1. The document summarizes the author's experience with an undergraduate research project studying the mass death event of marine invertebrates at Chek Jawa, a intertidal flat located off Singapore, in January 2007. 2. Over the course of the project, the author conducted field surveys of the affected area, consulted experts, analyzed data, and worked to determine the cause of the mass death. 3. Through the project, the author gained hands-on research experience, enhanced communication and presentation skills, and explored pursuing further research on sea star behavior and ecology.

1. LIFE AND DEATH AT CHEK JAWA A UROPS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

2. What is UROPs

5. Have you been to Chek Jawa before?

6. Where is Chek Jawa

7. Chek Jawa (103°59'E, 1°24'N), is an intertidal flat located at the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, a small island to the northeast of Singapore’s main island Chek Jawa Johor Mainland Singapore

8. Chek Jawa is lauded for its high biodiversity Figure from Ria Tan Six distinct ecosystems exist at Chek Jawa and it is abundant with locally rare fauna and flora

9. Coastal Hill Forest

10. Mangroves

11. Rocky Shore Photos: N. Sivasothi

12. Sandy Ecosystems Photos: Ria Tan

13. Seagrass Lagoon

14. Coral Rubble Area Photos: Ria Tan

15. While Team Seagrass arrived for a field orientation on 20th January 2007…

16. Mass Death occurred on January 2007

17. Soft bodied invertebrates affected

19. Dying Carpet Anemones

20. Dying Sponges

21. Dying sea stars and sea cucumbers

25. Finding my supervisors

26. Finding my supervisors

29. Resources from NUS Libraries

30. Literature read up

34. Sometimes we set off early…

35. … sometimes we go back late

36. Six transect lines T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T1 T5 T4 T3 T2 T6

37. Transect surveying

38. Sometimes disasters do happen…

39. … after a day’s hard work

44. Sea anemone morphology is variable NOT easy to study

47. Grain size distribution analysis at Chek Jawa

53. My honours project on sand star behaviour and ecology Astropecten indicus

55. Life at Chek Jawa

61. Some interesting experiences

62. Celebrating Christmas at Chek Jawa

64. My first filming experience

65. Featured at The Straits Time

66. Featured at NUS Advertorial, The Straits Time

70. Thank you & best wishes