The Aquarium trip
This past Wednesday our class took a trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston. Not only did we have a fun time, but we were also given the opportunity do observe many marine organisms in real life, and learn much more about the ocean. Learning experiences outside of the classroom environment are beneficial and many ways, and I found that my understanding of many marine systems was expanded upon vastly during our academic endevour. We were able to do hands on work in an environment unfamiliar to us. Though book work and classroom activities are helpful there are many organisms that you truly do need to see to grasp the complexity of their nature. Among my favorite exhibits were the Amazon, the Deep Pacific (with the 9 meter long octopus) and the Seal tank. I also enjoyed the educational texts beside each tank. They enable me to have an actual understanding of what I was viewing!
I chose to observe the penguin exhibit in depth... pun intended. This really gave me a new found appreciation for the observing work that scientists do and I was able to come in touch with my inner Darwin. As I looked at the penguin I chose to observe, he eyed me right back. After he received his food from the feeder that was in the exhibit at the time, he swam away very swiftly. It surprised me that the penguins knew when they were sufficiently fed, and left the scene after that. Many other animals in captivity, it seems, do not know when they are to stop eating and more or less put this decision into the hands of their feeder. The speed at which the penguin swam also came as a surprise to me. It was seemingly not very sleek and I thought it would not be capable of hitting such speeds, but alas, he was a zippy one for sure.

"The Super Sick Seaweed Sampling Saga"
Over the past week or so our Marine Biology class has been learning of the many uses, types, qualities, and characteristics of algae and in particular seaweed. There are three colors of algae and scientists classify seaweed by these three traits. There are green, brown and red algaes. Algaes account for more than 80% of the oxygen production globally. They are extremely important. Seaweed in particular plays many roles in various aquatic ecosystems. Above all it provides shelter and nutrition for marine organisms.
Each algae has its benefits and flaws, and learning about seaweed is extremely beneficial for learning about the ways of the ocean: from environment, to chemical makeup and nutrients all the way back to surrounding and habitats. In the lab where we studies the chemical build of seaweed and broke different types down we all really learned that we're just like seaweed in a way. We give and take, and all in all we're all just trying to withstand the water flow of life, just as those delicate beautiful organisms are withstanding the flow of water in the bottom of the ocean. We coexist with other people just as the different types of algae coexist among each other in the great blue sea. The great gig we call life... The past, the present, the future... Seaweed: our silent savior