Royal West - Day 3&4

On Friday Royal West Academy students began the morning by conducting various behavioural experiments in the lab. Some students were testing the feeding rate of barnacles in different temperatures and some students observed the average time for a sea star or urchin to right itself when flipped over.  These were just a few of the many interesting experiments conducted.
After lunch the students went in search of worms at Pottery Creek.  Each group was given a shovel and an identification sheet to see which group could find the most interesting, longest, ugliest etc. worm.  One group found the longest ribbon worm seen at the Huntsman to date. After the worm dig the students used the rest of the afternoon to explore St. Andrews and to work on their zonation graphs and lab presentations.
On Saturday morning the students gathered to present their findings from their zonation experience as well as the results they obtained in the lab during the behavioural experiments.  Many creative and interesting presentations were given. Well done Royal West.

Two students examining the ways in which a sea star may right itself when turned on its' back.

 

These students are testing the strength of the Green Sea Urchin's tube feet.

This group of students hold up their find of a very long ribbon worm.

Here another student poses with the long polychaete. It is as long as she is tall!

More students hoping to find a rare specimen.

 

Tracey supervises and offers advice on how to find the best worm specimens.