20309 Aquacultural Biotechnology
Seaweed Field Trip
Tuesday 21st March 2000
Depart: HKU Main Building 13:45 pm
Return to Main Building: 17:30
Group List
During the trip we will visit a shore area to collect various seaweeds
which will be used in the laboratory practical. The beach we will visit
is Little Palm Beach in Clearwater Bay which supports a relatively rich
and diverse seaweed flora. This year the low-tide at16:00 is 0.8m. However
as we generally collect drift-weed this will not hinder collecting but
may make it difficult to see the seaweed beds. You will be provided with
a copy of this notice, a map, and a species list when you join the coach.
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The purpose of the trip is;
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1) to introduce you to the growth and habit of seaweed,
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2) to familiarise you with different species of seaweed,
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3) to collect material for the subsequent laboratory session as a source
of polysaccharides.
We will spend about 1 hour at the site. You should work in groups of 3
and try and collect about 200g of an abundant weed as well as small samples
of any other interesting species you find. Try and look at some different
areas on the beach and adjacent rocky areas. Remember most seaweeds grow
attached to rocks but you will also find many washed free and floating
which are stranded at low tide or carried up to the high water mark and
deposited. The main collecting area will be Little Palm Beach but you can
also look at the rocky cove on the South of Ngam Tau Sha. Be careful here
if it is windy as there can be larger waves on this side. Seaweed can easily
be collected by hand and you will be provided with bags and labels to store
your specimens.
IMPORTANT POINTS ·
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This trip will take place in all weather conditions so if the weather is
poor you should bring warm waterproof clothing and an umbrella can be useful.
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Wear suitable footwear. Old trainers which you don't mind getting wet are
useful. It will not be necessary to enter the water but you may wish to
do so. It will be necessary to walk over rocks so do have shoes with soles
that have a good grip as wet rock surfaces can be very slippery.
ON THE BEACH ·
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Do not enter deep water to collect seaweed.
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Approach areas of soft mud with caution.
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Keep clear of rocks near the water line which are exposed to large waves.
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Be careful when climbing on slippery wet rocks.
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Make sure that you are not alone if visiting a rocky area away from the
main beach.
We will leave the beach at 16:30 or when you hear the recall signal, repeated
short blasts on a whistle.