Monday and Tuesday were our final days of data collection for our research projects. We worried that it would be rainy on Monday but we were lucky to have a clear day. Because of the full moon, the ocean was at its highest high tide in the morning. On Monday we went to Lime Tree Bay first. We were there to collect data for a sponge project. While we were there, Skylar and I saw a hole at the bottom with a huge stone crab in it. It was so big that Skylar and I did not even think about trying to catch it. Just as we were getting out of the water, Skylar brought back the blue bucket with a small squid.
We then went to the J.N. Roth marine station to get on the boat to go to the hardbottom site. The moment we got on the boat we finally saw the new baby manatee with its mother (the baby had been born on Mother’s day near our station). At the hardbottom site, we spread into two groups. One worked on collecting Clypeaster (sea biscuits) to note its camouflage materials, and the other worked on measuring distance between loggerhead sponges. I was in the group to collect sponge data. Because the current was strong, it was hard to collect data, but we did it. It was a good day, especially since we are so close to the end of the class. – Richard Fang ’22
On Tuesday, we went to Old Dan Bank to collect data for another two groups. One group collected data about brittle star preferred habitat and the other identified the variety of species using loggerhead sponges as habitat. We were surprised when one sponge released about 2 dozen baby octopi! The weather and water was perfect today – the ocean looked like a smooth pane of glass. We then did one more set of data collection at the hardbottom site. While there we found a submerged box that was home to several large angelfish and a huge grouper. We also saw a stingray. We enjoyed a great last day on the water!
Students spent the evening preparing for our final exam tomorrow over the ecology of the marine system and analyzing data to prepare for their final research paper and presentation. Our time in Florida is quickly coming to an end. – Jody Saylor
