Coral Reef Trip
We boated out to the Banana Reef. The Banana Reef is one of many SPA (“no take, no touch”) zones. This protects the coral reefs from the effects of tourism in the area. Coral reefs are essential to the ocean ecosystem. Coral reefs house 32 of 34 total phylums of animals and are essential to protecting humans as a wave break and also providing food and shelter for all different species of animals. Coral reefs are extremely fragile, though, as the outer film of the coral is easy to wipe away (only about 50 mm thick) and can expose coral to many different pathogens. These pathogens can spread quickly, as corals of the same genotype can share an outer film layer. However, there are many conservation and restoration efforts. We were visited by Mote Marine Labs, who employ many different tactics to grow and outplant new corals. First, there are the runways in which up to 1,000 corals can grow in a simulated ocean environment. Secondly, there are large underwater coral trees, which house branch coral. Up to 100 coral per tree can grow and mature enough to be outplanted into reefs. These mature branch corals can be fragmented into pieces and grow back as a separate colony.
Microplastics
We learned that Microplastics are very big polluters, not only of the ocean but also the air and land. In our microplastics lab today, we learned about how much microplastics humans and animals consume when eating, breathing, and drinking. The most common type of microplastic is the microfibers, which are commonly found in clothing items. Fish often mistake them for vital food sources, and this plastic can get into their stomach and may not pass through their digestive track. Other types of microplastics include fragments, microbeads, and plastic film. In the lab we filtered 2L of water collectively and found over 60 microplastics (most of which were microfibers). We also learned about the environmental impact of these microplastics and how they find their way into the ocean. Plastics, while essential for daily use, are composed of polymer strands that never break down naturally and will stay in the ocean for a very very long time. Avoiding single use plastics and using wool and cotton clothing, along with checking for plastics in personal hygiene products, will decrease the amount of microplastics threatening the ocean’s inhabitants.
Invertebrate behavior
There were 5 different invertebrate containers: Tulip Snails, Lettuce Sea Slugs, Hermit Crabs, Brittle Stars, and Common Starfish. Each tub had a group of us that ran an experiment regarding the behavior of each invertebrate. We learned that all invertebrates have different tendencies and preferences when it comes to feeding, shelter, and interactions. It is very easy to overlook these invertebrates, especially the smaller ones, but each has its own unique characteristics and responses to different stimuli and can be fun to observe both in the lab setting and in the ocean.
-Evan Q, Colby, Mason
