183. BI 1116.

Finally! I reached BSB early afternoon and could not help but to feel glad that I am back. The days spent in Temburong could be looked as a fusion of fun, frustration, stress, laughter and sleepless nights!

First Day

Some of us arrived very early in campus but it wasn’t long until the rest arrived. We headed off from Bandar around 6am and reached Bangar around 9am and were brought to a resthouse to which we would be spending the rest of the week at.

After sorting our bags, filling our tummies with food and listened to a briefing by Dr.Charles, we made our way to Bukit Patoi. First thing we had to do was to set up small mammal traps in two areas (Padi field – an ecotone, and the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest) and compare the species richness of both sites. Setting up these traps were not as tiring as climbing up Bukit Patoi to gather leaf litter; another set of project we have to finish. Leaf litter was collected from both Kerangas forest (which was 1200m up the hill) and Mixed Dipterocarp Forest (MDF). TIRING I TELL YOU!!!

Second day

My feet weren’t THAT sore after first day but it definitely start to after the second day! Second day was spent on bird watching study as well as checking the mammal traps that were set up the day before. Bird study started very early in the morning- before the sun rise. We had to wake up at 4am (latest) and breakfast was served at 5am! Most of us either did not sleep enough or did not sleep at all! Anyway, bird study went smoothly. Some of us managed to see and identify birds while some were trying to figure out how binocs work without getting oneself dizzy. haha.

Second day didn’t quite end with just bird study. We went to check all mammal traps and found one species in the padi field and one in MDF. Not bad for just 20 traps being set up per site.

We returned to the base for analysis and not long after that, us being half dead half alive – was dinner time. We spent the rest of the night-after dinner- climbing up a hill with torchlights to see if we could come across nocturnal mammals. Some of us managed to see a tarsier! And according to Dr.C, that’s hard to come by!!! haha. so hoorah!! (though I only see it sort of jumped to another tree and vanished into the darkness)

Third day

Thinking second day was bad enough, third day proved me wrong. Third day was the ONLY day that managed to give me SO MANY BRUISES!!! We had to climb Bukit Patoi (again) and this time we had to do some forest profile analysis. We have to measure the size of barks of trees, measure the terrain size, measure the trees’ crown size – which all of them are not easy at all!! By the time we finished these, our legs were literally numb! The thought of having to do Pitfall traps later in the day just kills every body cell of enthusiasm! Thank goodness thank goodness indeed – we did not do any pitfall traps and it actually turned out that we don’t need to do that at all! haha.

Fourth day

Stream study!! I really enjoyed this part of the practical. We were divided into groups and we were asked to study several sites of the same stream. We had to understand the physical parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen level and saturation, conductivity and nutrient availability) as well the macroinvertebrates present in the stream. We caught lots of Gerridae(pond skaters) and a few larvae -although in total, the number of individuals were less than expected. After collecting the data, we went back for analysis and thank goodness,we did not leave to anywhere but worked very hard in identifying the invertebrates.  Very hard I say!

Fifth Day

We spent the entire day analysing the invertebrates we’ve found in the tullgren funnel. It is the only day we did not need to go out into the field – which was good!! The lab work of indentifying the invertebrates was challenging enough to keep our hands busy! We got so dizzy after staring into the compound microscope for so long! Before most of us realise, it was dinner time already. After dinner, we spent the rest of the night getting ready powerpoint slides for our presentation the next day! By this time, most of us couldn’t wait to get it over and done with! We couldn’t wait to go home!!

Sixth Day

Nothing eventful happened – only us getting prepared (oh, so last minute), gave our presentation and headed out back home. In the boat heading to the ferry terminal in BSB, from afar we could see the Yayasan building greeted us with a Welcome back! haha.

Couldn’t believe it but it was just hours ago, I was in Temburong. I am glad to be back home. But I dread to work on the 5/6 reports due next two weeks!!! UGH!

I miss my bed.

P.S: Most of the pictures taken were from Pei Fen. =)

~ by floweret on June 7, 2009.