Essex - Day 2

On Tuesday students from Essex High School spent the morning on the beach at Pottery Creek collecting worm samples and marking the invasive species, Green crabs.  After lunch the students took the time to carefully study and classify the various invertebrate specimens collected from the beach and on the boat.

 

Students carefully dig through the soil to uncover marine worms.

 

Almost anywhere on the beach was a good 'worm digging' spot.

 

A Green crab marked, measured, sexed and ready for release.

 

Under rock ledges that were covered with seaweed was the ideal place to find the Green crabs.

 

Five Green crabs marked and released back onto the beach.

 

Just some of the worm samples collected.

 

A Bamboo worm.

 

A Blood worm.

 

A Clam worm.

 

Very nicely detailed field sketches of some of the animals collected.

 

This video shows how the sea cucumber moves its tentacle-like branches to feed.