After dropping off some items in their rooms at Needler Hall the group joined us in the lab to review intertidal flora and fauna. The students did some field sketches and quick descriptions of 20 species of invertebrates and seaweeds they could encounter while working on their zonation projects later in the day. Some of the species the students worked with included smooth periwinkles, blue mussels, limpets, irish moss, and sea lettuce.
After a quick lunch in the lab some university students taking part in the UNBSJ semester course at the Huntsman talked to the high school students about their projects and the course in general. Then the group toured the aquaculture research facilities on campus. Chris and Susan from the aquaculture department talked to the students about some of the different research projects, as well as, the salmon life cycle, the water filtration systems in the facilities, and salmon genetics. The students got to see the salmon broodstock, the sea lice library, and cute seahorses!
As we waited for the tide to go out the students had some time in the aquarium to check out the seals, lobsters, and all of the animals in the touch pools. The animals in the touch pool were being feed so we got to see the rock gunnel fish, green crabs, and hermit crabs coming out to feed. It was funny to watch the little rock gunnels as they always seemed to choose the biggest pieces of fish!
When the tide was moving out the students headed to the beach to mark periwinkles as part of a mark/recapture project. Each group marked with nail polish 20 periwinkles within a 2 meter radius.
Then they moved over to Holey Point to gather data for their zonation project. The students moved along a transect line and put down a quadrate every 2.5 meters. They had to count the animals and seaweed holdfasts within their quadrate. Some of the species found included barnacles, green crabs, sideswimmers, common periwinkles, and lots and lots of knotted wrack and rockweed. Despite a bit of rain and wind the students were troopers and covered most of the beach before it was time to go for supper.
This morning the students went to the beach early to recapture the periwinkles they had marked yesterday. Of the 20 periwinkles marked the highest number found was 18 and the lowest was 9.
Then the students came into the lab to conduct a right-side up lab with the sea stars and urchins. They had to flip over each animal and time how long it took to flip back. The students were testing to see if diameter or mass had any effect on the flipping rate. Everyone was really amazed to see the movement of the animals, especially those acrobatic sea stars!
This afternoon the students will be working on behaviour labs they have designed on their own. They have some interesting ideas, let’s hope the animals cooperate!
Working on field sketches.
Checking out the salmon.
Chris talking to the students about research on site.
Enjoying the scallops at the touch pool.
Sea star!
Searching for 20 periwinkles.
Marked and ready for release.
What lives in quadrate 2?
Elevation...is this level?
Flipping sea stars.
How big is your urchin?
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