By Jordan Samberg
Today was our final day of our marine biology course. We started off our morning just after breakfast with a fish dissection. We each got a fish. We first had to start out and identify our fish. The fish I got was a white wake. Then, we examined its external anatomy and analyzed certain characteristics such as its markings, fins and furthermore. We did this to estimate certain characteristics of the fish such as; if it is a hard-bodied or soft-bodied fish to determine if it is a fast or a slow swimmer, if it has teeth to trap its prey, if it is stream-lined shaped bodied and if it has large eyes for deep low-lighted areas of the ocean, and farther on. After examining its external anatomy we sliced open the the inside to see its internal anatomy, which we then identified its vital organs.
Later on that day we did our presentation marine related problems. Each one of us received a individual topic 2 days ago. We did research and then presented our topic for 15 to 30 minutes to everyone else. Our first presentation was by Jason Miller on the decline of Atlantic Cod. He discussed how Atlantic during past years was hunted enough to be put on to the endangered species because of the more efficient and successful fishing technology it developed to catch an excessive amount. After Jason, went George Perlman and he discussed bycatch, which is when fishermen unintentionally catch other fish that they did not intend to catch with their nets. The fisherman have right to legally sell the bycatch. However, this can lead to a serious problem because fishermen can target certain areas catching other fish declaring it as bycatch, and they don't have permits for that specific fish. After George, was Conor Smith and he did a presentation on coral bleaching. This is when coral bleach because of temperature change, deadly chemicals are released and pressure change, which causes the coral to release hazardous chemicals for the other corals possibly wiping out the reef. This can cause a problem for marine life that coral is its vegetation. After Conor, was Nicholas Stavrakis and he wrote about 5 garbage geysers in the ocean. He discussed the hazardous of each of these geysers and how they are larger than Texas. Each geyser is located in one ocean, and all garbage forms the geysers by being pushed together by the current. After Stravakis, was Nikita Vezina and he talked about aquaculture, which is fish farming. He discussed the issues how they cause problems by the bacteria formed in these fish farms. After Nikita, was me. I talked about marine ecotourism, which is activities that involve exhibiting touring the marine world, such as scuba diving, snorkling, whale watching and so on. I discussed how the noise pollution and pollution of fumes and gas, but I said it was still very important for awareness and knowledge of the marine world. after me was Charles McCluskey and he discussed swimming with the dolphins, and how they it can be dangerous because potentially dolphins are aggressive. However, we disagreed with this notion because beside orcas(killer whales) which are in fact dolphins, this has only been one recorded dolphin attack. This dolphin was also being attacked by the man who was drunk and the dolphin just rammed the man and he died of internal injuries. After this presentation and marine experience was finished.
Saturday 10 September 2011
Final day of our trip
I cannot believe that a week has already gone by. It is incredible of how much you learn in a hands on experience. This trip has been one of my favourite school trips at Selwyn House and I would do it again in a flash because I learnt so many interesting facts about marine life. I would like to thank our teacher as well as the staff there for making it such an awesome adventure.
Today, we dissected fish in the morning and presented our projects in the afternoon. I really loved dissecting my white hake fish because it was cool to see the insides of it. I did not know that the organs of fish do not take up the whole body. In fact, they take up only a small portion of the body and the rest of it is muscle. I really found the mouth of my fish interesting because it expanded so large that it could eat something as big as itself. Opening up the stomach and finding little fish skeletons inside was amazing. seeing its dark red heart and digestive system was fascinating because they are so much smaller than you think.
The presentations in the afternoon were really well done and it was amazing to see how one topic was related and linked to the other. We all put in 100% effort in our presentations and it really showed. Eating supper as a group outside on the picnic tables was enjoyable and seeing everyone run up into the dinning room when the chef told us that there was ice cream inside made me laugh.
I learnt so many interesting things about marine life on this trip and truly did appreciate the wonderful scenery around me. New Brunswick is such a unique town and the hands on activities that we did made it a lot more fun. I hope that the next group of Selwyn kids who plan on coming on this trip enjoy it as much as I did. A big thanks to Mr. Grier and Mr. Deegan for making this a super cool week.
Nikita
Today, we dissected fish in the morning and presented our projects in the afternoon. I really loved dissecting my white hake fish because it was cool to see the insides of it. I did not know that the organs of fish do not take up the whole body. In fact, they take up only a small portion of the body and the rest of it is muscle. I really found the mouth of my fish interesting because it expanded so large that it could eat something as big as itself. Opening up the stomach and finding little fish skeletons inside was amazing. seeing its dark red heart and digestive system was fascinating because they are so much smaller than you think.
The presentations in the afternoon were really well done and it was amazing to see how one topic was related and linked to the other. We all put in 100% effort in our presentations and it really showed. Eating supper as a group outside on the picnic tables was enjoyable and seeing everyone run up into the dinning room when the chef told us that there was ice cream inside made me laugh.
I learnt so many interesting things about marine life on this trip and truly did appreciate the wonderful scenery around me. New Brunswick is such a unique town and the hands on activities that we did made it a lot more fun. I hope that the next group of Selwyn kids who plan on coming on this trip enjoy it as much as I did. A big thanks to Mr. Grier and Mr. Deegan for making this a super cool week.
Nikita
Final Day
Throughout this trip we encountered many different types of marine animals and plants. We went on many excursions and even got to see a shark. My favourite activity was when we went whale watching. There was really no outing or activity that I didn't like on this trip. My favourite lab was this morning where we had to dissect a fish. It was really cool I got to see what the liver of a herring looks like under the microscope. Also the heart was oddly close to its head and most of the herring's organs were hidden behind its digestive tract which was pretty cool. All in all the trip was fun and I would do it again in a flash. I would like to thank Tracy and Laura for being amazing teachers throughout this trip. Finally I want to thank Mr. Deegan and Mr. Grier for coordinating this whole trip without them this whole trip would never have been made possible.
Gotta love photoshop
Today was our last day here at the Huntsman Marine Science Center, and it’s a bit disappointing to know that we have to leave early tomorrow morning and then be expected to go to school the next day. I mean really, where is our break? People enjoy their weekends at home but I get to enjoy it by dissecting a fish and giving a presentation about Dolphins on a Saturday, then sit in a car for another 11 hours while we drive back home on Sunday, have 2 or 3 hours to myself, go to bed, and THEN go to school for a full week. Well, to be fair, this week was awesome and I feel bad for the people who didn’t go.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. The morning started off rather fishy as we got our own dead fish to cut open. We each got different fish which we had to identify (Mine was a Silver Hake, I believe). After answering our text book questions about the exterior of the fish, we were given further questions that involved performing highly dangerous surgery on the fish. It’s a good thing they were already dead, because that brings it from highly dangerous surgery to really messy dissection. Personally, I destroyed the liver of the fish I was working on when I was cutting it open from the bottom, but I managed to get the stomach out just fine. Turns out, I found another, smaller fish in the stomach which, when compared with the sharp teeth it had, told me it was a carnivore. Yes, it smelled really nasty.
When that was over and done with, we had had a very nice pizza lunch and proceeded to present our projects a little bit later. For the most part, the presentations were done really well. We had 4 presentations done before dinner, and the last 3 done after dinner. I was the last one to go, and I’m pretty sure people enjoyed my photo of a dolphin next to a cow. Who would have thought they could co-exist like that?
Right now, we’re in the process of packing our bags for tomorrow morning. I just hope that the drive doesn’t take 11 hours again.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. The morning started off rather fishy as we got our own dead fish to cut open. We each got different fish which we had to identify (Mine was a Silver Hake, I believe). After answering our text book questions about the exterior of the fish, we were given further questions that involved performing highly dangerous surgery on the fish. It’s a good thing they were already dead, because that brings it from highly dangerous surgery to really messy dissection. Personally, I destroyed the liver of the fish I was working on when I was cutting it open from the bottom, but I managed to get the stomach out just fine. Turns out, I found another, smaller fish in the stomach which, when compared with the sharp teeth it had, told me it was a carnivore. Yes, it smelled really nasty.
When that was over and done with, we had had a very nice pizza lunch and proceeded to present our projects a little bit later. For the most part, the presentations were done really well. We had 4 presentations done before dinner, and the last 3 done after dinner. I was the last one to go, and I’m pretty sure people enjoyed my photo of a dolphin next to a cow. Who would have thought they could co-exist like that?
Last Day in NB
September 10, 2011
Its day is our final day in St. Andrews. Although today was more relaxed than the others, we still had an eventful morning and afternoon. This morning we partook in a lab based on the interior and exterior of certain fish. These fish were the same ones we caught on Tuesday when we went trawl fishing. Among them were a couple of white hake, a red fish and an Atlantic herring. We were asked to make certain find out certain details about the fish such as what depth they lived at, what type of foods do they eat and whether they were fast fish or not based on their outside anatomy. Afterwards, the dissections took place. We discovered a lot of differences between our body structure and that of fish. The placement of the heart in fish surprised me (its in their throats). Most of their organs were like ours. The experience overall was interesting, but the stench of the dead fish was, at times not very noticeable and at other point revolting (especially when opening the stomachs).
The afternoon was highlighted by the various presentations given by the seven of us. We were each given a specific subject to research; giving both causes and effects and pros and cons for each subject. I present the issue of coral bleaching, George spoke of the process of bycatching and Nick address the 5 major gyres of garbage in the world, Jason spoke of the history of cod fishing in the north atlantic. As well Nikita presented the industry of aquaculture and its purpose, Jordan spoke about marine ecotourism and Charles address the various points of human interactions with dolphins.
All in all, this trip has been spectacular. We’d like to thank Tracey and Laura for their aid and commit to this trip; they have been greatly helpful and kind throughout this week.
Connor L-Smith
Kayak Ride and Presentations
Sept. 9-10, 2011
Yesterday we set out on kayaks into the Passamaquoddy Bay. After some technical difficulties were resolved in some of the kayaks, we set out to Navy Island. After 2 stops on a beautiful, sunny day, we made the rest of the trip around some fishing nets and the island. On the way back we enjoyed a great view of St Andrews and the Algonquin hotel. Our guide, Allison, told us the rumor that Stephen King based the hotel in the Shining on this hotel.
The next day, after a lab on fish anatomy that involved dissection, we started our presentations on environmental problems in the marine environment. Jason started it off with an interesting story on the decline of Atlantic cod fishing. George then followed by informing the group on bycatch. Connor's presentation was on a little-known phenomenon called coral bleaching, and Nick finished off the afternoon presentations with his project on gyros and garbage island.
After our last dinner in New Brunswick, Nikita gave us a riveting presentation on aquaculture, or fish farming. Jordan then told us about marine ecotourism, and Charles capped off the presentations with one about swimming with dolphins.
All in all, we would like to thank Mr Grier, Mr Deegan, Tracey, and Laura for making this trip a great success!
George and Jason
Yesterday we set out on kayaks into the Passamaquoddy Bay. After some technical difficulties were resolved in some of the kayaks, we set out to Navy Island. After 2 stops on a beautiful, sunny day, we made the rest of the trip around some fishing nets and the island. On the way back we enjoyed a great view of St Andrews and the Algonquin hotel. Our guide, Allison, told us the rumor that Stephen King based the hotel in the Shining on this hotel.
The next day, after a lab on fish anatomy that involved dissection, we started our presentations on environmental problems in the marine environment. Jason started it off with an interesting story on the decline of Atlantic cod fishing. George then followed by informing the group on bycatch. Connor's presentation was on a little-known phenomenon called coral bleaching, and Nick finished off the afternoon presentations with his project on gyros and garbage island.
After our last dinner in New Brunswick, Nikita gave us a riveting presentation on aquaculture, or fish farming. Jordan then told us about marine ecotourism, and Charles capped off the presentations with one about swimming with dolphins.
All in all, we would like to thank Mr Grier, Mr Deegan, Tracey, and Laura for making this trip a great success!
George and Jason
Our Photo of the Shark Receives some Recognition.
Hi everyone,
The photo we captured of the Shark preying on the Porpoise, midway between Grand Manan and East Wolf Island in the Bay of Fundy (Lat: 44.52930, Long: -66.44131) was published this morning on the Quoddy Link Marine's Blog site.
Follow the link below to read their version of the encounter.
http://quoddylinkmarine.blogspot.com/
Mr. Deegan
The photo we captured of the Shark preying on the Porpoise, midway between Grand Manan and East Wolf Island in the Bay of Fundy (Lat: 44.52930, Long: -66.44131) was published this morning on the Quoddy Link Marine's Blog site.
Follow the link below to read their version of the encounter.
http://quoddylinkmarine.blogspot.com/
Mr. Deegan
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