I am glad.. Finally, what I'd planned for a month or so, was completed. I am so happy but tired at the same time.. The megasampling took place with the help of so many people..
I thank everyone who help me in many, many ways.. (see ameyahmad Back in Dundee, Sept 13 2009)
Next year will be another round! See ye..
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The trip is on..
YES..!!! I got my team.. Not full but enough to make the trip round Malaya.. I got Usop onboard, Hairol and Amzar too.. Amzar may be have to parted early but I guess I might change the plan a bit so that he could be around for his sister wedding..
I'm not sure about Min but Nadia willing to come.. May be Natrah can join for the northern trip.. Hohoho.. I can't wait to hit the road..
I'm not sure about Min but Nadia willing to come.. May be Natrah can join for the northern trip.. Hohoho.. I can't wait to hit the road..
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Calling to join the second team!!
Anyone...!!! I'm looking for the second team.. To those wishes to be in the second team and join me on the road as I pass by or about to reach your area or where we could meet, please leave your email and telephone number (mobile, please!) in 'comment' or email me at ameyahmad@gmail.com
I'll contact you to join me for a shorter trip - probably visiting 2, 3 sites like that.. Just to give you some idea how tough sampling can be and some exosure that may be useful for you in the future.. Don't worry about food and accomodation, it's free.. But if you want to pay for your food, and me too.., that's great.. Hahaha..
Anyone..!!!!
I'll contact you to join me for a shorter trip - probably visiting 2, 3 sites like that.. Just to give you some idea how tough sampling can be and some exosure that may be useful for you in the future.. Don't worry about food and accomodation, it's free.. But if you want to pay for your food, and me too.., that's great.. Hahaha..
Anyone..!!!!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Mega sampling 0808
So far.., so good...
Hairol and Usop; my former students are already agree to follow.. Great!! I wish Feh and Amzar to be in the team.. Duke may not be possible to follow but if he could, it would be really great.. I had them with me at Bukit Bauk, then Sg. Galas, sampling Amzar.. It's really great!! Can't wait to wade the stream again with them..
IF Syed and Along can come, that will be a bonus.. I've yet to ask Along.. Not expecting him to follow because he might be busy with his gerai.. I'll call Feh amd Amzar later.. Amzar got something that I aware but Feh yet to hear from him..
Just in case, my second team is ready to kick off the trip.. May be take the second team partially to help with non-muscle work.. Hehe.. So, Nadia, Cik Min, Pae, Shima and Natrah.., get ready.. When I pass by your area, I'll give you a call..
Orait..
Hairol and Usop; my former students are already agree to follow.. Great!! I wish Feh and Amzar to be in the team.. Duke may not be possible to follow but if he could, it would be really great.. I had them with me at Bukit Bauk, then Sg. Galas, sampling Amzar.. It's really great!! Can't wait to wade the stream again with them..
IF Syed and Along can come, that will be a bonus.. I've yet to ask Along.. Not expecting him to follow because he might be busy with his gerai.. I'll call Feh amd Amzar later.. Amzar got something that I aware but Feh yet to hear from him..
Just in case, my second team is ready to kick off the trip.. May be take the second team partially to help with non-muscle work.. Hehe.. So, Nadia, Cik Min, Pae, Shima and Natrah.., get ready.. When I pass by your area, I'll give you a call..
Orait..
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Mega Field Works - Part 1 2008
I warn ye.. Don't open it but IF you really want to see it.. Go ahead..
My sampling program (FYI..)
Tentative sampling program
Date : August 1 2008 – August 21, 2008
The journey home
19 July 08:10hrs Depart to Amsterdam; 12:00hrs Depart to Malaysia via Amsterdam
20 July 06:05hrs Arrive at KLIA; 11:45hrs Depart to Kuala Terengganu; 12:35hrs Arrive at Kuala Terengganu
The preperation begins
21 July 10:00hrs Meeting with Head of Department, Biology. To be confirmed. 12:00hrs Meeting with helpers At General Bio. Lab.
22 – 23 July 09:00 – 17:00hrs Preperation: Gather all equipment and materials needed for sampling - formalin and ethanol(?) - to buy other consumables
The (mega)field works begin
24 July 10:00hrs Depart from UMT, Kuala Terengganu; 16:30hrs Arrive at Baling, Kedah - overnight; 17:30hrs Site survey(?)
25 July 09:00hrs 1. Sampling Sg. Nau, Baling - overnight
26 July 09:00hrs Depart to Perlis; 16:00hrs Arrive at Perlis State Park - overnight; 16:30hrs Site survey(?)
27 July 10:00hrs 2. Sampling stream at Wang Mu; 14:00hrs 3. Sampling stream at Wang Klian - overnight
28 July 09:30hrs Depart to Kuala Nerang, Kedah; 12:30hrs Arrive at Kuala Nerang; 14:00hrs 4. Sampling Puncak Janing; 18:00hrs Depart to Penang - overnight; 22:00hrs Arrive at Penang
29 July 09:00hrs Visit Univ. Science Malaysia (USM)– to examine fish collection at School of Biological Sciences, USM; 16:00hrs Depart to Kulim, Kedah - overnight
30 July 10:00hrs 5. Sampling Bukit Hijau/Sedim - Overnight
31 July 09:00hrs Depart to Batu Kurau, Perak; 12:00hrs Arrive at Batu Kurau, Perak; 14:00hrs 6. Sampling Sg. Anak Kurau - Overnight
1 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Ulu Kenas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak; 12:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Kangsar; 14:00hrs 7. Sampling Sg. Kenas - overnight
2 Aug 09:00hrs 8. Sampling Sg. Kota Air Tampan - overnight
3 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Kuala Woh, Tapah; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Woh, Tapah; 15:00hrs 9. Sampling at Kuala Woh - overnight
4 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Bangi, Selangor; 13:00hrs Arrive at UKM, Bangi; 14:00hrs Visit Univ. Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)– to examine fish collection at Faculty of Sciences and Technology, UKM. - overnight
5 Aug 09:30 - 17:00hrs– to examine fish collection at Faculty of Sciences and Technology, UKM. - overnight
6 Aug 09:00hrs 10. Sampling at Sg. Congkak, Ulu Langat, Selangor - overnight
7 Aug 09:00hrs 11. Sampling at Ulu Gombak - overnight
8 Aug 09:00hrs 12. Sampling at Sg. Tua, Selayang; 16:00hrs Depart to Rembau, Negeri Sembilan; 20:00hrs Arrive at Rembau, Negeri Sembilan - overnight
9 Aug 09:30hrs 13. Sampling Ulu Sepri, Rembau - overnight
10 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Ulu Bendul, Kuala Pilah; 14. Sampling at Ulu Bendul - overnight
11 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Serting; 15. Sampling at Serting - overnight
12 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Segamat, Johor; 13:00hrs Arrive at G. Ledang; 14:00hrs 16. Sampling at G. Ledang - overnight
13 Aug 09:00hrs 17. Sampling at Sg. Bantang - overnight
14 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Kluang, Johor; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kluang; 18. Sampling G. Berlumut - overnight
15 Aug 10:00hrs ... cont. 18. 14:00hrs Depart to Maran, Pahang; 22:00hrs Arrive at Maran, Pahang - overnight
16 Aug 09:30hrs 19. Sampling at Belimbing, Maran - overnight
17 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Lanchang, Pahang; 13:30hrs Arrive at Lanchang, Pahang; 14:00hrs Visit Institute for Biodiversity, DWNP – to examine fish collection at IKB, DWNP. - overnight
18 Aug 09:00hrs 20. Sampling at Lanchang, Pahang - overnight; 16:00hrs Depart to Kuantan, Pahang; 20:00hrs Arrive at Kuantan, Pahang - overnight
19 Aug 09:30hrs 21. Sampling at Berkelah - overnight
20 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Dungun, Terengganu; 13:00hrs Arrive at Dungun, Terengganu; 14:00hrs 22. Sampling at Besul, Dungun - overnight
21 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
[end of part 1]
Lab works
22–23 Aug Specimen prep. and further identification, (dead fish) photo session
The (not-so-mega)field works begin
24 Aug 10:00hrs Depart to Kuala Berang, Terengganu; 12:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Berang, Terengganu; 13:00hrs 23. Sampling Sg. Peres, Sekayu - overnight
25 Aug 09:30hrs 24. Sampling Sg. Por, Sekayu - overnight
26 Aug 09:30hrs 25. Sampling Lata Payong, Setiu; 16:00hrs Depart to Jertih, Terengganu - overnight
27 Aug 09:30hrs 26. Sampling at Lata Tembakah, Terengganu; 16:00hrs Depart to Machang, Kelantan - overnight
28 Aug 09:30hrs 27. Sampling at Bukit Bakar, Kelantan; 14:00hrs Depart to Chiku, Kelantan - overnight
29 Aug 09:30hrs 28. Sampling at Chiku; 16:00hrs Depart to Tanah Merah, Kelantan - overnight
30 Aug 09:30hrs 29. Sampling at Sg. Buluh - overnight
31 Aug 09:30hrs 30. Sampling at Sg. Lanas; 16:00hrs Depart ti Kuala Terengganu
[end of part 2]
[to be continue in 2009!! Hehe..]
Lab works
1–9 Sept 09:00-17:30hrs Specimen prep. and further identification, (dead fish) photo session
The return trip
10 Sept 16:15hrs Depart to KLIA
17:10hrs Arrive at KLIA
23:55hrs Depart to Amsterdam
11 Sept 06:35hrs Arrive at Amsterdam
14:10hrs Depart to Edinburgh
Arrive at Edinburgh
Depart to Dundee
Arrive at Dundee
Date : August 1 2008 – August 21, 2008
The journey home
19 July 08:10hrs Depart to Amsterdam; 12:00hrs Depart to Malaysia via Amsterdam
20 July 06:05hrs Arrive at KLIA; 11:45hrs Depart to Kuala Terengganu; 12:35hrs Arrive at Kuala Terengganu
The preperation begins
21 July 10:00hrs Meeting with Head of Department, Biology. To be confirmed. 12:00hrs Meeting with helpers At General Bio. Lab.
22 – 23 July 09:00 – 17:00hrs Preperation: Gather all equipment and materials needed for sampling - formalin and ethanol(?) - to buy other consumables
The (mega)field works begin
24 July 10:00hrs Depart from UMT, Kuala Terengganu; 16:30hrs Arrive at Baling, Kedah - overnight; 17:30hrs Site survey(?)
25 July 09:00hrs 1. Sampling Sg. Nau, Baling - overnight
26 July 09:00hrs Depart to Perlis; 16:00hrs Arrive at Perlis State Park - overnight; 16:30hrs Site survey(?)
27 July 10:00hrs 2. Sampling stream at Wang Mu; 14:00hrs 3. Sampling stream at Wang Klian - overnight
28 July 09:30hrs Depart to Kuala Nerang, Kedah; 12:30hrs Arrive at Kuala Nerang; 14:00hrs 4. Sampling Puncak Janing; 18:00hrs Depart to Penang - overnight; 22:00hrs Arrive at Penang
29 July 09:00hrs Visit Univ. Science Malaysia (USM)– to examine fish collection at School of Biological Sciences, USM; 16:00hrs Depart to Kulim, Kedah - overnight
30 July 10:00hrs 5. Sampling Bukit Hijau/Sedim - Overnight
31 July 09:00hrs Depart to Batu Kurau, Perak; 12:00hrs Arrive at Batu Kurau, Perak; 14:00hrs 6. Sampling Sg. Anak Kurau - Overnight
1 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Ulu Kenas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak; 12:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Kangsar; 14:00hrs 7. Sampling Sg. Kenas - overnight
2 Aug 09:00hrs 8. Sampling Sg. Kota Air Tampan - overnight
3 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Kuala Woh, Tapah; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Woh, Tapah; 15:00hrs 9. Sampling at Kuala Woh - overnight
4 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Bangi, Selangor; 13:00hrs Arrive at UKM, Bangi; 14:00hrs Visit Univ. Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)– to examine fish collection at Faculty of Sciences and Technology, UKM. - overnight
5 Aug 09:30 - 17:00hrs– to examine fish collection at Faculty of Sciences and Technology, UKM. - overnight
6 Aug 09:00hrs 10. Sampling at Sg. Congkak, Ulu Langat, Selangor - overnight
7 Aug 09:00hrs 11. Sampling at Ulu Gombak - overnight
8 Aug 09:00hrs 12. Sampling at Sg. Tua, Selayang; 16:00hrs Depart to Rembau, Negeri Sembilan; 20:00hrs Arrive at Rembau, Negeri Sembilan - overnight
9 Aug 09:30hrs 13. Sampling Ulu Sepri, Rembau - overnight
10 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Ulu Bendul, Kuala Pilah; 14. Sampling at Ulu Bendul - overnight
11 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Serting; 15. Sampling at Serting - overnight
12 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Segamat, Johor; 13:00hrs Arrive at G. Ledang; 14:00hrs 16. Sampling at G. Ledang - overnight
13 Aug 09:00hrs 17. Sampling at Sg. Bantang - overnight
14 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Kluang, Johor; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kluang; 18. Sampling G. Berlumut - overnight
15 Aug 10:00hrs ... cont. 18. 14:00hrs Depart to Maran, Pahang; 22:00hrs Arrive at Maran, Pahang - overnight
16 Aug 09:30hrs 19. Sampling at Belimbing, Maran - overnight
17 Aug 09:30hrs Depart to Lanchang, Pahang; 13:30hrs Arrive at Lanchang, Pahang; 14:00hrs Visit Institute for Biodiversity, DWNP – to examine fish collection at IKB, DWNP. - overnight
18 Aug 09:00hrs 20. Sampling at Lanchang, Pahang - overnight; 16:00hrs Depart to Kuantan, Pahang; 20:00hrs Arrive at Kuantan, Pahang - overnight
19 Aug 09:30hrs 21. Sampling at Berkelah - overnight
20 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Dungun, Terengganu; 13:00hrs Arrive at Dungun, Terengganu; 14:00hrs 22. Sampling at Besul, Dungun - overnight
21 Aug 09:00hrs Depart to Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; 14:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
[end of part 1]
Lab works
22–23 Aug Specimen prep. and further identification, (dead fish) photo session
The (not-so-mega)field works begin
24 Aug 10:00hrs Depart to Kuala Berang, Terengganu; 12:00hrs Arrive at Kuala Berang, Terengganu; 13:00hrs 23. Sampling Sg. Peres, Sekayu - overnight
25 Aug 09:30hrs 24. Sampling Sg. Por, Sekayu - overnight
26 Aug 09:30hrs 25. Sampling Lata Payong, Setiu; 16:00hrs Depart to Jertih, Terengganu - overnight
27 Aug 09:30hrs 26. Sampling at Lata Tembakah, Terengganu; 16:00hrs Depart to Machang, Kelantan - overnight
28 Aug 09:30hrs 27. Sampling at Bukit Bakar, Kelantan; 14:00hrs Depart to Chiku, Kelantan - overnight
29 Aug 09:30hrs 28. Sampling at Chiku; 16:00hrs Depart to Tanah Merah, Kelantan - overnight
30 Aug 09:30hrs 29. Sampling at Sg. Buluh - overnight
31 Aug 09:30hrs 30. Sampling at Sg. Lanas; 16:00hrs Depart ti Kuala Terengganu
[end of part 2]
[to be continue in 2009!! Hehe..]
Lab works
1–9 Sept 09:00-17:30hrs Specimen prep. and further identification, (dead fish) photo session
The return trip
10 Sept 16:15hrs Depart to KLIA
17:10hrs Arrive at KLIA
23:55hrs Depart to Amsterdam
11 Sept 06:35hrs Arrive at Amsterdam
14:10hrs Depart to Edinburgh
Arrive at Edinburgh
Depart to Dundee
Arrive at Dundee
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sampling P. Malaysia - August 2008
Well.. Works are under progress to sample fish from headwater streams in Peninsular Malaysia this coming August. This will be the first of two samplings that I have to conduct to get data for my PhD. After spending about 2 months analysing my previous data on fish inhabiting the headwater streams of Peninsular Malaysia (more will be done, later..), the opportunity to re-sample some of the streams and surveying a few new streams will generate more information on fish fauna in this great ecosystem.
Headwater ecosystem is rather unique. This ecosystem is constantly under great pressure of high water velocity and fast flowing current. Its substrate consists of rocks of many different sizes and sands. The physical habitat consists of pools including plunge pools of a few meters deep, rapids and riffles alternating the pools along the longitudinal section at the lower altitude. Along the stream, anthropogenic materials creating various structure for fish to hide, or predator may utilised it for hunting or ambushing prey.
Fishes inhabiting the headwater streams comes in various colour, shape and sizes. They utilised quite a different microhabitat such as rocky bottom, leaf piles, or just swim freely in open water. To date, only a handfull of species that probably never been reported elsewhere in the world utilised the headwater stream of Peninsular Malaysia as their habitat. The total number of freshwater fishes utilised the headwater ecosystem is not known. Well.. Some species may be found in lower part of the streams or in other totally different habitats such as swamps. "Obligate' species of headwater streams fish fauna may be not as rich as species recorded in swamps but the special adaptation to live in this 'harsh' habitat resulted several species possesses several unique characteristics such as streamline, flat-head, and elongated body.
From the previous collections, there are about 120 species (more or less..) but based on the preliminary analyses, the estimated number is higher! So, more sampling is needed until the graph of species-area curve reach asymptote. Well.. It won't be easy but more samplings at more sites and with the used of correct tools, we might be able to estimate the number of fish species living in this area. So, my job is to collect as many fish as I can withing 50m streach of stream for 3-5 replicates. I hope I am able to do this with the help of several friends.
WISH ME LUCK... <;)}}}<
Headwater ecosystem is rather unique. This ecosystem is constantly under great pressure of high water velocity and fast flowing current. Its substrate consists of rocks of many different sizes and sands. The physical habitat consists of pools including plunge pools of a few meters deep, rapids and riffles alternating the pools along the longitudinal section at the lower altitude. Along the stream, anthropogenic materials creating various structure for fish to hide, or predator may utilised it for hunting or ambushing prey.
Fishes inhabiting the headwater streams comes in various colour, shape and sizes. They utilised quite a different microhabitat such as rocky bottom, leaf piles, or just swim freely in open water. To date, only a handfull of species that probably never been reported elsewhere in the world utilised the headwater stream of Peninsular Malaysia as their habitat. The total number of freshwater fishes utilised the headwater ecosystem is not known. Well.. Some species may be found in lower part of the streams or in other totally different habitats such as swamps. "Obligate' species of headwater streams fish fauna may be not as rich as species recorded in swamps but the special adaptation to live in this 'harsh' habitat resulted several species possesses several unique characteristics such as streamline, flat-head, and elongated body.
From the previous collections, there are about 120 species (more or less..) but based on the preliminary analyses, the estimated number is higher! So, more sampling is needed until the graph of species-area curve reach asymptote. Well.. It won't be easy but more samplings at more sites and with the used of correct tools, we might be able to estimate the number of fish species living in this area. So, my job is to collect as many fish as I can withing 50m streach of stream for 3-5 replicates. I hope I am able to do this with the help of several friends.
WISH ME LUCK... <;)}}}<
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