Moths of Kinabalu

Moths - similar to Butterfly belongs to the Order of Lepidoptera (or Scaly Wings) belonging to the Class of Insecta.

Chief differences to the other insects are

a. Sex determination is via the ZW where the ovum determines the sex of the offspring.

(Unlike the XY Sex Determination where the sperm determines the sex of the offspring)

b. Dense setae (scales) on the wings. In other insects, the wings are usually transparent

/transclusent memberanes.

c. Multi hue and pattern on the wings. The scales itself form a type of light trap where light

frequency get adjusted. Thus the colours on the wings change as one shifts one's position

when looking at them.

d. Larvae of such insect has mouth structure and glands that can secrete silk.

Spider does it but through their abdomen.

There has been many misconception about moth - that it is dull and nocturnal. On the contrary - moths are as colourful as butterflies, if not more colourful!

For these collection of Moths that you are seeing, all are from Kinabalu National Park. Why Moths and not Butterflies, well for one thing - it was easier to photograph them than attempt to chase after butterflies. With the light on, they came in drove, and then happily settle on the wall, floor, doors etc. And with the temperature dropping at night, at 1,500 m, these creatures become very docile and even by placing the camera just 2 cm away from them, does not scoot them away! And secondly, there are more variation (Family) in moths than butterflies, and thus there are more shape and size.

Notice the numbers of moths just on a single wall!

Below are the pictures of moths taken in the morning, when the moths were still in "sleepy" stupor.

Unfortunately, my knowledge of moths are not good, and I can only identify one species (attacus Atlas) - the rest I hope you can help me to identify.

Atlas Moth (attacus Atlas)

Future shape of a Steath Aircraft!

Does this moth looks like a bee or beetle?

Yellowstone - Largest Volcano in the World

In the Visitor Education Centre in Canyon Village, immediately at the Reception area, this message greets the visitor.
“Yellowstone National Park is an immense, active volcano - one of the largest and most violent on earth”


But it is very hard to envisage that the Yellowstone National Park is sitting on top of a volcano, as there are no sign of crater or cauldron of magma. However, the geothermal activities in the form of geysers, fumarole, mudpot, hot spring and steam vent in Yellowstone indicate that there are underground volcanic activities.

There are many geothermal activities in countries like New Zealand, Japan, Iceland. But Yellowstone is one area that holds about 60% of all geysers around the world. The most famous and well known around the world is Old Faithful.

Scientists believed that in ancient time, a super volcano has erupted, and its magma chamber has collapsed forming a huge caldera - the size so huge that the country Singapore can be placed comfortably inside! The collapsed areas gave rise to the beautiful landscape of geothermal geysers with its beautiful colours, as well as the largest lake in US above 2000 m - the Yellowstone Lake.

The Yellowstone National Park is located on average of about 2,100 m and rivers flow down either to the Pacific or Atlantic sides. In this geothermal active zone, bedrocks plunged downward, with other places rising upwards forming the beautiful landscaped mountain ranges. Waterfalls are abundant here, and in one of the lower fall of the Yellowstone River, the rock face is Yellow in colour.

The wall acts like canvas to the Great Artist who created heaven and earth, allows the mineral to stain the wall face. Over time, the various chemical present in the water have stained the canyon walls with palette of Yellow, Pink, White and Red. But in this area, Yellow is most prevalent.



Yellowstone River - Lower Fall
Water flow through the canyon, surronded by Yellow Walls


The surface activities of the geothermal evidences produced many interesting patterns and colours in the various geyser basins.

In the geyser basin, the most famous geyser will be Old Faithful.

Old Faithful geyser - erupt on a regular basis. Geyser occurs when underground chamber contains water that has been boiled to superheated stage (high pressure with high temperature), and because of constriction in one of its chamber, the pressure continues to buildup to the point where the constriction cannot hold back the water, steam, and with a sudden release causes the water and steam to erupt.

Water is of turquose colour, resulted by the dissolved mineral. Mineral in the water calcified on the surface, and forms wall like terrace.

Volcanic activities are usually associated with toxic substance like sulphur, and in this landscape, rotten egg (Hydrogen Sulphide) is very obvious. The Hydrogen Sulphide rises from the magma, and is consumed by certain bacteria (called thermophiles) thrives in such mudpot, with the byproduct as sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid “eats” up the rocks and solis, and turn them into mud. Amazingly, some mudpot acidity is so high, that it can easily burn the human skin.

Mudpot

Underground , the water chamber is ever shifting, due to seismic movement. What happen if death to some of the fauna which sheds its leaves and leaving behind a very bald appearance but with a very whitish appearance at the bottom of its trunk - as though it has just put on a white sock! Elsewhere, because of the diversion, suddenly the landscape becomes habitable, and plants started to take root and grow!

In this desolate plain, the ground movement has taken place, and instead of life giving water, the mineral filled water has flown into this area.

As a result, the trees in this area have died, and put on a white sock as shown at the base of the trunk. Look carefully, and you can see a lone coyote running in this desolate zone.

However, in area previously was the source of hot spring, the underground channel has shifted, and now grass is beginning to grow in this previously inhospital zone!

Panoramic view of the Hayden Valley.

Look carefully at the river, and you will notice that it is going round in bends.

In time to come, ox bow lake will be formed.

Yellowstone is a most amazing place. Scientists have determined that a major eruption is long overdue from this super-volcano. Much bigger than the Krakatoa in Indonesia. One that will envelope with ashes - turning day into night. One with the potential to split the continent into half.

Will that day come! While the seismic monitor continue to register the many quakes that occurs, and volcanologists continue in the guest to determine when it will happen.

To us, we will continue to enjoy the great scenery that Yellowstone provides.


Yellowstone River - Upper Fall

Yellowstone River - Lower Fall

Vietnam - SAPA and Fan Si Pan

In the northern part of Vietnam, and bordering with China is the province of Lao Cai. And SaPa is the more prominent city of this province with its mountainous landscape with the ethnic tribes still living there. SaPa also means Sand Bank in the local language.

Forming the mountainous region of SaPa is the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, stretching from China Yunnan Highland to Vietnam Hoa Binh Province. And of the various peaks, Fan Si Pan (Fan Xi Pan) standing at 3,143 m is the highest. It is also the highest mountain in Indo-China (comprising Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos).

This is the mountain that we chose to trek after hearing so much about SaPa and the famous steps rice fields.







One ofthe prominent scene in SaPa is the cloud and mist, on the day of our arrival, it was misty and wet, and definitely not ideal for climbing, but the weather turned for the better the following days.

SaPa was discovered by the French (who was the earlier colonial master) in the early 20th Century. Looking for a place to escape from the hot and humid lowland of Vietnam, and at the same time for a quiet resort for the various government officials, soldiers and merchants, SaPa was found to be ideal, and many of the houses that can be seen there possess French architecture design.

There are 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam, and the majority tribe is the Kinh (Viet) forming about 87% of the total population in Vietnam, but in SaPa, the Hmong forms the majority, follow by the Dao and Tay. At first it was difficult for first timer to differentiate them, till one learns to recognize their costume and headgears.

The Hmong came from Southern China, and the most recent exodus happened only about 100 years ago. Being late comers to the region, they ended up on the hilly sides of the mountain range, but gifted with agriculture skill, they have developed the side of the mountain slopes into steps, so that rice can be grown. In a way, it takes more effort to plant rice, but from the perspective of optimization of land, they have found the ideal solution. Water from the upper steps, flow to the next lower level, and continue until it reaches the stream or valley below.

The Hmong’s costume in particular is recognized by their black dressing and different colours headgears which further break down the Hmong into the Black, Red, White, Green Hmongs. For our trip, we saw mostly the Black Hmong with their typical cylindrical black headgear. The embroidery and pattern on their costumes especially on the sleeves signify different family grouping, and therefore to the Hmong, they can easily tell who is who just by looking at the pattern of the clothing. The black colour that we see is actually deep purple, the dye is derived from the Indigo flower which can be seen in most of the household.

The flower is soaked in water, and for the first 24 hours, the colour produced will be black, and by second day, it will be purple. Indigo and dyeing is so important to this tribe, that most of the time, you can see the Hmongs hands are purple in colour, demonstrating the fact that they have been soaking their hand in the dyes.

From their costumes, these 3 Black Hmong ladies came from the same tribe and apparently from different family, as the pattern on their sleeves are very different.

In this area, the woman folks are extremely hardworking, as they are responsible for looking after their siblings when they are young, and the household when they are married. Beside the rice fields, children, cooking, they also have to weave and with the many tourists into SaPa, selling souvenirs to tourists. How to they multi-tasks, well they have hemps wrapped around their necks, and while waiting for tourists, they will be busied working on the hemps. For some, they will be carrying an infant on their back otherwise a basket backpack which will be filled with goods that they will be selling in the market, or goods that they have purchased! For the manfolks, beside going into the forest to hunt, they may be working in the fields, and of course indulged in the favourite past time of consuming rice wine.

The yonger Hmongs are now more priviledge as they get to attend school. These 2 young Hmong girls have just finished their school, and on their way home.

The typical Hmong's home is usually deprived of fridge, and most foods are usually smoked by being placed just above the fire place.

The display of corns and meats are good indication of the wealth of the family.

Overlooking Sin Chai Village (this will be our starting point of our climb). The prominent building is a primary school.

Long before the advent of electricity, automation was mechanical with the water wheel carrying water and depositing to a special trough where a "see-saw" mechanism is used to pound grain out of its husks.

In the Cat Cat Village where the Black Hmong lives, there are many waterfall and streams. In this case, this beautiful fall is near to their cultural centre.

Our objective for this trip was to climb Fan Si Pan, and there are various routes to climb to the peak, for this trip we have chosen to take 1.5 days to go up, and another 1.5 days to come down.

At 3,143 m, the manifestation of High Altitude Sickness is not pronounce, and Camp 1 was only at 2,200 m which was a comfortable height to rest.

Day 1 – From Xin Chia (Sin Chia) Village to Camp 1

Taking a leisurely stroll, we started at about 09:30 hrs from Sin Chia Village.




A curious glance from a Hmong lady looking after her charge.

In most village, livestock mingled with the population.

We passed a primary school where it so happened that recess was in session, and the children were out at play. Looking at them, and recalling our own, we realized we were very fortunate. These children were attending school with the most basic attire. Looking at a pair of siblings, the younger one was naked from the bottom half, including footwear! We were touched by their sincerity, and managed to share some of our provisions with the children, nuts, raisins, biscuits, chocolate. Though these children lacked in basic needs, they have something that we can see in their eyes, joy and happiness which we rarely see in our own students, with study pressure!

How many of our students have to look after their sibling, and attend school at the same time!

Found this house to be of interest, as it is below the water level of the rice field. One wonders what will happen if the dyke breaks!

Our walk to Camp 1 required us to go through winding roads and tracks.

We passed this river, and saw this rock that has been beautifully carved out by pebbles and water.

The initial track lead us to small villages and abode of the Hmong.

Another primary school in Sin Chai, much smaller than the earlier one. Just one small building.

The tracks took us through bamboo groves, and occasionally we crossed bridges over streams and rivers. In fact, it was a most wonderful walk, though we have on many occasions were required to go up, and then down, to follow by more ups and again down. In many places of the tracks, we come across droppings from the bovine kind, huge and black, and emitting the typical dung smell. We avoided them, and as we climbed higher, these “landmines” markedly diminished.

Along the way, we came across villagers who have been out cutting bamboos, and the only way to bring back the goods, is to bring them back on their shoulders or back.

Zoom our 2nd Guide, also double up as cook. Now what is that KrisFlyer doing there!

Though we were climbing up, there were many downs. And down means more up!

In such windy and cold environment, most plants do not grow very tall, and for flowering plants they tend to hug the ground, like this one.

The track leads to beautiful forest glade.

Final approach to Camp 1

We reached Camp 1 at about 16:30 hr, with plenty of time to settle in. Camp 1 was located in a valley, and this forms a nice channel for the wind to flow through, and if one understand the venture effect, the constriction of the cross sectional area will speed up the wind flow, and this place was really windy, and cold.

Dinner was eaten in the open, which land a nice ambiance with the stars above our head. Our Guides double up as Cook, and occasionally as Porter. We were bless with Zoom, who happened to learn cooking from his father, and was a very good cook beside an assistant guide.

Zoom our guide was going to be getting married at the end of Feb 2009, and in the tradition of the tribal marriage, Zoom’s family will have to give a dowry of

− Vietnam Dong 10,000,000 equivalent to US$750
− 100 litres of Rice Win
− 1 Buffalow or 3 Pigs
− And couple more items
To the family of the Bride.

Day 2 – Camp 1 to the Summit and back

Started our climb at 08:00 hr, this part of the climb was tougher than the 1st day, as there are many places where ascends can only be made with the helps of ladders, and in other places bamboo provided good holding support in order for us to climb up.

Our makeshift kitchen was next to a stream which also double up as our makeshift basin. We have to be careful when we draw our water, otherwise our water will be filled with Colgate taste!

Camp 1 - with the various tentages for us. Now there is that KrisFlyer again. Now SIA really goes places!

For reason which I cannot explain, there were alot of dead trees in Camp 1. Was there fire in the past that killed these trees, or was it the invasion from the North in the eighties. I have no idea.

The journey became more precarious, and the cameraman has no choice but to store the camera, as it was knocking against the rock face.

Fan Si Pan lies on the Hoang Lien Son range, and from the picture it looks like the spine of a serpentine animal, which the people here believe to be that of the dragon. As one approaches the peak, the wind becomes stronger, and bitingly cold. As such, it is always comfortable to walk into the bamboo forest, when the wind is less strong, but there are many places on this trail that simply provides no shelter from the wind, and we simply have to brave through the high gale wind to reach the summit.

Going to the summit, will require us to walk on the ridge. To prevent us from falling over, the Park has build in concrete fence in the shape of bamboo.

The spine of Fan Si Pan

Bamboo grove provides shelter from the strong wind.

Finally the Summit is just there!

We reached the summit at 13:30 hr, and rest here for lunch for about half an hour.

This Steel Pyramid marks the summit.

The summit at 3,143 m was extremely windy, but the views from here were superb. To the north, one can see China, and to the west, it was Laos.

Though we were told it will take 4 hours to reach the summit from Camp 1, we took almost 5.5 hours, and realized that we are going to walk in the dark on our way down! Most of us did not bring our flash light with us, as we believe we can return to Camp 1 before 17:00 hr.

True to our prediction, the sun set early in the February month, and by 17:30 hr, the sun has set. Even in the dark (but not pitch black), the guides and porters have no problem finding their ways and footings to Camp 1. It was during this moment of walking in the dark that we caught whiff of dung smell that somehow smell good news to us, in that we were reaching our Camp.

Thankfully, all 13 of us managed to reach Camp 1 with the last group trailing in at 19:00 hr.

Exhausted but exhilarated with our ascend, we retired to our tents. Looking at the clouds, indeed it was like a sign that said “ZZZZZZZ”.

This night, the wind was extremely strong – it was difficult to sleep, as we struggled to keep the wind out of our tentage. Just as we dozed off at about 01:00 hr, suddenly we were able to see stars! Our tent has been blown away, and with it some of our bags which held our warm clothing. It was going to be a fun night!

By morning, when we surveyed the damage, only 3 tents were left standing, but barely. Couple of 2-man tents have collapsed, and some of our supplies were strewn all over the area. We seek adventure by coming to Fan Si Pan, and gotten more than the adventure to the summit.

Day 3 – Camp 1 to Hoang Lien Son National Park HQ

A 2 hours walk, and again with some ups and downs. Otherwise the walk was pleasant.
Soon we reached the Park HQ where our transport was waiting for us.

After walking to the summit, this portion of the walk is like a "walk in the park".

The end of our walk - the Hoang Lien Son National Park HQ

We have climbed various mountains, and if I have to describe Fan Si Pan, I will have to say that it is a most enjoyable climb as you get to

a. see mountain ranges, the mountain you are climbing is adjacent to other mountains
b. interact with the local tribal people, and appreciate their strength. We were fully geared with warm clothing and footwear, but the local wore their traditional costumes and wore slippers!
c. enjoy the forested areas with bamboo groves, and other fauna
d. have high success of reaching the peak as it is not very high
e. offer enough challenges of slippery, vertical, rocky slopes
f. partaking of hot meal, even up at the summit

But more importantly, the guides and porters are extremely helpful and friendly. We would not have succeed if not for them.

Sultan Shoal LIghthouse - Sentry of the West

Sultan Shoal Lighthouse used to occupy a strategic location guiding ships from/to the Straits of Malacca into the Western Achorage.

While the island that the lighthouse is sitting has not moved, it is now much closer to the mainland! This is due to the major reclamation works that occurs in Tuas South as well as the creation of the Jurong Island (Jurong Island is linked to the main land by a bridge). From Google Map below, we can see with the extension of Tuas South, it looks like the Lighthouse is now in a "bay"! To the North is Jurong Island and to the West is Tuas South.

The Lighthouse was built on a small outcrop, and to prevent erosion to the shoreline, the island has been ringed with big granite boulders. Thus this island has no mangrove plants, as well as the lack of a sandy shore. However the granite boulders provide good grazing ground and provide good “hold fast” to the grazing shell-animals, especially the Neritae.

Lone Nerite among Mud Creepers

This molluscs come in many colours and sizes, and basically occupies every granite rocks that it was impossible stepping on them as we moved around to explore the organisms that thrive in this area.

On one spot, I foound these 3 Nerites but of different speciesThe whitish spot is actually Nerite's egg capsule. Each of these contains about 30 eggs. Now we know why the whole island is carpeted with Nerites.

Other molluscs that were seen here are the Rock Snail (Family Muricidae) which cling tightly to the wall, Cowrie with length span of about 6 cm. Such beautiful animals will never have the opportunity to grow to this size on the mainland, as it will be collected for its beautiful shells.

Rock Snail (Family Muricidae)

Cowrie (Cypraea arabica). The pattern on the shell looks like Arabic writing, and thus this cowrie is called as such.

Bottom view of the Cowrie

Found in abundance is the Turban Snail, the Turban Snail (Turbo sp) is also a grazer of algae, and its notable characteristics is the “trapdoor”, in some country the operculum is collected and make into buttons. One do not have to wonder why, just look at the beautiful pattern and colour.

Close-up of the shell opening and operculum

The other interesting feature of Sultan Shoal Lighthouse, is a man-made sea water pool, that provides the artificial inter-tidal area that was lacking on this island. In this pool, most of the animals were trapped as the tide receded. Those not considered traps, find this a good refuge, with soft sandy mud, and detritus left by the tide. On this field trip, we have Prof Ng to guide us on crabs.

(Previously Prof Ng guided us in Raffles Lighthouse, where we found the Jaded Pearl Crab)http://mountain-n-sea.blogspot.com/2008/08/pulau-satumu.html

In this pool, we were able to see many Fiddler Crabs, and Prof Ng pointed out the endangered and beautiful Fiddler Crab (Uca tetragonon).

Fiddler Crab

A pair of Uca tetragonon, male on the left and the female on the right

Usually in the Fiddler (Family Uca), the male is the one that is brightly colour, and the female adorns a duller shade. But not for this species, both the male and female were equally colourful, except that the male has a longer reddish pincer to attract the female as well as to ward off potential male. Uca tetragonon is extremely shy creature, and is very skittish, it will escape to its hole with the slightest disturbance in the form of light, vibration.

Close up of Uca tetragonon (Male)

Close up of Uca tetragonon (Female)

Thus this fiddler seldom strays very far from its nesting holes. Due to its skittishness, Uca tetragonon tends to build their nesting holes near to a wall or rocky outcrop. This also work to our advantage, as to take records of this crab in their undisturbed condition, means one can observe them from above. It is extremely difficult to photo them at ground level, so I climbed onto the pool walls and adopt a prone position from the top (about 4 m up). Fortunately I was using my longer macro lens (Tamron 180 mm – equivalent to 270 mm on the 35 mm scale), even with this focal length, it was not possible to fill the frame with the crabs. A lot of post cropping need to be done, for the images to be blogged!

Overhead shot of Uca tetragonon (Male) near to its nesting hole

Overhead shot of Uca tetragonon (Female) near to its nesting holes feeding on detritus

For survival, these two crabs below have found a novel way of hiding from predators. One has decided to cut a piece of sponge and wrapped around its carapace, and the other has chosen to use a dead leaf as a cover.

From the top, it looks like any piece of “debris”, but below hide this Sponge Crab. Only when it started to move, that it will give itself away.

Top View of the Sponge Crab (Cryptodromia pileifera)

Underside View of the same Sponge Crab (Cryptodromia pileifera)

The other master of camouflage, looks for suitable leaf, and with its modified claws (especially the last pair), it will hold onto suitable size leaf. Once again, until it started to move, especially against the flow of water that it will give itself away.

Notice the last pair of claw of the Leaf Porter Crab (Neodorippe callida)

Another view of the Leaf Porter Crab (Neodorippe callida)

To better understand the Leaf Porter Crab, we decided to give it a different size leaf, and somehow it find our leaf was less than ideal, and will always stick to its own! My conclusion is that the size and span of its claws must match the holding areas of the leaf, otherwise it will not be able to use the leaf effectively!

Leaf must fit to the size of its holding claws

Another specimen that was discovered by Prof Ng, was this Pseudoscorpion (Parahya submersa). It was small, and made me wonder how he managed to find it in the first place. For comparison, look at the grains of sand, in fact our estimation is that its body is only about 3 mm long. Not much is written about this marine Pseudoscorpion, and literature search on the web did not yield any interesting results!

Compare the grain of sands to the Pseudoscorpion

Blow-up image of the Pseudoscorpion

(In macro photography and depending on the lens, the distance between the lens and the object is 12 to 15 cm. Handholding and expecting to get sharp details requires very good hand holdin and breathing skill. But one technique that I find useful, is to fire rapid shot by setting the camera to continuous shooting mode, and having pre-focused (auto focus for macro is not going to work), take a number of shots. Manage to get one decent shot from about 25 shots. If you happen to be involved in excessive menial tasks before the picture taking, you will find that most of your shots will be ruined by your shaking hands!)

For other findings on this field trip, please check out

Where Discovery Begins

Manta Blog

TideChaser

God's Wonderful Creation

Autumn Colour - Preservation of Life

The colourful leaves that we see in the Autumn is a result of a process whereby Deciduous trees prepared for the wintery weather, when there is less water, cold spell and lack of sunlight.





Similar to other organism, preparation for winter is most vital for their survival. Other animals migrate, and some started the process of hibernation. But for plant, which is not warm blooded, the plant has to prepare for winter in a special plant way!
The process of preparation for Winter is called Hardening, and there are 3 stages as to how trees prepared for the winter. But the method and preparation varies from species to species and are program into each of these species.

Stage 1 – Dropping of Leaves
Prior to the leaves being shed from the trees, it will have undergone a most beautiful process of colour change. To understand this transformation, it is important to go micro and understand the various cellular structure and the synthesizing of metabolic materials in the plant.

In a typical leaves, there are plastids (plant cells that are responsible for energy creation and storage). The most common plastid will be the Chloroplast that enables the plant to photosynthesis from the sun ray to create starch out of carbon dioxide. In these plastids, they contains various pigments which give rise to the myriads of colours found on leaves, the pigment in different percentage will give rise to the colour of the leaves in the various seasons.

Chlorophyll - Repsonsible for the green colours that we see on leaves, and vital for leaves to be able to photosynthesis.. This pigment absorbs the Red and Blue colours and reflect the Green. The molecular structure of chlorophyll is large (C55H70MgN4O6). Chlorophyll attached itself around the chloroplast or the chloroplast is a plastid that contains the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is not a stable product and tends to break down under intense sunlight, and has to be continuously regenerated by the plant where light, warm temperature and water are present.

Caroteneoid - this pigment absorbs the blue and blue-green light, and is responsible for the orange colour that we see on the leaves. This pigment is also found in fruit and roots like corns and carrot. Similar to chlorophyll, the molecule is large (C40H36) but more stable than chlorophyll which gives the orangey hue to the leaves when the chlorophyll is depleted from the leaves. The carotene pigment is found in the in another type plastid called the Chromoplast.

Xanthophyll - belonging to the carotenoids group, and is responsible for the yellow colour commonly seen in autumn leaf.

Anthocyanin - unlike the above pigmentation that is being held in plastids, anthocyanin are found in the plant sap. Anthocyanin absorbs the blue, blue-green and green colours of light, and thus give the appearance of red and purple. This pigment is commonly found in fruits, giving rise to the familiar redness in apple and the purplishness in grape. The colouration of anthocyanin is very much depends on the concentration of the sap and sunlight. The stronger the light, the stronger will be the reaction. Which will explain, why apple can exhibit different colouration from dark red to light red and even green. Anthocyanin is a very strong anti-oxidant, and is extremely beneficial to us, and therefore when eating fruits, do not peel the skin away. Give it a good wash.

As winter approaches, the weather become colder, daylight is shorter, and water becomes scarce. These conditions lead to the plant hardening process of retracting and storing the food (carbohydrate) in the roots. At the same time, the leaf stalk started to swell which will restrict nutrient going to the leaf. Glucose and waste are now trapped in the leaves, and without nutrient and water, the chlorophyll diminishes and eventually disappears. With the absence of chlorophyll, the other two pigment becomes more apparent. The colours presentation will be due to the different percentage of the carotenoid and anthocyanin pigment that are left behind in the leaves.

Eventually, the leaves will drop from the tree. Now the tree is hardened for winter, and is capable of managing winter with temperature dropping to -10 deg C.

Step 2 – Further hardening of Trees
If the temperature started to drop further, and hopefully in a gradual manner, trees will have ample time to further harden itself by migrating the sap from the cell structure into the inter-cellular space. Tree sap has long molecular structure, and with long molecular structure, the tree sap has lower freezing point (called it a type of anti-freeze). However, occasionally with sudden freezing spell, trees that do not have the opportunity to harden will suffer from the freeze, and at times parts of the trees will be damaged.

The last stage which is still unknown to scientist is the transformation of ice crystal in the cell, from sharp crystal to rounded edge crystal. With this transformation, the cell will not be damaged.

Through this complicated process of hardening for winter, we can enjoy and be bewildered at the beautiful fall foliage. The deciduous trees are now ready to “hibernate” for the winter to present itself once again in its full glory in spring. But this time it will be the flowers that will paint the scenery.
http://mountain-n-sea.blogspot.com/2008/06/spring-renewing-of-lives.html

All pictures taken at West Bloomfield, Michigan, US.

Based on the principle of Chlorophyll being responsible for the green we see in tropic Singapore, we will occasionally come across autumn foliage in some of our trees (namely trees like the Sea Almond Terminalia catappa and Blind-Your-Eyes Exoecaria agallocha). During a long dry spell, the trees in self preservation will restrict water flow to the leaves, and without the water, the leaves will lose its chlorophyll and start to change its primary green colour.

With this knowledge, now one can look and be bewildered by the beautiful fall colours and fathom the processes that have gone into this transformation.

Along Clementi "River" (Holland Woods)

Along Clementi Road, opposite Ngee Ann Polytechnic there is this Strom Drain which in Singapore size, looks like a river.
(Also known as Holland Woods)

I have always wanted to explore this area, and on Deepavali, it was a good opportunity as I need the sunlight to help me recover from jet lag, as I have just returned from the US.


The first activity that caught our eyes was this "fisherman", as can be seen from the picture, there are nets in the water by evidence of the styrofoam float. What fish dwell in this place, probably tilapia. But we did not hang around to find out.

With such expanse of water, one can definitely find the super agile dragonfly skirting the waterlines. Though look like 2 different species, but actually they are ONE. The Red is the Male and the Yelllow - the female Asian Scarlet Dragonfly (Crocothemis servilia)

Walking along the bank of this "river", I chanced for the second time on a lonesome Hoverfly (Family Syrphidae). Such fly is characterised by its big bulging eyes and short antennae.

For protection, it has acquired pattern to that of wasp (Batesian mimics). The belly of the Hoverfly has striped pattern similar to the wasp. But when it comes to rest, its outline is that of a fly! But some Hoverfly has "waist"to further confuse its predator.

The Hoverfly is a friend to the gardeners, as its larvae feeds on aphids.


Usually the male Hoverfly will hover on certain spot in space to attract female, and will defend this piece of 3 dimension space against other intruders that dare to encroach into its airspace.


Having to hover demand alot of energy, and occasionally the Hoverfly will have to "re-fuel" by drinking nectars from nearby flowers.



Below is a picture of a housefly, and in this condition, this housefly looks pretty nice!

There were much vegetation, and reaching the railway line, we came across this 7 Golden Candle stick (Cassia alata), with beautiful bulge and patterns, and was frequented by ants.

We have to visit this place again, especially in the morning for we have heard many birds call, and managed to catch glances as they flew off. This brown bird that flew off is a very rare Black Bittern (Dupetor flavicollis). Unfortunately I was not able to get a ground shot as we startled it when it was foraging in the marshy drain.

It has been certainly a surprise location, as this place is sandwiched between busy Clementi and Bukit Timah. Certainly we will be making another reconaissance again.

A Crab with no name on Satumu

Pulau Satumu
The most Southern Part of Terra Firma in Singapore territory. Or more commonly known as Raffles Lighthouse.

Once again we were indeed grateful for the permission granted to us to do an exploratory intertidal walk on Pulau Satumu which is a restricted area.

Previously when we did our intertidal walk, we managed to see many Criniods (Feather Stars) in different colours. However, this time - the marked difference that I noticed was the numerous Nerites (Snails) that were on every rocks that we walked, and the other was the Sargassum (Family Sargassaceae) that has covered much of the intertidal areas.

Sargassum coverecd Inter-tidal areas
Nerite scavenging for foods on the rocks.

Stranded in some pocket of water, we found these two False Clown Fish (Amphiprion ocellaris), near to this pocket of water was another pocket with a Sea Anemone. Apparently, they must have strayed and landed themselves from their host. Well the next tide will bring a sweet union to these dual.

While scouting around, I chanced uon this "split" coral. I have read that as coral grows, the individual polyp will raise its base plate (which is the bottom of the coral cell), and start to build the calcium wall around it. But that is from book, now from the "split" coral, I was able to see the formation of the individual walls of each of these polyps.

Why did the coral split? It does not look like a mechanical damage, but somehow it showed that two sides of the corals decided to go their separate ways!

Any Coral experts, maybe you can enlighten me on this unusual sighting.

Refer to Ria's reply below. This is a Zoanthid, my hand must be numbed on that day, as I touch the split zone and felt that it was hard. Thanks to Ria for the correction.

On this trip, we have the priviledge of two Crab Experts in our group. We were told to look for a special crab. The instructions given were

• It has a squarish carapace
• It has greenish dots on its carapace
• It dislikes water, and tend to be above the water line
• It dwells behind rocks and boulders

The uniqueness of this crab is that it has yet to be ID, and thus has no names (scientifically or common). Its cousins have been seen in Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan, except that in Taiwan it has blusih dots instead of the greenish dots.

With these instructions, we went a hunting - alas, we were bad hunters and found none. But the expert managed to land one, and we managed to take a lot of closed-up shots of this female "model".

It has lost one leg, and we were told that crabs have certain set of muscles near to the body. Upon being threatened, they can constrict this muscles such that the legs can just dislodge itself. Possibly just like the lizard's tail whereby losing a limb (which can grow back in the next moult) is more beneficial than being eaten up.

Upper picture taken, showing the almost squarish carapace with yellowish-greenish dots.
Frontal Shots of this lady

Closed-Up of the "face
Close up of the eye - notice that there is a protrusion on the eye. This is like a hair on the eye.

Underside of this female unknown ID crab with its orange claws.

Till the ID of this crab is published, I think I am at liberty to call this crab "Jaded Pearls" Crab.
Jade tends to be green, and the dots are like pearl. So Jaded Pearls Crab in this blog.

The next time to Satumu, I will be looking up for more Jade!