Full Record

Shirley Slack-Smith : [Field notebook] : South China Sea [29/06/1981-17/08/1981]
Record no:
Call no:
FN315
Author:
Year:
[29/06/1981-17/08/1981]
Description:
[220] p. ; 20 cm.
Subject:
Notes:
Expedition to Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Philippines examining and collecting molluscs, particular focus on oysters.
Type:
Archives
Abstract:

[Abridged summary of dates, locales and specimens observed/collected follows]
29-VI-81
[Diary entry covering journey from Perth to Jakarta]
30-VI-81
[To do list/itinerary]...[Detailed description of  Oysters at Inst. [Institute] Ocean Nas.; Mangrove P. Pari, two specimens unnamed; P. kongri! Alectryonella plicatula?]...[List of some specimens and id numbers of Dry collection]...[List of expenses for day]


1-VII-81
[List of book/paper references] [sketch map of Jakarta coast line] [Detailed diary entry of activities during day including oyster collecting at Western end of Jakarta Bay - to Marunda.]...[#1: ...All the oysters were middling or smaller - all pale pinkish - all very sharped edged - all c bottom valve deeply cupped]...[#2: ...Groyne at mouth of the Angke river "?Muara Angke"...; ...Collected oysters - mostly from W side of groyne at aboce mud tide level - mostly small - gathered frequently?...] [#3: ... Jaya Ancol, jetty near the aquarium; dived for oysters...]
2-VII-81
[Detailed daily diary ...Jakarta to Pelabuhan-ratu to beach near guest cottages "Bayu Amita" ... 4: Bayu Amita otel on W point of Pelabuhanratu Bay & beach - volcanic rock - dark sand (rutile etc) oysters numerous but very small inshore near beach & bay at foot of small gully. Larger on points - high intertidal & larger in very sheltered rock pools 0 but never as large as in Australia. Limpets - fissurellids like those from Sri Lanka. v. small mussels in crevisces under oysters. littorinids - L. granosa type on exposed rocks, smooth type inshore. neritids - smooth & white ribbed spp in more sheltered positions, black & brown ribbed species in more exposed situations. Urchins - low intertidal ]
3-VII-81
[Detailed diary of day] Checked out of hotel [Travel Hotel to W end of Tangung Piok to Palau Pari] [...]I went collecting out on reef flat S of Research Station ie of LON-LIP station 1. Collected some oysters S. cuccullata from mangrove (isolated) & some from dead Acropora (Ostrea folium). saw 2 medium sized Hyotissa hyotisThousands (probably millions of Ardraster? buried in sand - all about same size - came out when tide rose) also mottled starfish, blue Lindria flat & small flat (outer & inner reef flat). Collected drupes (?coralliophilids) from coral & Trochus sp. Collected pterids from coral, collected Isognomon from coral, weed & sand - more common on inner reef flat. 2 spp Posidonia - short & curved - very long & broad (fruit). 2 spp Halophila -coarse outer reef flat -fine inner reef flat. Plenty of Sargassum, some Turbinaria, variety of Caulerpa - inshore, mats of Laurencia.[...]
4-VII-81
[Sketch map of locations visited during day] Jane & I went out with Merso & a helper in Zodiac - left about 9am - visited. (1) in lagoon (Goba Besar) - coral bombies (2) on sandy slopes (3) Mangal on N side of P. Tengah (4) old frame no longer in use for holding net for holding fish (5) Houses on P. Kongsi - krang in holding ponds - piles of semi fossil Tridacnids (6) Lagoon edge N of P. Tikus - large bombies on sandy slope off sand flat (7) outer reef slope down to about 20' between P. Tikus & P. Gundul. Got home about 1.30. [Detailed description of oysters from frame of fish holding launch[?] (4) [...] Ostrea sp cf folium[...] same as oysters from (2) dead coral - particularly Acropora & from outside of other oysters such as Alectryonella plicatula (6) (7) & from other bivalves suchas as (2) Pinna & Atrina[...] Alectryonella plicatula taken (common) at all collecting stations except (3) of course. Mostly on Porites but also on faviids (Plesiostrea) & Acropora (?)[...]Saccostrea cuccullata & S echinata & (just possibly another species lighter & c ribs) on mangrove roots (Rhizophore prop roots & stems) in sheltered situations only - some large most small - not common - few had fallen off c dehiscing bark. Hyotissa hyotis at all coll. stations except (3) - very large - v v few detached - most young with spines & strong ribs. no Hyotissa sp or H. numisma seen though searched for.[...]
5-VII-81 Sunday
Processed material before breakfast then went wiyth Kerso & boatmen to N side of atoll where there is a pass at high tide.
#8 - over reef edge on steep slope - great variety of coral - paradise for fungiids apparently - very few Alectryonella in coral - plenty of Hyotissa hyotis - few Hyotissa sp. on one large bombie [?] under slope. & few ?Ostrea tuberculata in Porites bombie only got 2 (1 damaged) (Pedium very common in Porites). One large oyster ?Hyotissa sp on underside of loose dead tabular Acropora colony. Couple of Ostrea folium on Alectryonella - none on bases of gorgonians or sea whips - none on bamboo pole - though some L valves of gathered oysters were there - small - flat. Pteriids on gorgonians. Returned to Tanjung Priok [...]
6-VII-81
[Diary of daily activities - went to "Institute" to pick up oysters -List of specimens follows] Preserved only: O folium? - dead Acropora - v dark mantle edge & gills #1 Pulau Pari. Specimens frozen: - rest of soecimen preserved. J1: WAM 249-82: Ostrea folium from dead Acropora. J2: Alectryonella plicatula WAM 252.82. J3: - live Porites, & other corals WAM 254-82. J4: (Acropora etc) WAM 255-82. J5: Hyotissa Sp. Stn#8 from tabular Acropora (dead) 1954-84. J6: Alectryonella WAM256-82. J7: Ostrea folium growing on Alectryonella growing on Alectryonella WAM 248-82. J8: Dendostrea, Ostrea folium - from dead Acropora WAM 244-82. J9: "ditto" WAM 245-82. J10: Ostrea tuberculata from Porita bombie WAM 246-82. J11: "ditto" 247-82. J12: Alectryonella growing on Alectryonella J4. 257-82. (shell colour like bronze folium but fungopoint[?] sculpture. Look at sculpture of left valve - why would this be popillose?)...[discussion of mislabelling of specimens rom Muara Angke #2 1-VII-81][...]The large flat barnacle covered specimens from #3(Ancol in lagoon (Daman?) at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (Jaya Ancol Dreamland!) - amusement complex next door to LON-LIP1( proved to be the same species of ?Saccostrea as the cupped oysters fro Mandurah. - some have fine ribbing at edge - same colour, chalky areas & coloured large muscle scar. Definitely not like any Saccostrea species found at home. - Will need to check flat chalky oysters which I though were a species of Ostrea found in N of WA.
7-VII-81
[Diary of daily activities- abridged here. packing and sending specimens to Australia]
8-VII-81
[Departed Jakarta on Singapore Airlines SP203 to Singpore, arrived at South Asia Hotel]
9-VII-81 Thursday
[Diary of daily activities abridged] [...] down to "beach" on Changi Creek - collected there below Cheshire Home & on Point - only one species? - difficult to find large ooysters - some larger ones on small rocks on beach. [...] Processed oysters - dead tired,
10-VII-81 Friday
Finished processing specimens [...] [Diary detailing travel from Singapore to Malaysia to Kuantan - Min Heng Hotel Jala Mahkota]
11-VII-81 Saturday
[Travel to Kuala Trengganu and Research Station [Unnamed]][...] Drove S to Cinering & went collecting on rocks on end of beach ot north of Point. -Rock oysters are of 2 species in more sheltered situations are ?S. echinata - not large but juveniles have slender long pipes. - collected few ded upper valves & broken & whole oysters. More exposed situations (& overlapping with last species) is S. cuccullata - medium sized to large - fairly abundant but not forming dense growths. Subtidally were some larger oysters including Hyotissa hyotis & some flat 5cm diameter Ostrea ? folium only got one of these - didn't collect H. hyotis (because not weight belt & very bouyant), Saccostrea being predated as tide was falling by drupes but larger thaids present - drupes drilling bear but not at edge of S ? echinata did not notice any cuccullata drilled. Olives & starfish off sandy beach in shallows [...] This station is regarded as a faculty of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia - for oceanography & fisheries studies [...]
12-VII-81
[...]set off out of research station N through Kg Batu Rakit (Floating Rock) to beach [...] We set off - with paddles - for rocks about 1/4 mile offshore [...] Dived in 0-20 feet - very silted bottom - fairly good coral gorwth - particularly in shallower water on NW side of emergent reef -not much Acropora - only one species -many Porites bombies - faviids mostly on N side of islet - Montipora particularly important on S side of islet, soft corals particularly on E side of islet. S. cuccullata only - intertidally. subtidally O. folium (folded & flat on rocks). H. hyotis & fewer H. sp. (large & flat) - some Hyotissa hyotis on living coral (Porites). v few O. tuberculata on Porites. No Alectryonella seen. Some spondylids & chamids subtidally. Check identity of smaller pinkish Hyotissa. Predators in crevisces on intertidal rocks. few small isognomonids among oysters, few clams - T. maxima & T. ?crocea or small smooth T. squamosa. Small cerithaceans etc on weed covered oysters.[...]
Monday 13-VII-81
[Opens with description of accommodation a research station][...]After leaving station we went along road to Kuala Terangganu - stopping to collect oysters in muddy rver at bridge crossing = river immediately N of Sg Terangganu - a very few were on mangroves (Avicennia) but many on intertidal stones & boulders in mud & on piles for bridge - found some big shells, white chalky inclusions & deep red muscle scar - only small - medium sizes alive. Water very turbid - salinity must change with tidal flow - not far from outh - would range from ?0- abt>30ppm I guess. (no barnacles at all - limited fauna). [Description of purchases.expenses in Kuala Terangganu]
Tuesday 14-VII-81
[Documented travel to Georgetown][...]So went down to SE corner of island - gave the oysters a spell in the muddy water there and came back to Georgetown[...]
Wednesday 15-VII-81
[Documented travel to Hat (or Haad) Yai in S Thailand by plane]
Thursday 16-
[Documented daily activities including travel to Satun, and offshore to a small island (Ko Pee)][...]went out to Ko Pee which has 2 houses (only 1 of which is inhabited. by Malays) & is a small bank of laterite stones about 3" & less in diameter. Quite large trees grow on the island & there are plenty of Rhizophora. The tide was high but dropping - we must have got there about 12.30 & we had to leave at 2pm or the boat would become stranded. Collected only small oysters on stones  washed into shallow water - the turbidity was very high & visibility would be about 2" if that. There were some large shells on the beach - chalky with white or reddish muscle scars - apart from commercialis-echinata type of Saccostrea on little rocks (seemed closer to commercialis in some ways - on some a couple of "pipes" seemed wider than echinata pipes & were short but eroded). Saw some eroded shells of O. folium on beach - possibly brought in from elsewhere. Many large Anadora ?granosa shell on beach. Telescopium in mangal. Large ellobiids auris judae or auris midae on beach long dead - smashed -unusual cuttlebone - no spine.[Return from Ko Pee, travel to Hat Yai and onto Sangkhla][...]went quickly to Sangkhla - to 'granite' cliffs at S end of beach on ocean side (ie not in lagoon) & collected oysters from narrow zone on boulders with coarse sand below. - most small - young fast growing oysters were dark reddish brown & seemed somewhat ribbed with flat scales - very difficult to chip off without damage. Some oysters a little larger - quite and audience, photo of cliffs & colourfully painted boats with garlands - possibly photo won't show dirtiness of beach nar them. Good bivalve fauna offshore. Water turbid but not muddy - must have been heavy weather - small urchins washed onshore & small Pinna. [Returned to Hat Yai]
Friday 17
[Documented days activities, including processing and preservation of collected specimens]
Sat 18
[Documenting days activities- travel to Bangkok]
Sun 19-VII
[Documented days activities - bus to Pattaya. boat to the island of Ko Lan, W of Pattaya][...]We were landed off beach at N side of Ko Lan - waded in - arranged to be back ar 3.30 (no watch!) - walked around to second point W of beach with restaurants etc & collected off point. Paradise for long spined urchins - Centrostephanus ? (white spines in rows underneath - 5 eyespots - large swollen exert or anus). Had to clear a path to get into water. Very nice coral growth. Large bombies of Porities & Symphillia - both with large numbers of arcids embedded - Poritesbalso with many Pedium & very few small oysters - Ostrea folium? probably not Alectryonella or O. tuberculata - small & on surface of living coral - not embedded. Oysters (?O. folium) in fairly large numbers on arcids (Arca navicularis?)-prized some off. Plenty of Hyotissa hyotis & perhaps also some Hyotissa sp. but hard to tell. No O. folium in coves or undercuts of bombies. No Hyotissa sp there either - those found were on overturned tabular Acropora or in crevisces. Plenty of spondylids - few chamids - good variety of coral. Plenty of Pavona. Couldn't go out far from shore because of ever-present speedboats. [...] Intertidally 2 rock oysters - Saccostrea cuccullata most with few coarse ribs but a very few with many fine ribs - all with pinkish tinge outside & also inside along the lips. They were numerous enough to form a shelf near HWL & then decreased & vanished just above. Below this level they gradually decreased in density to LWL. Thoughout this vertical range - except right at top - were scattered S. echinata - young with very obvious characteristically long slender spines & adults often with sharply raised anterior side & sloping to posterior to give [trapezoid sketch] in cross section. Didn't see any larger than 5cm in max diameter & these were rare. the largest seen with full spines was about 2.5cm diameter. No other species of Saccostrea was seen - alive or dead. A small species - possibly O. folium was found on boulders just at LWL below rock oysters at about level of first soft corals etc. No littorinids noticed - could have been too far down shore - fissurellids, acmeids & patellids collected. 3 muricids collected in oyster zone but only green bodied B&W drupe found boiring oysters - others cryptic in crevisce at L.T. Water clear, oceanic - protected when wind from S hit but would be wavedwashed in seasons of N wind. Rock coarse grained - volcanic? No starfish other than large pincushion starfish seen. - black holothurians under boulders intertidally.[Return to hotel and expenses]
Mon 20-VII
[Documenting day activities in Bangkok processing material etc]
Tues 21
[Documenting day activities in Bangkok processing material etc]
Wed 22-VII-81
[Documenting days activity. Including flight to Hong Kong]
Thurs 23
[Flight to Taipeh, took train to Kaohsing, W coast Taiwan]
Fri 24-VII-81
[Activities in Kaohsing][...]Beach was of black sand & stones - appeared to have been built up to protect shore from erosion - water v.v. turbid - shells on beach appeared to be semi-fossil including oysters - some large - ?Crassostrea. A few donacids & perhaps venerids appeared fresh. Walked down to end of beach to rocks - limestone - no animal life at all - turned back by a soldier with rifle (& bayonet fixed) - but no sign of oysters - or anything else. THough the surf wasn't strong it was consistent - & sand abrasion must be quite a factor ( as well as extreme turbidity) in causing absence of oysters. There had been a typhoon (cyclone) through last week - & although it idn't do much damage apparently, it probably is a factor in the water turbidity & strong wave action still prevailing. Walked along beach - collected shells - cuttlebones bivalves & nassarids live & just dead from temporary lagoon just in & behind sand of beach - seas must have been very high to force waves up - probably also contribututed to flooding of drains - though adjacent land is flat & there wouldn't be that much runoff from hil at headland [...]
Sat 25-VII-81
[Travel by bus from Kaohsiung -> Kenting] [At Kenting National Park...] So we walked through park - limestone lighly fossiliferous - collected land snails (5 spp?), limestone caves in park but apparently only small - some very interesting walks through rainforest. Mike took photo of a very large spider [...] [In Kenting township][...]Mike & I walked S to small but deep bay where rough seas were moderated. Tide near low but apparently a neap or kept high by cyclonic conditions. Water very turbid - visibility about 1 foot. Spent about 2 1/2 hours or so collecting - strange splace - only 2 oysters seen (S. cuccullata) & collected - no sign of dead shells - only 3 limpet seen (& collected) - no barnacles at all. No mussels seen except 1 v small lithophagid, but some small Brachodontes or something found later in sample. Only brittle stars seen were those which let 2 or 3 arms hang out from shelter in rock crevises - 2 or 3 spp. Echinometra & Heliocidaris type of urchin. Variety of coral - deep pools - variety of weeds. 2 spp of mitres common ?feeding on peanut worms common boring in rock. Mike collected intertidal littorinids etc for me - no photo of locality - collected 3 spp of muricids & 1 sp of Arcids (Barbatia) in crevises & 2 trochids (Trochus) c hermit crabs. All molluscan spp (except venerid shells) intertidal weed-covered rocks. Land snails collected near beach on L/S.
Sun 26-VII
[Traveled by bus from Kenting -> Taitung] [...]Went off to beach which turned out be be a jibber beach which continued for miles & miles. Apparently this substrate continued out to sea because on the beach thre wasn't a single sign of drift of marine origin - no seaweed, no sea fragments nothing. I found one comparatively unworn shell but later found that this buccinid(?) was widely sold for food, so origin is suspect. In addition, in a long lagoon lying above the beach in front of the low dune on which the closest houses were built, there was no sign of life - no fish, no FW or marine shells, no weeds -as on beach, just human refuse. [Detailing return to accommodation]
Mon 27-VII-81
[Traveled by bus from Taitung to Hualien, E coast of Taiwan] [...]Walked along landward side of harbour - collected few oysters - apprently S. echinata though flat & small & very eroded on steps leading into water - fairly heavily polluted but not too turbid. Then walked around N end of harbour & out on to seaward wall. On the ocean face this wall consisted of large boulders fallin about 20 feet or so to boulder beach. Saw what appeared to be some oysters (or their bases) on a boulder in the water. Thought tide was falling so decided to come back later - very hot. Saw abalone fishermen (amateurs), their catch was all of a species like Haliotis squamata - They must have been diving in 10-20ft of water. Then walked along to fishermens wharves on landward side of harbour wall. A v. large shark with relatively small head & small teeth - very dark - had been caught - about >20' or so long though it was cut off to pectoral fins when we saw it. Also squid, cuttlefish, & octopus (like Monte Bello sp.) caught. Went collecting just to S of fishermen's Wharves on ramps leading into water from repair yards. The only species found was S. cuccullata & then not many near of large size[...][Return to accommodation etc]
Tues 28-VII
[Traveled to Taipei. Hualien ->Taipei->Visited Yeh-lie, W of Keelung, N coast of Taiwan]After lunch ($160) caught bus to Keelung from Eastern terminus (to RHS ie east on one faces Railway Station) $22. & then caught bus to Yeh-liu $6 about 11km of very winding road to W of Keelung. The town was a fishing port with an inner harbour protected by a breakwater - & extensions were being made to the W. side of the outer harbour.
#1 Made first station intertidal - inside harbour on concrete walls near fishing boat wharves on E side. Oysters small - somewhat eroded & overgrown with algae. S. cuccullata on concrete & sandstone (PHOTOS) small (-> 2.5cm); S. commercialis (?) type - overlapping but tending to the slightly lower ->4cm (oyster band narrow - harbour with some pollution now - probably more at times). No predators seen in oyster zone at low tide, but thaids are present somewhere - collected hermit crabbed shells. Water moderately turbid - sheltered - diluted by FW runoff & sewerage from houses (which got water from well) habitat moderately sheltered except in high seas. Cerithiids (?) above oysters on rocks in notches.
#2 - Intertidal. Just outsdide breakwater of inner harbour - S. cuccullata only on  sandstone boulders & basement rock - larger than inside harbour -> 5cm - intertidal at low tide.
#3 - S. point of harbour - large boulders & cliffs - diving c snorkel - plenty of S. cuccullata intertidally. Just Subtidally or below were only a few oysters in long depressions - not round holes - work by sea urchins presumably - these oysters were very flat & fragile & curved to fit sides of depression - Hyotissa sp - appeared to be species found under boulders intertidally on reef - white shell - pinkish scar. mature with orange-pink gonads - collected only 2 mashed specimens. Linkia, Centrostephanus, v thin spined diademid (qhite & black or grey banded Centrostephanus or Diadema) (2spp - blue & small grey & orange) no branched soft corals, no hydroids seen, few holothurians, few ophuroids (including cryptid leg-waving sp.) - no crinoids.  Collected a variety of coral - some of larger species like Symphyllia & larger brain corals etc I couldn't collect - couple of spp of Acropora, very fragile Turbinaria. Molluscs included coralliorans sp collected unkowingly, Cypraea arabica (!) (only live cowrie seen), muricids. Only 1 mat of greenish warty "Palythoa" typr coelenterate seen. Water turbid - visibility about 6 ft - worse inshore. Coralline algae, red soft algae. Tropical type fishes. [Returned to Taipei - processed specimens] [Sketch possibly of stations?]
Wed 29-VII
[Visited National Taiwan University - discussions about oyster farming, and research, examined specimens at Academia Sinica. Flew to Hong Kong]
Thursday 30-VII-81
[Contacting David Dudgeon, sightseeing in Hong Kong]
Fr 31-VII-81
[...] PHOTOS. HK #1. Went to the western end of the Colony to New Territories Lau Fau Shan - a fishing port where there is a very busy fishing market particularly for large C. gigas which are farmed on mud flats offshore - on the substrate. Much of the oyster stocks here were wiped out a few years ago (1976) - with strong runoff from the Pearl River - so most of the large oysters now being sold have come - more or less recently from China. The oysters are very large - they are brought in in baskets & some at least - are dumped in the shallows for a greater or lesser period. We had some for luinch - deep fried in batter - bitter & not really very pleasant - not at all like Saccostrea or Saxostrea in flavour. There is often a layer of anaerobic black mud around the hinge area & between the lamella - very tolerant. Bought two lots of oysters long & rounded - $16 really very cheap - would cost much more in town [...] We then went eastwards to New Territories Tolo Harbour Shuen Wan (W end)
PHOTO HK#2 Intertidal rocks & boulders on mudflat at point of outlet of FW stream. The oysters looked superficially like Saccostrea sp - no pipes - collected some from boulders & some from sides & bottom of FW stream. Some of these looked like young Cressostrea sp. The flow of the stream is variable, of course, from flood today - all of the oysters seen in this area are small, closely packed -except those in stream bed - which appeared to suffer heavy mortality at small size - none larger than 3cm greatest diameter. The habitat is on rock - high intertidal & below, high turbidity - subject to more or less FW runoff, many Isognomon ephippoum - not much else.
PHOTO - HK#3: New Territories, Tolo Harbour, Ting Kok - intertidal mangroves. This station was to N & E of #2 and the mangroves there are the remains of once fairly extensive mangals; height ? 1-1.5m. The oysters were attached to the trunks of the mangroves on papery barks - also in clumps at their bases (MANGROVES - Rezania marina CANDELLIA CANDLE?). There were many dead oyster shells - larger -recognisably C. Gigas along course of small stream entering mangal but these probably came from a heap of shells (like a midden) on shore - so origin unknown. The oysters on the mangroves were in form like a Saccostrea sp. -most like S. commercialis. Habitat - on mangrove trunks & fallen around bases - high intertidal - mud flat with some freshwater runoff.
PHOTO - HK#4: New Territories, Tolo Harbour on (NW end of wall) of Plover Cove Reservouir - outer face. This station was E of #2 & 3 & the oysters were (1) intertidal on the rocks & boulders - small (-> 3cm greatest diameter) & all young - all seemed to be juveniles S. echinata - very hard -> impossible to remove without severe damage (PHOTO) - mid intertidal below blue green algal zone. Subtidally - small clumps of corals of variety of spp. Oysters were of 2 species - slightly higher but overlapping were Ostrea cf crenulifera - green interiors - much folded - small but deep - white on rocks, on the other oysters or on gastropods (trochids). Generally below these were Ostrea folium type - larger - on boulders some deep - not acutely folded flat c turned up lips. Some O. foloum type had typical O crenulifera growing on them & these were of same form as those on rocks so difference in form between these two probably not caused by habitat differences. However there was some difference in form & colour if O. folium - perhaps age differences. Habitat - very turbid (visibility about 15cm) long spined sea urchins - Centrostephanus ? [...] [Returned to University & then hotel]
Sat 1-VIII-81
[Worked in Department of Zoology, Hong Kong University all day]
Sun 2-VIII-81
[Worked in Department of Zoology, Hong Kong University all day, narcotising some specimens and preparing others for freeze drying]
Monday 3-VIII-81
[...]Collecting at C. D'aguiler c David Dudgeon & David Phillips[...] We then went over to Hong Kong Island - picked up David & went out to Cape D'aguilar on the SE corner of the island. HK#5: The coast is quite exposed here. David D. & I went into the water on the sheltered side of the Cape, & searched for oysters. (PHOTOS) I swam round to the exposed side - even on this calm day the waves were moderately strong & the danger of being swept on to the barnacle (Balanus?) covered rocks was considerable. There were absolutely no intertidal oysters - just limpets & barnacles & mussels in a thick band on the more exposed areas. Lots of trochids & turbands & a great number of predatory boring gastropods. Subtidally on the sheltered side of the Cape were oysters which were often large but much eroded - on boulders or stones - igneous rocks - at about 1m below LWL. These turned out to be mostly Hyotissa ? numisma - mostly pale shells -. However a couple of oysters collected here & those 2 collected subtidally at about 5m outside the Cape (only oysters seen there) were Ostrea ?folium. - No Hyotissa were seen outside the Cape - dived to about 5-6 m - coast is very steep - to - would be a great place to dive with SCUBA - though the water is quite cool - & the mixing with warm water from inside the Cape & the shleter of the island nearby made visibility poor. Inside the Cape - on the other hand there is some turbidity & lots of floating plastic bags etc. David Phillips said that there were oysters intertidally on the next cape to the west. We went back to the Zoology Dept. & out the oysters etc in sea water. [...]
Tuesday 4-VIII-81
[Processing specimens all day, summary of career/current work of Dr Patsy Wong who Slack-Smith met at a dinner]
Wed 5-VIII-81
[...]Processing all day at Zool. Dept.[...]
Thursday 6-VIII-81
[Preparing specimens - taking them to airport for transport with some difficulty]
Friday 7-VIII-81
[Organising export licence for oyster specimens]
Sat 8-VIII-81
[...]went down to E side of Peninsula. PHOTOS: beach - c small rocky headlands - open to wind waves from E & SE. 
HK#6: on concrete pier - W side - ie sheltered - a band of C. echinata -> about 4cm ? 1 C. cuccullata O. crassisulca or folium - green soft parts but shell eroded, only littorinids were small L. scabra(?) type. Murex c pink aperture eating oysters (Murex praemestis type). C. echinata in general very dark & spinous even to quite large animals of nearly 4cm diameter - but most were flat - only a few had ventral lip raised from substrate & these looked stunted.
HK#7: Went round to other side of concrete pier - much more exposed - S. echinata present in more sheltered spots &/or on vertical spaces. Still no large ones - some S. cuccullata present, very eroded - generally higher up & on more exposed areas - not in large numbers - almost always singly - those highest in pools on flat surfaces generally lighter in colour. Some growing actively but most older. One specimen possibly S. commercialis type (or maybe C. gigas though probably not because of sharp ribs on lower valve). 2 spp of littorinid found - granularis & pyramidalis types. Few types of limpets - drupes & thaids were actively eating oysters on rising tide. No Murex praemestus type seen here. Some oysters found fairly low down might be O. folium or similar - to eroded. [prepared and took specimens to airport]
Sun 9-VIII-81
[Flew to Phillipines stayed at Ambassador Hotel]
Mon 10-VIII-81
[Visited National Museum]
Tues 11-VIII-81
[Collected (1) Bacoor, Cavite Prov. [Phillipines] - mussels (2) Bina Kayan, Kawit, Cavite Prov. [Phillipines] - oysters]
Wed 12-VIII-81
[Gathered/Borrowed[?] a number of specimens from the National Museum, descriptions follow]
No. NM-CO- Description
Hyotissa hyotis
3250 - Manilla Bay (1 open spec & 2 others); 16628 - Sandoval Pt, Catamauan Quezon [E side of Quezon Peninsula] - reef (1); 4336 - Sulu Sea (2); [ID crossed out] - Manila Channel, Pto Galera Oriental Mindaro (4); 13064 - Panambo Reef Pagbitao Quezon {Pagbilao I?} (4) Mundre I, June 1976, A. de Celis et al (1); 5440 - Cebu City vicinity (E coast of Cebu) (1); 13656 Catanauan Bay Quezon (1), 1 without data. Lukbuan Bay, Cayo I. Palawan. (on Chama) (1); 6665 - Coron Palawan (on Spondylus), Muille Bay, Pto Galera, Or. Mundanao (1) - growing on L. fol on other Alectryonella or on gorgonian
 Alectryonella plicatula -brown
5656 - Borongan, Samar (E coast of Samar) 4 V (+1 V L. fol); no number, no data - large -complex irreg. series of chomata on RV - elongate on middle colour zone - none of LV - wrinkles near hinge - 1 [labeled sketch]; 5656 Borongan, Samar (E coast of Samar) 1LV (+1&2V L. fol); 5656 Borongan, Samar (E coast of Samar) 1V +1 juv V (RV of LV) (+6V L. fol) chomata more nodular - almost no sign or ribs, no wrinkles only peripheral chomata near hinge, no chomata on LV but wrinkles present near hinge.
Alectryonella plicatula white
13087 - Bantigau Mayao Pagbilao Quezon (N end of Tayabas Bay), had been growing in crevise of coral, LV bearing polyp (v fine) imprints to about 1/2 way to periphery then apparently free of coral - normal ribbed sculpture - unfortunately specimen firmly glued together; 3541 - Ragay Gulf, Guinyangan, Quezon (E side of Quezon Peninsula) -1 juv. (but labelled on shell as NM-CO-487).
Lopha crustigalli brown &/or purple
- Lukbuan Bay, Cayo I, Palawan - chomata on both valves or only on RV in young - attached to one another (3); [Location as before] (growing on oyster shell ident ? fast growing juvenile complex series of fine nodular ribs on int, lip of RV Lopha fol.) (strong long straight claspers) (1); [Location as before] attached to one another & one to iron plate (ship?) (3); [Location as before] largest attacherd to iron plate (1&3V); [Location as before] attached to worm covered flat surface (1); [Location as before] attached to bryozoa, very fine almost nonexistant ribbed sculpture - cleaned too harshly? (1); [Location as before] attached to oyster Hyotissa (3); [Location as before] (2); [Location as before] attached to Pocillopora (1); [Location as before] attached to oyster (Hyotissa) (1); [Location as before] attached to iron plate (2&3V); [Location as before] attached to iron plate (1); [Location as before] attached to iron plate (2&1V); [Location as before] attached to flat surface (2); [Location as before] attached to flat surface (1); [Location as before] attached to flat surface (1); [Location as before] attached to ? (1&3V); 12989 - Sampitan Reef, Palo Ibaba. Pagbilau Grande I, Quezon - growing on coral (?Pocillopora) 1; 13081 - Sampitan Reef, Pagbilau, Quezon (4); 6662 - Caron, Palawan 1&3V; 13974 -  Kalutan, Agdangan, Quezon (W side of Quezon Peninsula) (1); 14281 - Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro (1); 7576 - Cotabato (1)
Saccostrea sp? ->8" large heavy pale (7) = strong & complete series of chomata, tan & white striped add m scar, large clockwise growth axis, generally strong rounded close numerous ribs on anterior side, outside of RV closely & densely lamellose - no ribs. Balingasay River, Bolinao, Pangasinan (N end of Pangasinan Pen) attached to bored limestone or conglomerate rock.
Lopha folium
5656 - Borongan, Samar (W coast of E Samar) - 2V & 1V of Alectryonella. RV complex numerous chomata on lip & proximally, LV no chomata; ?14037? -Tabag, Agdangan, Quezon (W side of Quezon Peninsula) (2); 4260 - Binakayan, Cavite - attached to spat collectors (fine bamboo) (1); 3251 -Manilla Bay, chomata only on RV, attached to small Hyotissa? shell (1); 14038 - Tabag, Agdangan, Quezon (1)
?Lopha folium
16375 - Kanlagkit, Kanluran, Matandang, Sabang Catamauan Quezon - reef - light pink & deep red-purple stripes (fine) iridescent internally, no chomata (1); 16681 - Punta, Catanauan Quezon, pink c fine maroon stripes - faint folds v fine ribs no chomata, 1V RV; 13566 - Kaulagkit, Catamauan Bay, Quezon. 2+2V. (2) Yellow c purple stripes, no chomata - chalky LV & irisdescent (more on RV)? Crassostrea. 2V - Chomata dorsally - not chalky - iridescent white ->yellowish c maroon ->purple stripes.
Saccostrea sp. 1"
16746 all small - dark purple & white - on twigs & reef - series striped RV - lamellose no ribs - LV cupped - mod. sharp ribs, chomata dorsally in some, all around in others, add m scars not coloured - strong pall m scars, all c dark lips in LV, RV lips paler. ?3541 - Ragay Gulf Guinyangan Quezon. (1) heavier [?]thereabout - stunted - orange on RV lip - purple on LV lip
Saccostrea sp  7" 
same as from Balingasay River? Zamboanga City (S end of Peninsula Zamboanga del Sur) - long -thin? attached to mangrove or some other cylindrical (1), but muscle scar only v faintly striped - no curvature no anterior ribs - but could be due to habit.
Saccostrea sp
182 ?echinata - commercialis type - tubes on RV recurved (2). Howley I, Palawan. LV deeply cupped (mangrove - attached) rapidly growing - large smooth scales. add m scar only faintly coloured - proximal part of lip (wide) coloured deep purple - no strong ribs olny undulations chomata developing all around. pallial m scars. - Dagat-dagatan Exptal Sta, Navotas, Rizal (2) larger attached to stake or similar - chomata all around on both valves. juv of Saccostrea from Balingasay R & Zamboanga City. add muscle scars striped c brown-red, exterior lamellose small possibly juv. Crassostrea! - Dagat-dagatan Exptal Sta, Navotas, Rizal. 2 Saccostrea 1 Crassostrea larger c raised & faintly ribbed anteriorly, smaller c fine pustulose ribs - striped.
Crassostrea
12960 - Bagong Silang, Unisan, Quezon (West Coast of Quezon Pen) (5) shells yellowish c faint reddish rad blotches - lamellose on RV, LV strongly lamellose. (fine crystalline)peripherally; no chomata; add m scar dull purple - both valves chalky - RV more iridescent - strong clockwise gr. axis ->3"
2690 - La-aong (Laoang? cf s o NE coast Samar), Samar 4", chalky inclusions roofed (1) over R&LV -add m scar deep brown - no chomata, no pall m scars, no ribs - clockwise then straight. 443 - Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite 4" (1)/ 7779 - Cavite, Cavite 1 1/2" juveniles attached to barnacles - chalky inclusions - dark red brown add ms, lamellose RV - faint dark purple stripes in middle in compound stripes.
? Saccostrea sp.
351 - Manila - attached to Turritellid - flat - fast growing - int. iridescent - chomata on both valves dorsally - not chalky - clockwise - purplish c very fine rad ribs.
Hyotissa ? Alectryonella
182 - Howley I, Palawan. small brown (1) - deep DV. folds dorsally.
? Lopha crenulifera
12983 - Pulo Ibaba Pagbilao, Quezon. 2+L1V, small (1") heavy-white (or purple) - iridescent int. - greenish int. chomata on both valves - strongly closely folded but rounded outline.
13166 - Mixture - beach collection? Ibabang Pulo, Pagbilao Grande I, Pagbilao Quezon. Saccostrea heavy stunted like 3541LV & 16746. Saccostrea sp like those from RV Balingasay R but juv other 4 broken & worn but like 351. Made above notes on oyster collection & photographed following specimens. Slides 11-14 - Saccostrea sp from Balingasay River, Pangasian. no cat no. Slides 15-17 -Alectryonella plicatula no data. Slides 18 - Lopha folium NM-CO-5656 Borangan, Samar - v many chomata. Slides 19 - ?L. folium NM-CO-16375. Slide 20-22 Saccostrea sp NM-CO-182 ?echinata/commercialis group. Slide 23-24 - Crassostrea NM-CO-12960 Bagon Silang, Quezon. (adult - fully grown?). Slide 25-26 Crassostrea NM-CO-7799 juveniles Cavite, Cavite. Slide 27-28 Lopha ?crenulifera NM-CO012983 Pulo Ibaba, Quezon. Slide 29-30 ?L. folium Saccostrea? on turritellid - young fast growing - flat (like ?Crassostrea but c chomata). 
[Returned to hotel and sorted specimens]
Thurs. 13-VIII-81
[Processed material]
Fri. 14-VIII-81
UP Biological Station, Puerto Galera [...] I went collecting is a little muddy with a variety of seagrasses (Posidonia (?curved) Zostera (?fine) & 2 spp of Halophila) people called seashells. Offshore is plenty of coral with slightly turbid but not muddy water - great variety of coral - only one sp of oyster dound. - Alectryonella plicatula - in Porites & in a faviid (?Goniastraea) more common in the former - usually deep in fissures - in the latter some protrude from the colony (most species with straight not crenulated lips - particularly those embedded in Porites - ribbing seems to be the result of exposure without protection from coral - all brown). No sign of Lopha folium or any of the Hyotissa spp. - no sign of Ostrea tuberculata. Intertidally on rocks there were no oysters at the point of the bay (most exposed) or at the head of the bay (least exposed). However on the E side of the bay - at least - there was a mixture of S. cuccullata - small -pinkish -rather like those at Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia - but not so stunted & also not so densely settled on boulders & on the prop roots of Rhyzophora - noe seen of Avicennia - only other mangrove present here in the bay (Another present elsewhere - Sonneratia? Thick pneumatophores) There was also a Saccostrea which I think is S. echinata - judging by the form of the juveniles. However none were very large - max diam. -> 4cm & all were very flat on rocks - quite probably because they are eaten. The S. cuccullata were also small - max length 3cm most much smaller. On the E side of the isthmus - in the Puerto -there are many more S. echinata relative to the numbers of S. cuccullata - but most of these (S. ech) are dead - presumably from predators (but possibly from turbidity &/or hypersalinity). But I think that predator pressure is more likely - large muricid found here on oyster covered rock. - not active when oysters exposed at LW. water fairly clear - no rivers or major creeks entering bay. No starfish seen except plenty of blue Linkia & nodular 5 armed job in shallows particularly on sea-grass beds. Urchins were Echinometra, small burrowing thin spined jobs. Centrostephanus long spined type. Grey & black Centrostephanus type, & small Tripneustes type & same habit but smaller & different colour. A variety of holothurians - mostly small black ones & Synapta (brownish). Plenty of crinoids - plenty of echiuroids -? all of the cryptic sort? 2 types of fungiids - rounded & 1 large long one with multiple mouths. Collected a small & incomplete sample of corals. Aglaophenia was only hydroid seen - apart from stinging coral - pteriid attached. Sponges prominent - particularly flat grey tabular one - 1 large sponge [sketch] seen. No gorgonians plenty of soft coral. No black or orange semi-solitary corals only brown ones. [Returned to hotel & sorted specimens]
Sat 15-VIII-81
[Processed material]
Sun 16-VIII-81
[Flight to Sydney]
 

more...
Contents:
Expedition to Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Phillipines examining and collecting molluscs, particular focus on oysters.
Item availability
{ 1 } items found
Result
Links
Location
Library
Shelf no
Status
Year
Volume
Copy
Archives room
Western Australian Museum
FN315
On Shelf
1981