Turner Fenton - Day 5

Today was the final day for the students from Turner Fenton High School. Students spent the morning in the lab either studying the feeding rate of barnacles or by dissecting various species of fish. This afternoon students will be enjoying some free time in the town of St. Andrews.

It is important to monitor the temperature of the water very closely when measuring the feeding rate of barnacles.

Posing with her lab specimen.

Students worked in partners on their lab tests.

These girls had a particularly interesting looking fish; a sculpin.

Some students were practically experts when it came to filleting their fish.

This student is carefully measuring her fish.

A fish gill under the microscope.

Lots of concentration is required when making the first cut.

Turner Fenton - Day 4

Today students from Turner Fenton High School took time in the morning to mark Green Crabs, an invasive species, at Pottery Creek. This afternoon students either went on the Fundy Spray to collect samples of plankton and invertebrates, tested the strength of sea urchin tube feet or had a closer look at plankton under the microscope.

This was one of the larger crabs found this morning, at 7cm across the shell.

Students spread across the beach looking for the elusive crabs.

Everyone say 'Crab'!

Using the microscopes help to give a better understanding of the tiny creatures that live in our oceans.

Students were able to make their own slides from a number of sample of plankton.

Students played plankton 'Bingo', and tried to identify all of the creatures on their card in their slides.

A closer look at the making of a plankton slide.

This group poses with the most well-known plankton, Plankton from Sponge bob.

Turner Fenton - Day 3

Students and teachers boarded the bus this morning to explore more of the area.  The first stop was at the falls in St. George.  Then after a few stops in Back Bay to look at various aquaculture sites, it was on to Green's Point to see the lighthouse there.  We even had a glimpse of the Deer Island and Grand Manan ferries as they made their crossings.
This afternoon students collected samples on the Fundy Spray, learnt about the local lobster and tested how long it takes for echinoderms to turn right-side up when flipped over.

Students descend the stairs to have a closer look at the fish ladder.

The water was very fast moving today, causing a lot of mist in the air.

All of the mist in the air made for a pretty rainbow over the falls.

The water level is very high after the large quantities of rain the area has received recently.

Students returning seem to appear out of the mist.

A very picturesque view of the other end of the falls.

Green's Point.

Green's Point lighthouse.

Turner Fenton - Day Two

On Tuesday the students from Turner Fenton High School spent the morning digging for worm specimens on Bar Road. In the afternoon they either went on the boat to collect plankton and invertebrate samples or into the lab where they either looked at plankton or tested the strength of the Green Sea Urchin's tube feet. In the evening the students had a closer look at the local marine algae in the lab.

Students study the area looking for signs of worms.

Did this student find a particularly interesting specimen?

 

This student seems somewhat surprised by the length of the clam worm found.

Look carefully through the dirt uncovered for the worms.

A bucketful of great specimens!

One of many sand dollars on the beach.

These students are testing the strength of tube feet.

Lots of hard work going on.

These students are studying the physical characteristics of this seaweed to help classify it.

Turner Fenton - Day One

Students from Turner Fenton Secondary School in Toronto started the day at the beach on Indian Point. While there, students took advantage of an extremely low tide to collect and examine the different creatures found in the intertidal environment.  These animals were then brought back to the lab for further study later on. Also in the morning the students were given a tour of the Fundy Discovery Centre.
After lunch the students were divided into groups; some going onto the Fundy Spray to collect plankton and other invertebrate specimens, others to the lab to have a closer look at plankton under the microscope and the final groups spent the afternoon identifying and classifying the animals found this morning.

Look closely, how many green crabs can you find?

An orange Terrebelid worm.

Many tide pools on the beach provided lots of places for creatures to survive till the tide comes in.

The tide was very low today allowing for a greater diversity creatures to be found.

This student was quite fond of this large Rock crab.

 

Another student poses with a scallop.

The touch pool is always popular.

These students are carefully studying the creatures in their bowls in order to identify them.

Teachers are always willing to lend a hand with the identification of some of the more unusual animals.

One students' drawing of a Daisy Brittle Star.

Just one of many bowls of different specimens used in today's classification lab.

These students are measuring the time it takes for sea stars to right themselves when flipped over.

These students pose with one of their sea star specimens.

Eastview Secondary School

Grade 11 and 12 students from Eastview Secondary School, who arrived late Sunday afternoon, have been enjoying a busy week here at the Huntsman. The students began their week with an introduction to the local marine invertebrates, then a tour of the Fundy Discovery Aquarium as well as a field trip to Indian Point to study a mixed seashore environment.
On Tuesday and Wednesday morning the students were divided into two groups and while some hopped aboard the Fundy Spray to collect data and specimen samples, the others were in the lab learning more about the important, yet microscopic organisms, plankton.  Students in the lab also were introduced to some of the invasive species found in this area as well. In the afternoon, on Tuesday, students and staff went to Pottery Creek to capture, mark and release one of the better known invasive species in this area, the Green Crab.  Also while there the students took the opportunity to study the marine worms.  Tuesday evening was spent back in the lab identifying and classifying marine algae.  On Wednesday afternoon experiments in echinoderm behaviour were conducted, as well the students were given the opportunity to take a tour of the Atlantic Reference Centre. 

If you look under the rocks and seaweed at Pottery Creek you are sure to find some Green Crabs.

This crab will be marked on the back of its' shell and then released.

Trying to identify the worms dug up can be hard work.

This student is not phased by the large clam worm she is holding.

 

Dig!

 

Who knew seaweed was this much fun?

I think this particular 'algae' is giving the boys some trouble, maybe those girls can help.

Plankton Bingo takes sharp eyes.

Here is a planktonic polychaete specimen under the microscope.

The Fundy Spray.

Disembarking the Fundy Spray after a trip to collect specimens.

How fast can your urchin flip?

                                  This experiment is testing the strength of the echinoderm's tube feet.