6S1 Biology Field Trip (Freshwater Stream)
An ecological field trip on freshwater stream in Tai Mo Shan was organized by Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre for Secondary 6S1 students on 16th December 2009. In the field trip, students analyzed how physical environment influenced biodiversity and adaptation of the species in the habitat and evaluated any human impact to the environment, supported by numerical data collected from the field and a series of experiment launched in the research center. Finally, they presented their group findings seriously and went through a question-and-answer session. Protected species like Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton honkongensis) and Small Long-armed Shrimp (Macrobrachium hainanense) can also be found in the field study. Apart from training on practical skills and analytic skills, this field trip helped students realize the importance of ecology conservation in fostering a sustainable environment.
An 3
-
Mr. Dickson Wong, tutor of the center, briefs the students on freshwater ecology and methodology in the field studies.
-
Students are walking uphill to collect data in the freshwater stream.
-
Two students are getting water sample for chemical analysis in the laboratory.
-
Transects are set across the river to investigate the physical factors of the sectional profile, in addition to flora and fauna distribution.
-
Students are carefully measuring the depth of the river to sketch a cross-sectional profile.
-
Students are taking readings of temperature and relative humidity above the water level.
-
Mr. Wong is teaching students to gently brush off organisms attaching on the underneath surface of the stone
-
Students are sampling mobile shrimps in the river.
-
This is a Small Long-armed Shrimp (Macrobrachium hainanense), the nocturnal shrimps which are generalist predators that feed primarily on slow-moving or sedentary benthic macroinvertebrates.
-
This is a Hong Kong Newt (Paramesotriton honkongensis), a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. When threatened it releases a toxic secretion and may also feign death, rolling onto its back and ex
-
Bibiana is using a luxmeter to measure the light intensity at the river bed.
-
The big family of class 6S1 enjoys the field trip very much.
-
After the field trip, students are analyzing their data and preparing for the following parts of chemical analysis in the laboratory.
-
Raymond is filtering the water sample to measure the amount of total suspended solid in the river section.
-
Spectrophotometer is used to quantify the amount of phosphate ions and ammonia in the river section.
-
Spectrophotometer is used to quantify the amount of phosphate ions and ammonia in the river section.
-
Samson is using a light microscope to identify algal cells in the polluted region of the river.
-
Different working groups share their data and findings on the whiteboard.
-
After the field trip, each group has to give a pinpoint presentation focusing on different aspects of study.
-
At last, a photo is taken with the students of partner school in the field trip, Fanling Government Secondary School.
