E mail : sasi@nus.edu.sg 

My PhD dissertation topic :

Nutrient And Biotic Fluxes In Relation To Dispersal Of Pollutants In Ponggol River.

Professor Chou Loke Ming, Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.

&

Dr. Beverly Goh, Natural Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education

The ecosystem :

Ponggol estuary located between 1° 22'54"N & 1° 24'42"N latitudes and 139° 52'24"E & 139° 54'12"E longitudes is a mangrove fringed estuary on the northeastern coast of Singapore. Approximately 2.5 Km long, it receives fresh water from the storm drains and drains into the East Johor Strait. This ecosystem has been recognised as one of the only 4 wetlands left in Singapore frequented by migratory birds. The area around the estuary has witnessed mammoth changes with the passage of time. Originally a pig farming area, the farming operations were phased out in 1984 to reduce pollution. With the initiation of the ambitious Ponggol 21 housing project in September 1999, we observed anthropogenic impacts in the form of dredging, reclamation, construction activities, dumping and mangrove deforestation. As this study was initiated in June 1999, we were able to monitor the pre-impact, impact and post-impact changes to this ecosystem. Besides this, a mega marina constructed along this estuary and the busy shipping lane along the Johor straits exerts its influence on the ecosystem as seen by the occasional oil spills.

1. Field monitoring

2. Photoadaptational studies using Skeletonema costatum

3. Ecotoxicological studies - Experimental set up

i) In situ mesocosms with petroleum hydrocarbons: bacteria and phytoplankton

ii) In situ mesocosms with heavy metals : bacteria and phytoplankton

iii) In situ microcosms with diesel : periphytic algae

iv) In situ microcosms with heavy metals : periphytic algae

4. Conclusions

ZOOPHY a compact, microprocessor controlled, portable, battery operated surface - subsurface plankton cum water sampler. This low cost sampler has no metallic component that comes in contact with the water that is pumped through and can therefore be used to collect  samples for heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and other pollutants. Performance studies on this sampler revealed comparable retentivity of plankton to the towed conventional sampling gears.

About me…….

• Curriculum Vitae

• Publications

HOBBIES

• Ham radio or amateur radio : 

A technical hobby of making friends and carrying our experiments over air waves using radio transceivers. I earned my licence when I was 15 and have been active ever since. Some of the radio call signs I have used / still use are VU3SNM (India), 9V1SM (Singapore), W5 / VU3SNM (New Mexico, USA), W7 / VU3SNM (Arizona, USA), W8 / VU3SNM (West Virginia, USA), GW0 / VU3SNM (North Wales, UK), XM7 / VU3SNM (British Columbia, Canada),XM6 / VU3SNM (Alberta, Canada), ZL/9V1SM (Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand) and VP9/VU3SNM (Bermuda). I am the treasurer and council member of Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society. 

• Aero- and ship modelling

I used to be quite active during my teenage days. Started off with the static models and came all the way to the R/C models. The most recent acquisition is a 'Firebird XL' twin channel R/C plane. Hope I find some time some day to get back to 'flying'.
 
• Jet skiing 

Got hooked to speedboats and jet skiing after obtaining my Private Pleasure Craft Driving Licence in Singapore. Too expensive to go out regulary!

• SCUBA Diving

I am an advanced PADI open water diver. My local water dives, those in Malaysia and the more recent one in Victoria, Canada are unforgetable. Click here to see some of my underwater shots..... 

My dive school

Plankton Net Mailing List is to provide a forum for discussion and announcements among planktonologists researching on ecology, taxonomy, physiology, productivity and monitoring of phytoplankton and zooplankton, in fresh, brackish and marine ecosystems throughout the world. The list currently has 400 plankton researchers from over 80 countries. Visit the URL for more information or drop me a mail to subscribe to the list. The archives of the list can be viewed at  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/planktonnet

Mangrove discussion list : A global forum for the exchange of information between mangrove researchers.

Coral list : All about coral reefs

Seagrass forum : All about seagrass biology and ecology of seagrass ecosystems.

Marbio list : A platform to discuss all issues of interest to marine scientists world wide.

Phycological Society of America listserver : An announcement list.

Evoldir : called the "Evolutionary Directory", an announcement  list for evolutionary biologists.