. We would then skin the fish, by making a light cut in the skin just above the tail, then slowly peel it off, and we can take a look at the fish's muscles; red muscles are for long-termed swims, while white are for short bursts of movement. (you can read up more about muscles here: http://www.earthlife.net/fish/muscles.html) We can then try to dissect the head to find its brain, which is hard because the brain is really tiny. It's situated near the eyes (as illustrated in the image below).

(image: Dr Tang Hock Chun; thanks Dr Tang :D)

Dr Tang also told us about how he is vegetarian and how the smell of fish was really bad to him, so we're really grateful he demonstrated the dissection for us anyway! ;u; 

It was our turn to dissect the fish! We got the fish, and it was quite tricky slicing the fish in a straight line, but we managed to, slowly and patiently! We cut the skin, too, which was tricky, too. We looked at the muscles (and they look almost like discoloured salmon). Finally we opened the fish up and observed the organs before looking for the swim bladder, which we had most probably unskillfully ruptured :( So, we went on to look for the brain, but we couldn't! Hopefully we did not squish it or anything :(

About 2-3 other groups managed to find the swim bladders and/or brains. (unfortunately we couldn't take proper, quality photos; our gloves were dirty and bloody) The swim bladders looked like transparent-ish membranes which held air, and it wasn't hard to realise we really did rupture it; it's so fragile! Those other groups must be really good at what they do! The brain was really tiny, and even then it couldn't be confirmed that it was actually the brain. Hmmm. 

Here is my attempt at doing a labelled diagram of a fish dissection

After the practical, we washed and cleaned up, of course.

We felt quite bad about dissecting the fish, because we didn't seem skilled enough. Sorry fishies! :( Remember, always respect whatever it is that you are dissecting! 

This is also some of our first times properly looking at the innards of a fish, which is really cool!

Abigail Ailing's talk started of with a 5 minute video, giving us an insight of Biosphere 2 - a project that she was involved in back in the late 1990s

to read more about Biosphere 2, click here 

"The future of our earth is truly in our hands" this phrase has impacted me deeply as it shows that despite of all the destruction and damage we have caused to our planet, this problem can still be salvaged as long as we make an effort. 

Abigail Ailing went on to talk about her research she did on coral reefs that she carried out after the Biosphere 2 project ended. Coral reefs are an indicator of the health of the ocean, but 85% of the coral triangle in our oceans have been annihilated. For example, over the span of 20-30 years, the Craysfort reef is already 98% dead. Another example would be Phoenix Island - a global warming hotspot that caused 100% mortality to the coral reefs there.  

According to Abigail Ailing, they came up with a 10 year project: a coral reef satellite mission (to monitor the coral reefs and the changes) that was supposed to launch a satellite into space, but it didn't work out thought :( even thought it would have been extremely beneficial. It is the best way to monitor the coral reefs as each coral emits a photographic image of like - similar to that of a fingerprint, it's unique - and change can be detected over time.

Challenges for conservation (marine mammals, sea turtles, coral reefs etc):

Commercial Whaling - 2 million were killed in the last century, and some species were even hunted to the brink of extinction.

Overfishing and over exploitation - to feed more people with less food, resulting in a much lower chance/no chance for marine animals to regenerate/ reproduce due to all the technology that is used to catch them. There are also outbreak of species once the top predator is removed.

By-catch and gill netfishers - silent death

Commercial shipping - boats moving on the water surface hsa disturbed the creatures causing them to be affected

Acoustic pollution - Whales/ dolphins lose their ability to communicate using sonar and they are stranded on islands, and die

Pollution and sedimentation - coral reefs depend on low nutrients, no pollution and clear water to grow and thrive, this makes them a beautiful underwater garden. However, pollution gives rise to algae garden, which smother these beautiful coral reefs.

PCBs, heavy metals and oil poisioning - Toxins accumulate up the trophic chain

Destructive fishing - dynamite, cyanide fishing. Dynamite fishing blows up the sea bed, destroying everything; whereas cyanide fishing poisions the creatures.

Aquarium trade - cyanide fishing where creatures are momentarily paralyzed and captured to be sold and put into aquariums for display, but it kills coral reefs in the process.

Plastic pollution* - 6 million tons of debris enters the ocean every year. Whales are washed up to the beach due to starvation or they die due to ingestion of plastic. Similarly, many other marine animals either swallow plastic, get choked on it and die or get tangled in all the debris that is dumped out at sea.

Tourism - People who visit the coral reefs stand on it and destroy the corals.

Climate change* - this has resulted in a 30% decrease of  feeding area, and coral reefs can die in a matter of days due to global warming hotspots.

* = Major problems

We all live in one biosphere and we CAN make a difference.

Hence, Abigail Ailing and Mark Van Thilo have created a foundation http://biospherefoundation.org/ (do visit the website you can find out more!) in an effort to conserve the earth that we live on. They have initiated a number of projects:

community conservation:

#1 Durai turtle conservation program - the largest nesting beach in South China sea

#2 Durai island nature reserve "natural wonder"

#3 Dural coral reef baseline study of anchoring and cyanide damage. Overfishing has resulted in top predators being gone, thus there  is an outbreak of thorns that kill the coral population. Healthy coral reefs can protect coastlines from erosion.

#4 Marine protected area (MPA)

#5 Community based conservation program. Stakeholders are encouraged to come together to ensure a sustainable long term project

a)  Menjangan Island Coral reef study (rise of coral destruction due to anchor damage)

b) Menjangan Island Mooring Buoy Program to inspire people to care about these challenges

c) Friends of Menjangan - community outreach to pick up trash and reduce pollution

d) Biosphere Stewardship Education Program (students from around the world go to Bali to learn about conservation and get hands on exposure)

Lastly, there is another project called the Indian Ocean Marine Mammal Sanctuary, it is a community conservation.

We were warned multiple times of the risk and danger that the stonefish poses, and we are all utterly terrified of this particular fish, and we've decided to attempt terrifying our dear followers (if you're reading this and not following, well, you should. And by that I mean you must. Now. ) as well.

The stonefish camouflages very well, and looks just like a rock with algal growth and whatnot on it. However, its cover might be blown (perhaps by a strong wind and so it flips over revealing its reddish belly) if you notice its symmetrical shape. A rock usually isn't symmetrical, while a stonefish is. As you would have inferred quite a while ago.

"Hi, I'm the stonefish, pseudo-demon." image:http://www.oceanproaquatics.com/shop/stonefish-rockfish-p-19900.html?currency=CAD 

The moment you get close, like a few steps from it, it senses danger (how ironic when its sole purpose in life seems to be to traumatise us by constant fear of the danger it brings) and straightens its 24 thick spines along its dorsal back (each can be about one index finger long oh my god). It happens really quickly; our guide stepped on a stonefish once. Take her word. We do. We're telling it to you right now, actually.

So what exactly happens when you step on one and all the spines and whatever and everything eriughvirkfudge? Our guide said it was excruciating, but she used a quote of a scientist to describe the pain; it was as if someone screwed a screwdriver in your foot, and set it on fire. (I KNOW RIGHTESIUGHUIOERHNTUKF4NHFIER) 

If you step on a stonefish, pour some hot water on the wound, as the toxins are neurotoxins, which are proteins. A high temperature would denature (i.e. ruin) the toxin and hence render it useless. By the way, neurotoxins affect the nervous system (as the name implies). Our guide was paralyzed and although she's fine now, she has sustained slight permanent nerve damage in her left leg.

However, no one usually dies from a stonefish's neurotoxin nor the pain caused by it. Oh, you think you're safe now? That you'll very probably live on? There's nothing to worry about except pain? Well, you're wrong. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Those spines on the devil-spawned fish are really, really thick, and they can leave a visible and quite sizable hole under your foot. And then bacteria gets in, you're infected, and that's not good.

Our guide was hospitalised for three weeks, because the doctors were monitoring her blood levels to find out if there were any possible infections. 

The most lethal (and fatal, I guess) stonefish known is the Australian stonefish. The antidote is only available in Australia and it is not exported.

I hate stonefish.

Mir!

1. The Mir!

Mast 

Mast

~*~*~ THE BEAUTIFUL DECK ~*~*~

Solar panels

Stove

Library

MIR!

photos:

inside the library

do you see the book on Singapore Waters? it was presented to them at Abigail Ailing's talk as a gift of appreciation

porthole

MIR!

photos:

mast

library

solar panels

Danforth anchor

Kitchen!

Fridge

Inside the vessel

MIR! 

photos:

inside the engine room

inside the engine room

compass

steering wheel

throttle

anchoring system

Mir's bow

Abigail Ailing's talk! 

All the NUSHS students who went. 

Snapping Shrimp