Hey everyone, welcome back! Today was our fish lab so we all got up early to get geared up for the water by 6:15. Once we were all together, we headed to the patch reef where we would be collecting video data to analyze back at the lab. There are two parts to this lab part one is during high tide and two is during low tide. For the lab we set up 30 meter transects in the coral patches. From there my partner and I swam along the transect line with a go pro so that later in the lab we could ID the different types of fish in the area. After we finished at the patch reef we headed back to shore to clean up for breakfast. After breakfast we set up shop in the lab to finish writing our lab write ups from yesterday. My group did really well! We did not have anything planned till after lunch, so I had some downtime to study for our fish ID test we take tomorrow. I can confidently say that I still have no clue what the different fish are. While I was studying my professor told me I could go help the marine master’s student with her research. Two of my classmates and I got to go help her collect algal samples off the patch reef. We got in our reef walkers and helped her set up a transect. Then we followed behind her as she picked the algae and then we collected the sample in a container filled with water. It was a great experience assisting with current research. We got back from helping and headed to lunch. After lunch we suited up again to hit the coral patches at low tide. We did the same thing we did for the high tide part and then headed back to the lab to analyze the footage. My footage from high tide was terrible. The camera was pointing the wrong way for the first bit and was super shaky. My low tide footage was much better but both videos didn’t have many fish. It was a great learning experience using cameras in water and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes you won’t always catch what you’re looking for. After we finished in the lab, we had some more down time and most of the class went for a swim. I decided to stay back and study some more since I am way behind compared to my classmates. I was also super tired from jet lag. I did get to walk down to the pier, and we saw several black tip reef sharks! It was so cool seeing them swimming in the shallow reef. Tomorrow during our morning swim I am hoping to see some. We had dinner and then headed back to the lab for blog time. Looking back on today I realized how much I really enjoy this type of work and study. I will say though I have never been so tired in my life. I cannot wait for tomorrow to see what knew things I can learn and discover.
Till then Taylor
1 Comment
Preston Harris
6/17/2023 10:35:27 am
It’s going to be a no for me on those spiders.
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AuthorTaylor is currently a senior at Utah State University studying environmental studies and biology. Taylor has always loved the ocean and plans to attend Western Washington University for a masters in marine ecology. Taylor first found a love for marine science as a child growing up in the Pacific North West. ArchivesCategories |