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.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
"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
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
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Plankton: The Root of All Life"
After studying plankton in class and reading the excerpts from our packets, I now truly understand how great of an impact plankton have on the world. First and foremost, their photosynthesis accounts for up to 80% of all the atmosphere's oxygen. Aside from that they are a pivotal stepping stone in most marine ecosystems, and without them many other organisms would cease to exist. For these reasons it is important to keep the plankton. Global warming, pollution, and other blunders of mankind are greatly affecting their ecosystem and in turn killing them. How could the well-being of something so small be so crucial in deciding our fare as a species? Well without the microscopic algae in the ocean, we'd surely die out. After reading the article on man's impact I will certainly start picking up my trash at the beach, and discourage overfishing and chemical dumping. After all, we only have one planet.
After studying plankton in class and reading the excerpts from our packets, I now truly understand how great of an impact plankton have on the world. First and foremost, their photosynthesis accounts for up to 80% of all the atmosphere's oxygen. Aside from that they are a pivotal stepping stone in most marine ecosystems, and without them many other organisms would cease to exist. For these reasons it is important to keep the plankton. Global warming, pollution, and other blunders of mankind are greatly affecting their ecosystem and in turn killing them. How could the well-being of something so small be so crucial in deciding our fare as a species? Well without the microscopic algae in the ocean, we'd surely die out. After reading the article on man's impact I will certainly start picking up my trash at the beach, and discourage overfishing and chemical dumping. After all, we only have one planet.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
"Marine Food Web"
In the food web activity my organism was plankton. I played a key role in the energy distribution for my entire ecosystem. Though I did not eat any of the other organisms (because plankton photosynthesize) I was eaten by plenty of things. My main predator was the whale. However, essentially all of the food started with me! how about that. Plankton are not only an essential piece in the food web, but they also create and account for much of our earths gassious oxygen. If one species was to become endangered or extinct it would throw off the entire web. For example if shrimp/krill ceased to exist, then the small fish would have no food, then the seals and larger animals wouldn't have food, then the even larger species would be without an energy source. Below is an enlarge picture of a plankton, that's me!!!
Phytoplankton
Another activity we did (after learning about phytoplankton) was observing and scetching a phytoplankton that we had under a microscope. Phytoplankton are so important in every food web. They cover roughly 70% of the ocean's surface and are completely essential towards the well-being of marine organisms everywhere. They, at the bottom of the food chain, are a key factor. They also account for the production of oxygen, and they create energy through photosynthesis. Needless to say, without them we'd all be shoot out of luck!
"Energy Flow"
At the bottom of the food chain you have species int he plantae kingdom. They create energy for all. Then a small consumer (in opposition to a producer) will eat a plankton or other producer and will acquire the energy created by the organism. Another consumer will then eat this animal, gaining the energy that was acquired by this being. So on and so forth the cycle continues, and eventually the energy is sparse, and animals at the top of the chain need to eat loads of other species to gain energy. The closer to the source the more fortifying.
"Human Impacts"
Humans can greatly affect the flow of a marine ecosystem. For one, the waste that we release into the ocean alonekillsorganisms and can change the quality of the water and underwater life as a whole. Another major problem is over-development on the shores. This disrupts sanctuaries, and shallow water ecosystems where many of our most important species reside. Lastly over fishing by man eliminates some of the fish fro the web, and completely messes up ecosystems.
In the food web activity my organism was plankton. I played a key role in the energy distribution for my entire ecosystem. Though I did not eat any of the other organisms (because plankton photosynthesize) I was eaten by plenty of things. My main predator was the whale. However, essentially all of the food started with me! how about that. Plankton are not only an essential piece in the food web, but they also create and account for much of our earths gassious oxygen. If one species was to become endangered or extinct it would throw off the entire web. For example if shrimp/krill ceased to exist, then the small fish would have no food, then the seals and larger animals wouldn't have food, then the even larger species would be without an energy source. Below is an enlarge picture of a plankton, that's me!!!
Phytoplankton
Another activity we did (after learning about phytoplankton) was observing and scetching a phytoplankton that we had under a microscope. Phytoplankton are so important in every food web. They cover roughly 70% of the ocean's surface and are completely essential towards the well-being of marine organisms everywhere. They, at the bottom of the food chain, are a key factor. They also account for the production of oxygen, and they create energy through photosynthesis. Needless to say, without them we'd all be shoot out of luck!
"Energy Flow"
At the bottom of the food chain you have species int he plantae kingdom. They create energy for all. Then a small consumer (in opposition to a producer) will eat a plankton or other producer and will acquire the energy created by the organism. Another consumer will then eat this animal, gaining the energy that was acquired by this being. So on and so forth the cycle continues, and eventually the energy is sparse, and animals at the top of the chain need to eat loads of other species to gain energy. The closer to the source the more fortifying.
"Human Impacts"
Humans can greatly affect the flow of a marine ecosystem. For one, the waste that we release into the ocean alonekillsorganisms and can change the quality of the water and underwater life as a whole. Another major problem is over-development on the shores. This disrupts sanctuaries, and shallow water ecosystems where many of our most important species reside. Lastly over fishing by man eliminates some of the fish fro the web, and completely messes up ecosystems.
Friday, October 25, 2013
The scientific advancements that have occurred recently vastly improved the efficiency of bathymetric mapping. Acoustical tools utilize sound waves to further our understanding of the floor if the ocean. These advancement help not only from a scientific standpoint but also from a militant and commercial standpoint.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Field Trip
Yesterday we went on a field trip to Hampton Harbor and surveyed the ocean and its happenings. We checked water quality, marine bio life, plankton, the sea floor, and many other things while on the boat. It was a very beneficial learning experience that really helped further my understanding of the great blue. One very interesting thing that I we learnt was how big of an impact plankton has on our personal everyday life. If plankton remarkably ceased to exist we would with them. They account for roughly 80percent of the air's oxygen and play a key role in the ecosystem, being among the bottom level of the food chain. Taking samples of the water and seeing how much plankton is in just one drop of the water was crazy to me and made me realize that every time I go in the ocean I'm covering myself in tiny organisms. When we went on the beach we examined the sand and all of that which was, if nothing else, fun. All in all I really enjoyed the filed trip yesterday and took the experience and let it further my understanding of the ocean's processes.
Yesterday we went on a field trip to Hampton Harbor and surveyed the ocean and its happenings. We checked water quality, marine bio life, plankton, the sea floor, and many other things while on the boat. It was a very beneficial learning experience that really helped further my understanding of the great blue. One very interesting thing that I we learnt was how big of an impact plankton has on our personal everyday life. If plankton remarkably ceased to exist we would with them. They account for roughly 80percent of the air's oxygen and play a key role in the ecosystem, being among the bottom level of the food chain. Taking samples of the water and seeing how much plankton is in just one drop of the water was crazy to me and made me realize that every time I go in the ocean I'm covering myself in tiny organisms. When we went on the beach we examined the sand and all of that which was, if nothing else, fun. All in all I really enjoyed the filed trip yesterday and took the experience and let it further my understanding of the ocean's processes.
Friday, September 6, 2013
I think the ocean is fascinating. I also enjoy earning science credits. By the end of this course I hope to have acquired a deep and lasting knowledge of the ocean and it's functions. Furthermore, in the words of Bill Nye: "SCIENCE RULEZ". It affects our everyday way of life. Science runs this town. Even if you are not to apply the knowledge learned in a science course it helps to expand your mind and further your learning capabilities. A scientific brain has a vast advantage over the lesser.
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