Introduction to Marine Biology 2018

This week we welcomed youth from five provinces and one state to the Huntsman campus to study marine biology. While here they were introduced to the diversity of life in the bay from plankton and seaweeds to invertebrates, fish and deep sea creatures.

Exploring the intertidal zone. What have they found?

A rock gunnel fish.

Collecting a few animals to take back to the lab to observe.

At the lowest point on the beach we found a few exciting animals...

sea stars!

Identifying and drawing the collected animals in the lab.

Onboard the Huntsman research vessel, the Fundy Spray.

The phytoplankton and zooplankton that was collected.

Sorting through the animals collected using the benthic drag.

Brittle stars.

Rock crab.

Skate egg case.

Using the secchi disk.

Keeping an eye out for the great white shark that was seen recently in the bay.

Playing plankton bingo in the lab.

View at 40x magnification.

Studying the animals that can be found on a muddy beach.

Red lined worm.

A good diversity of species were found including moon snails, clam worms, blood worms, ribbon worms, acorn worms and opal worms.

Using the microscope to study urchin external anatomy.

Can you identify all the parts?

Testing to see if size affects the flipping rate of sea urchins.

Getting a tour of some of the research at the Huntsman.

The students got to see fish being pit tagged.

Making t-shirts.

Final experiments were testing tube feet strength or sea star flipping rates.

Releasing all the animals.

As we say goodbye to this group we look forward to the upcoming field courses, Introduction to Marine Mammals & Seabirds for teens 15-18 years old and All Things Marine for families.