Sampling and Observation at Bali Left Bank, New Taipei

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Oh wow! It felt like discovering a new continent. I directly attached a yellow filter sheet to the smartphone camera, added a macro lens, and used a handheld UV light to illuminate the sample, and the result was astonishing! Because of the pandemic, I went out to get some fresh air and did some sampling at Bali Left Bank on Sunday. However, the UV light's battery ran out, making the fluorescence observation quite troublesome. On a sudden impulse, I made a quick modification and, unexpectedly, it turned out to be a delightful surprise.

Ulva compressa Found at Bali Left Bank

The upper intertidal zone of Taiwan is mostly inhabited by green algae, commonly including Ulva, Enteromorpha, or Cladophora. During winter and spring, one can often see a "green carpet" forming on the wave-cut platforms.

The subject of this observation is the algae shown in the photo, called "Ulva compressa" (also known as "flat sea lettuce, sea grass, or stone moss"), belonging to the Ulvaceae family. It appears grass-green in color and is a hollow tubular structure composed of a single layer of cells, growing on rocks near the low-tide line or in rock pools.

Ulva compressa found at Bali Left Bank

Ulva compressa still showing grass-green color after 3 days

Smartphone Microscope Observation

Using standard and research-grade smartphone microscopes, we can observe Ulva compressa at different magnifications.

[Application] Using Fluorescence Epi-illumination Module + Macro Lens

Simply hold a UV light and use a smartphone with a yellow filter and 2 macro lenses attached to take photos and videos, and you'll see amazing effects!

Before and After Excitation

This new application was discovered quite by accident. This 17-second video allows us to observe and compare the conditions before and after excitation.

Seaweed Classification Query System

While searching with Google keywords, I accidentally discovered the "Taiwan Seaweed Information Network" set up by the National Taiwan Museum, which includes a "Seaweed Classification Query System". It provides detailed information about Taiwan's seaweeds, including introductions, morphological classifications, and ecological distributions. This is how I learned the scientific name of the algae observed this time—it's a great website to explore!

Smartphone Macro Lens Observation Behind the Scenes

Due to the rush when leaving, I only brought the macro lens. I arrived at the shore an hour before sunset. As soon as I crouched down, I could see various organisms displaying their vitality everywhere. Not long after observing, the tide was about to come in! Had to retreat quickly~ Seized the moment to take a few photos~

References

National Taiwan Museum (2004), Taiwan Seaweed Information Network "Seaweed Classification Query System", accessed: May 17, 2020, from: http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/seaweeds/search/search_show1.asp?ID=1&SID=11
National Taiwan Museum (2004), Taiwan Seaweed Information Network "Vertical Distribution", accessed: May 17, 2020, from: http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/seaweeds/d/d3_01.asp

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