Page 24 - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Proceedings 2017-18

School of Science
Division of Life Science

Supervisor: LIU Hongbin / LIFS Co-Supervisor: LAU Wing Keung / LIFS
Student: KONG Jonathan Wai King / BIBU Course: UROP1100, Fall

Water quality has been nagging problem for the fishery industry in Hong Kong. Not only the flotsam and jetsam,
pollution could be at a microbiological level, like algal boom. To monitor the water quality in Hong Kong waters, the
Agriculture, Fishers and Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a contract with the HKUST Coastal Marine Laboratory
for a monthly-basis survey on the water quality. Different parameters were measured in the water and in the laboratory.
Level of dissolved Oxygen (O2) and chlorophyll-a would be discussed below. Average levels of dissolved O2, and
chlorophyll-a monitored stations in July to late September 2017 were presented in visual aids. A brief discussion on
seasonal and regional effect on concentration of nutrient were included.

Time Series Observation of Microbial Community Dynamics in Port Shelter

Supervisor: LIU Hongbin / LIFS Co-Supervisor: LAU Wing Keung / LIFS
Student: WONG Ka Man / BCB Course: UROP1100, Fall

Hong Kong fish supplies rely partly on local fish culture zones, therefore good water quality is essential for rearing fish
and providing safe aquaculture products for human consumption. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
(AFCD) cooperates with HKUST to conduct water quality surveys on 29 fish culture zones in Hong Kong by measuring
various kinds of parameters. This report focuses on nutrients, chlorophyll a and suspended solids recorded in 4 fish
culture zones situated in different locations of Hong Kong. Nutrient concentrations (Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia,
Orthophosphate Phosphate, and Silicate) were analyzed by Skalar San++ Automated Wet Chemistry Analyzer,
chlorophyll a abundance was measured by spectrophotometer while suspended solids amounts were determined by
weighing. Together with tables and figures, regional and seasonal effects on the water near different fish farms will be
briefly discussed.

An Exploration of Nuclear Dynamics in Cells and Syncytia of Developing Zebrafish Embryos

Supervisor: MILLER Andrew Leitch / LIFS Co-Supervisor: HO Sarah E / LIFS
Student: SIU Ming Shing / BCB Course: UROP1100, Spring

In zebrafish, two-pore channel type 2 (TPC2) mediates calcium release that is crucial for slow muscle cell differentiation.
To understand functional roles played by two pore channels, my study focuses on two-pore channel type 3 (TPC3). Here
I report that structures labelled by anti-TPC3 antibodies were scattered along the trunk. Based on literature search, I
proposed that the distribution of TPC3 labelling resembled the infiltration pattern of leukocytes in the trunk. I therefore
hypothesized that TPC3 was expressed in leukocytes. This hypothesis motivates new experiments that might reveal the
functions of TPC3 in zebrafish embryos / larvae.

Investigation the Role Played by the Scales of the Anadromous Teleost Salmo Trutta in Regulating Blood Plasma
Calcium Homeostasis

Supervisor: MILLER Andrew Leitch / LIFS
Student: SIU Ming Shing / BCB Course: UROP1100, Fall

Salmo trutta migrates from seawater which is of higher average calcium ion content, to freshwater which is of lower
calcium content for spawning. My study aims to measure the plasma calcium levels of the anadromous teleost Salmo
trutta under external calcemic challenges. With a calcium ion-selective electrode, I aim to compare the calcium ion
concentrations of serum and red blood cells of the fish against the calcium ion contents in water samples collected in

14