TeamSeagrass monitoring dates now on google calendar

For those of us who use google calendar, Marcus Tay has kindly posted the monitoring dates at this link which is public.

Thank you Marcus!

Young seagrassers at Clean and Green Carnival

The young seagrassers of RGS are sharing about our seagrasses at the Clean and Green Carnival!They've put up an amazing display of our seagrasses and shores!In addition to seagrasses, they are also featuring the school's work in our forests!The young ladies have done a fantastic poster about their work studying the seagrass meadows at Labrador.And here's Siti and Wei Ling joining them.The RGS booth is part of the Green Schools exhibit at the Carnival.Also part of the Carnival are lots of talks about our marine and other biodiversity in Singapore. Here's Siti talking about "Marine Biodiversity and You", with Wei Ling helping at the laptop.
There were lots of other happenings too at the Carnival and at the Marina Barrage.

Wei Ling said they had a wonderful visitor yesterday during the Launch of the Carnival. They'll post all the juicy details and photos later. I can't wait to read about it.

See also the Young Seagrassers' post about this event on their Labrador blog.

Talks about our reefs, marine biodiversity and Chek Jawa!

This weekend, Siti, Robin, Jeff, Adelle and other TeamSeagrass friends from NParks are giving exciting talks on "Reefs Rock!", "Marine Biodiversity and You", "Chek Jawa: Nature Beckons" and lots of other nature and environmental topics at the Clean and Green Singapore launch at the Marina Barrage.

The Young Seagrassers of Labrador will also have an exhibit of seagrasses.

Come and support them!

31 Oct-2 Nov: Nature talks at Clean and Green Singapore

Thanks to Lim Wei Ling, here's more details of nature, environmental and sporting talks at the upcoming Clean and Green Singapore launch this weekend.

31 Oct (Fri)

1800-1830hrs: "Frogs of Singapore" by Dr Leong Tzi Ming

1 Nov (Sat)

1030-1100hrs: "Cycling- The Greener Way To Go" by Joseph of Terra Outdoors

1100-1130hrs: "Organic Gardening in Urban Singapore" by Henry Yeo

1130-1200hrs: "Marine Biodiversity and You" by Siti Maryam

1230-1300hrs: "CIB- Plant Disease" by Matthew Tan

1400-1430hrs: "Let the dragons fly - showcasing dragonflies in Singapore" by Robin Ngiam

1500-1530hrs: "Reefs Rock!" by Jeffrey Low

1600-1630 hrs: "Chek Jawa: Nature Beckons" by Adelle Wang

1730-1800hrs: "Introduction to Inline Skating and Safety Etiquette" by Jason Ng of Skateline /Skate Assist Volunteer (SAV)

2 Nov (Sun)

1230-1300hrs: "Marine Biodiversity and You" by Siti Maryam

1300-1330hrs: "Going Green with Singapore's Native Plants" by Joyce Foo

1330-1400hrs: "Let the dragons fly - showcasing dragonflies in Singapore" by Robin Ngiam

1400-1430hrs: "Organic Gardening in Urban Singapore" by Henry Yeo

1430-1500hrs: "Carbon Footprint and You" by Hassan Ibrahim

1500-1530hrs: "Introduction to Inline Skating and Safety Etiquette" by Jason Ng of Skateline /Skate Assist Volunteer (SAV)

More details on the Clean and Green Singapore website.

2009 monitoring dates!

The tide tables are out and we've decided on our trips for next year. We've slotted the trips to Chek Jawa and Pulau Semakau on weekends, but Sentosa dates are on weekdays.

10 Jan (Sat): Chek Jawa (CJ-01)1400-1900hrs
12 Jan (Mon): Sentosa (SN-01) 1630-1930hrs
7 Feb (Sat): Pulau Semakau (PS-01) 1400-2000hrs
29 Mar (Sun): Chek Jawa (CJ-02) 0600-1000hrs
1 Apr (Wed): Sentosa (SN-02) 0700-1000hrs
1 May (Fri) (public holiday): Pulau Semakau (PS-02) 0700hrs-12noon
10 Jun (Wed): Sentosa (SN-03) 0600-0900hrs
27 Jun (Sat): Chek Jawa (CJ-03) 0700hrs-12noon
26 Jul (Sun): Pulau Semakau (PS-03) 0700hrs-12noon
21 Aug (Fri): Sentosa (SN-04) 0600-0800hrs
23 Aug (Sun): Chek Jawa (CJ-04) 0600-1000hrs
18 Oct (Sun): Pulau Semakau (PS-04) 1500-2000hrs

Timing is an estimate, to be confirmed closer to the date (depends on transportation time etc)

These dates have also been updated on the FAQs.

Those already on the team can sign up for these dates on the teamseagrass yahoo group.

Not yet a member? To join the team, simply send the following details
(a) your full name
(b) your age
(c) your email address
(d) your contact number
(e) any previous experience
to Ria at hello@wildsingapore.com, please put "TeamSeagrass" in your subject header.

See you at these monitoring trips!

What's killing our turtles, dugongs?

The Daily Mercury, Mackay Queensland Australia, 25 Oct 08;

DENISE Abraham is furrowing her brow.

She is deeply concerned about the spate of sea animals that have washed up on Armstrong Beach this month.

Ms Abraham said in the past four weeks two turtles and two dugongs had been spotted dead just above the water line.

"I have in lived in Armstrong beach for the past 18 months and never come across anything like this before," she said.

"I want to know why this is occurring."

The Environmental Protection Agency downplayed the deaths attributing them to natural causes.

A spokesperson said all the animals appeared to have died of natural causes without any evidence of boat strike or other human interference.

"During the nesting season turtles use a lot of energy and are more vulnerable to disease, weakness, and predators," the spokesperson said.

"Any one of these factors combined with recent heavy weather conditions may have contributed to the recent strandings."

The spokesperson said it was possible that fresh water and sediment from flooding earlier in the year may have affected seagrass growth in the area.

"As seagrass is the main food source for both turtles and dugongs this may have been a contributing factor to one or more of the recent strandings."

The spokesperson said the strandings in the Mackay area this month were consistent with stranding numbers that might be expected at this time of year and those from previous years.

"Turtles are more frequently found on beaches at this time of year, and will generally be either nesting or basking," the spokesperson said.

"Turtles bask on shore for reasons such as resting, escaping predators and to regulate their body temperature."

Labrador angels at work (16 Oct 08)

The young seagrassers have done another monitoring session at Labrador and in their post explain the difference between silt, fine sand and shell. Read more about it on their labrador blog.
They are also preparing a booth at Clean and Green Singapore 2008 (CGS 2008) at the Marina Barrage from the 31st Oct (Friday) to 2nd Nov (Sunday)! Do come and support them!