Tropical Marine Ecology 2009

After Thoughts

2009-08-10T18:30:00.004-04:00

Matt sends us a favorite sunset and Kathy captures a wonderful shot of a Large Eye Toadfish!

Sad Saturday

2009-08-08T19:42:00.002-04:00

We put smiles on our faces for the last group picture, even though we were sad to leave. (Kirsten had an earlier flight out, so is missing from the group pic.)

Helen's Thursday Pic Picks

2009-08-07T13:25:00.004-04:00

Triple-dive Thursday

2009-08-06T19:34:00.006-04:00

Three dives in one day! Starting at Mary's Place, we swam through overhanging rocks and deep valleys. An ocean triggerfish was sighted feeding.

On to Maya Key for lunch, with tasty conch soup. A new facility for showing the Mayan civilization to tourists was available for a tour. Other recent changes on Maya Key include a variety of animals on display. South American sea lions are being trained, macaws call out in loud squawks, and a jaguar sits quietly on a rock.

Back on the boat, we geared up for dive #2 at Smith's Bank, where an amazing number of healthy corals thrive. Most abundant were staghorn, lettuce, and finger corals. Acres of these corals are a great habitat for huge numbers of small fish and reef creatures. Two lettuce sea slugs were spotted, one a blue-green color. Truly spectacular, awe-inspiring sights for all!

Lastly, the night dive. As the sun set we headed to the reef where we saw spiny lobsters, king crabs (Mithrax crabs), basket starfish and 3 octopi moving along the reef. We also saw several fish sleeping including parrotfish, cowfish and surgeonfish decked out in there night coloration.

(Photos by Kathy Dole)

Wet & Wonderful Wednesday

2009-08-05T18:47:00.008-04:00

What could be better than starting your day with a dolphin kiss? The group got to enjoy a dolphin encounter, including touching and "holding" a dolphin. After our one-on-one encounter, we all got to swim in the dolphin lagoon and frolicked with dolphins as they investigated turtle grass and empty shells that we used to entice them in for a closer look. We even got to see the 2-day old calf with its mother. A true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After our dolphin experience, we went out for a snorkel/dive where we saw crabs, lobsters, tunicates, and beautiful fishes. We all collected bits of algae and brought it back to the boat where we learned about these important ocean plants and the different types that can be found on the reef. We learned that some can actually indicate ecosystem damages caused by human actions that end up causing changes on the reef.

We finished the exciting day by going for an tide pool walk at the western tip of Roatan. We found sea urchins and brittle sea stars under every rock. We even saw a scorpionfish hanging out in 6 inches of water, waiting for an unsuspecting prey to come to close to this expert at camouflage.

Terrific Tuesday

2009-08-05T10:02:00.006-04:00

The afternoon got off to a great start with a dive/snorkel to Four Sponges Reef. This unique reef has 2 walls to explore. The reef was filled with sponges, corals and reef fish of every color and shape. From the small yellow-headed jawfish that can be found by closely examining the sand channels between the reefs, to a very curious green moray eel that came very close to the cameras that were busily clicking away at its toothy grin. Moray eels have poor eyesight, but they have an excellent sense of smell. The divers also got to see 2 large (2' long) scrawled filefish that put on a show as they swam together in what looked like a spawning "dance" that went on as they moved along the reef. Before the dive ended, the divemaster pointed out a large eye toadfish that made its home under a coral ledge. This odd-looking fish uses fleshy tabs near its cavernous mouth to blend in to the background. Small fishes can be confused into thinking the fish is just part of the reef until the toadfish opens its maw and snaps up the unsuspecting prey!
(Photos: Helen Domske)

Hydroponics in Action

2009-08-04T13:19:00.002-04:00

The group got the opportunity to visit Blue Harbor Plantation where lettuce, herbs, flowers and fruits are grown for sale on Roatan. We learned how a person with a PhD in soil science can become a profitable producer of hydroponic produce in a tropical paradise. Val, the proprietor of the hydroponic operation, welcomed the group and shared his expertise in this fascinating operation. Although we all thought the tropical climate would be ideal for growing plants, we were surprised to learn that lettuce actually prefers cooler temperatures than the island provides. We saw how plants are planted, rooted, watered and eventually harvested. After this experience, we won’t take our salads for granted.

Zack's Monday picks

2009-08-03T23:17:00.004-04:00

Monday Morning

2009-08-03T15:11:00.010-04:00

The morning dive at Fish Den revealed two seahorses, a lobster, and a good variety of corals that we heard about at Jen's lecture. We added tilefish and spotted drum to our group fish list, for a total of 62 that we can identify for sure. Many neon gobies posed nicely for pictures on coral heads and sponges. Most vase sponges had brittle stars inside. Can't wait to snorkel at Man'o'War Key this afternoon!

Afternoon Update: The trip to the mangrove proved that this ecosystem is an important nursery for the reef. The group saw juvenile barracuda, sergeant majors, schoolmaster snappers, angelfish and grunts. The invertebrates were interesting as well. The group snorkeled with upside-down jellies, fireworms, decorator crabs, featherduster worms
and brittle sea stars.

After the snorkel, the group headed back to the lab to investigate clumps of calcarious algae and "pick out" the living organisms including two tiny octopi, snapping shrimp, flatworms and over 6 different species of serpent or brittle stars. What a fun way to end the afternoon. We even got to see the tiny (arm span of 3") octopus ink several times as he swam around the container.

Medusa Monday

2009-08-03T10:15:00.003-04:00

Another busy day on tap! This AM our lecture is on Coral Reef Ecology and coral ID. Corals are Cnidarians which exist either as polyps or medusae. After lunch we will focus on Mangrove Ecology and a field trip to Man-O-War Key. Evening brings an amazing algae pick lab where the true diversity of the coral reef ecosystem will be evident. Stay tuned for more photos!

Submerged Sunday

2009-08-02T21:57:00.005-04:00

The afternoon found the group back in the water for a snorkel/dive. The highlight was a green sea turtle busily munching on a large sponge. After it was finished, it gently swam away in a flurry of camera flashes. We saw queen angelfish with their characteristic "crown" marking their heads. The indigo hamlet showed off its bright blue coloration. The little whitenose pipefish, no larger than a twig, is the cousin of a seahorse. It was a great day enjoying the wonders of the sea.
(Photos: Helen Domske)

Sunday AM Dive/snorkel

2009-08-02T15:50:00.006-04:00

Here a few photos from the morning dive/snorkel at Gibson Bight. Thanks, Helen.

For some of the teachers this was the first chance to test their fish identification skills. Along with a wide assortment of beautifully colored reef fishes, some interesting invertebrates like the spiny lobster and flamingo tongue snail pictured here, also added to the underwater experience.

SUNDAY -Reef Fish & Inverts

2009-08-02T10:29:00.004-04:00

We have a busy day scheduled. As I write we are in our first fish ID lecture, looking at fish by family and learning about where they live, what they eat and how they are important to the coral reef. This afternoon we will focus on invertibrates and reef ecology this evening.

The inshore water has cleared considerably after yesterday's storm and we are off for a dive/snorkel on the Andrea. Hope to have some good pics later....

TME '09 Group Arrives Safely

2009-08-01T21:35:00.006-04:00

Greetings…

Everyone arrived safely at R.I.M.S. –some of us a bit late and Matt without his luggage. Just the routine challenges of travel.

We did a snorkel off of the steps on Bailey’s Key this afternoon and got to know each other a bit over dinner. As teachers will do, they compared the subjects and classes they teach.

After dinner, we heard an orientation and lecture on the history of Roatan and the Marine Protected Area where we will be swimming all week. We were also able to spot some interesting terrestrial life along the path to the classroom. Zach was able to get some great photos, see if you can identify them... Send us a comment!

Honduran Leader Backs Return of President

2009-07-30T07:59:00.000-04:00

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The head of Honduras’s de facto government, Roberto Micheletti , has expressed support for a compromise that would allow the ousted president of his country to return to power, according to officials in the de facto government and diplomats from the region.

MALARIA: Scientists ready to start human tests of vaccine

2009-07-27T20:45:00.000-04:00

A new malaria vaccine has been shown to provide 100% protection in mice. If it can approach that level in people, it could slash the toll from one of the world's worst scourges, according to Stefan Kappe of Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI).

Check out this new Caribbean Sponge Guide

2009-06-18T09:05:00.001-04:00

Lionfish finally reached Roatan

2009-06-12T10:44:00.008-04:00

Here is an e-mail update on Lionfish in the Bay Islands. Photos by G & K Dole from Grand Bahama, February, 2009.

Having slowly spread throughout the greater Caribbean over the course of the years, the lionfish has now finally reached the Bay Islands.
On May 22nd, a local dive shop reported the capture of an 8inch (front of mouth to base of tail) specimen near Punta Gorda (in the NE part of Roatan). It was found?in?21ft of water, inside the barrier reef and about 200 m from shore.
The specimen in currently being kept in an aquarium and will be used for educational purposes. As yet, there have been no further sightings but we expect many more in the coming future.
With the lionfish here to stay, we will be assessing possibilities of dealing with this invasive species.

Promoting Research, Education & Conservation

Nic Bach
Director of Marine Infrastructure
Roatan Marine Park

How are YOU connected to the Ocean?

2009-06-12T08:48:00.004-04:00

Image Credit: Austin Tomlin, Creative Commons

Take two breaths.

One came from the ocean!

Check out: Celebrate the Ocean and Water
It's true! Roughly half of the oxygen we breathe is produced by phytoplankton, tiny single-celled plants that live in the sea. That fact alone means that you - and all life on Earth - depend on the ocean for survival every minute of every day. In fact, no matter how far we may live from the coast, the ocean is important to our daily lives in countless ways. The ocean stabilizes our climate and weather patterns and is vital to the global cycle that supplies us with clean drinking water. It provides seafood to millions of people, and studying the wild diversity of life beneath the waves has helped us produce medicines and other important products.

Snorkeling site at AKR

2009-05-08T09:54:00.003-04:00

Bailey’s Key (From the RIMS Instructors Guide)

Bailey’s Key, located in the western part of AKR’s property, houses one of RIMS's dolphin enclosures. This key also serves as a wildlife sanctuary for parrots, agoutis, iguanas, and at one time some resident sea turtles. A nature trail encompasses the island and provides access to the west side of the key where you can explore the rocky intertidal zone or snorkel the shallow back reef. The rocky shores on Bailey’s Key are typically vertical with an undercut of approximately 1.5 ft height and a depth of 2 ft. The weathered coral rock is sharp and jagged and must be traversed with care.

The water depth on the west side of the key is shallow becoming 3 to 4 feet deep about 100 ft from shore. It may be necessary to wade out a short distance before snorkeling. Be careful to avoid the aggregations of Rock Boring Urchins (Echinometra lucunter). As you snorkel west of the key you travel over an extensive bed of Turtle Grass (Thallasia testudinum). Scattered through the bed are small boulders of Mustard Hill Coral (Porites asteroides). As you continue further west you will encounter larger boulders of coral and patches of reef and rubble. Take your time and slowly navigate your way around and through the narrow openings. If you reach a dead end, back up and try again. Attempting to snorkel over the boulder heads may result in damage to the fragile coral and other organisms and cuts and abrasions on you.

Lettuce Coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) is the most dominant coral in this area. Finger Coral (Porites porites), Mustard Hill Coral (Porites asteroides), Smooth Brain Coral (Diploria strigosa) and Lobed Star Coral (Montastrea annularis.) are also common. Starlet corals (Siderastrea spp.) are also present along with an occasional Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis). Black Sea Rods (Plexaura homomalla), Corky Sea Fingers (Briareum asbestinum) and sea fans (Gorgonia spp.) are among the more common octocorals observed.

There is also a prevalence of algae at this site likely due to the closer proximity to shore and nutrient rich runoff. Turbinaria spp., Dictyota spp., Halimeda spp. and Stypopodium zonale are algae species found in this area as well as Rhipocephalus phoenix on the sandy bottom. If you carefully lift pieces of the rubble you may find the Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma paucigranulata) or some of the many other brittle star species that thrive in these low light environments. Reef Urchins (Echinometra viridis) can be seen in the cracks and holes between coral and rubble. Variegated Urchins (Lytechinus variegatus), West Indian Sea Eggs (Tripneustes ventricosus) and Donkey Dung Sea Cucumbers (Holothuria mexicana) are among the many other echinoderms encountered in the sandy bottom and sea grass beds.

State of Lake Erie Meeting

2009-04-08T11:37:00.001-04:00

New York Sea Grant’s Annual

State of Lake Erie Meeting

Thursday, April 30, 2009
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
ARMOR FIRE HALL
4932 Clark St., Hamburg, NY 14075

Sponsored by
NYS Assemblyman Jack Quinn
In Cooperation With
Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

- Lake Erie Fisheries Update
Don Einhouse, NYS DEC, Lake Erie Unit Leader

- Status of Muskellunge in the Buffalo Harbor and Upper Niagara River
Paul McKeown, Fisheries Manager - Region 9 NYS DEC
Mike Wilkinson, Senior Fisheries Biologist

- Lake Erie Biological Update
Dr. William Edwards, Niagara University

- Sturgeon Catches - Angler Reporting Program
Helen Domske, NY Sea Grant, Great Lakes Program at UB

- And More!

For more information or directions, contact: Helen Domske, NY Sea Grant (716) 645-3610 or email: sgbuffal@cornell.edu

The Heat is On! Climate Change and Coral Reef Ecosystems

2009-03-31T15:11:00.003-04:00

NOAA/NSTA Web Seminars

Check on this invitation to participate in two free web Seminars about ocean acidification and coral bleaching. Click anywhere to visit the NSTA site.

Coral reef ecosystems will be heavily impacted by climate change and can be used to illustrate its disastrous effects. While these remarkable systems are robust enough to create structures like the Great Barrier Reef, visible from space, they can be damaged and destroyed by even small changes in the Earth's climate.

Great Article on Jellyfish

2009-03-24T08:42:00.007-04:00

Jellyfish Sea Science comes from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Division. You can even download a PDF file of this information at the bottom of their web page! Just click on Jellyfish to take a look.

In Roatan we often see the Mangrove Upsidedown Jelly at the mangroves, an occasional Moon Jelly, a few Box Jellyfish called a Sea Wasp and lots of Comb Jellies which aren't Jellyfish at all!

Deposit Deadline Extended

2009-03-04T11:09:00.006-05:00

It's not too late to join this summer's workshop in Roatan! The deposit deadline has been extended to March 24, 2009. Have questions? We have answers! Feel free to call or e-mail...
Helen Domske, Sea Grant Resource Agent, (716)645-3610; hmd4@cornell.edu
Garry Dole, Science Resources Coordinator, Erie 2 BOCES, (716) 679-3419; garrydole@aol.com

2009 Summer Trip Information

2008-12-25T20:17:00.005-05:00

DATES: August 1-8, 2009 (8 days) Travel arrangements from Buffalo, NY Airport.

ACCOMMODATIONS: The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences and Anthony's Key Resort http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/rims/rims.html; oceanfront facility, double occupancy cabanas with private bath, air conditioned classroom, dolphin encounter, dive shop and more.

Costs: $1994.00* for COSEE Scholars* (See funding possibilities below.) Cost includes Key Standard room and meals, round trip airfare from Buffalo, NY, bus and boat fees, transfers, admissions, hotel and departure taxes, and all tips and gratuities. Tuition and souvenirs extra. School districts may financially support their teachers; see note below. Significant others welcome at the regular cost of $2494. (A limited number of air conditioned rooms are available as well as private rooms and trip insurance, for an addition fee. Please call for more information.)

Graduate CREDIT: OPTIONAL: Three hours of graduate credit are available from SUNY at Buffalo. Tuition costs are extra and must be paid directly to the University. Please call if interested.

EQUIPMENT: You will need snorkeling gear: mask, snorkel and fins. If you need to purchase equipment we will make recommendations and provide any necessary training before the trip.

Content areas: Topics to be covered with presentations and field visits: the coral reef, including reef formation and ecology; reef fish; reef invertebrates; animal relationships; sandy beaches; tide pools; zonation at a rocky shore; mangroves; and turtle grass beds.

ADDITIONAL INFO: An informational meeting will be presented Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at the Science Resources Center, 10001 Route 60, Fredonia, NY at 7:00 PM. For directions or additional information please call Helen Domske, Sea Grant Resource Agent at (716) 645-2114 x2337 or Garry Dole, Science Resources Coordinator, Erie 2 BOCES at (716) 679-3419 or 800-344-9611 ext. 2598 (from 716 area code).

Funding Possibilities to explore....
• * COSEE-GL will provide $500 scholarships for the first 10 eligible educators. (Trip cost of $1994 reflects the total cost after the scholarship is applied.) Please attach a copy of your COSEE application to the enrollment form below. COSEE applications are available at: http://www.coseegreatlakes.net/events/marine_immersion_2009 Please call for info.

• This is a Professional Development activity and may qualify for both local district funding and inservice course credit as required by the NYS Commissioner of Education.

Sponsors of this workshop reserve the right to limit group size and cancel due to insufficient numbers of participants. Cost is based on a minimum of twelve participants and current air fare prices. Participants must be able to demonstrate PADI snorkeling skills or be willing to wear a snorkel vest when in the water. Participants must complete a standard liability waiver.

SEND TO:
Garry W. Dole
E2CC BOCES, Science Resources
10001 Route 60
Fredonia, NY 14063

NAME _________________________________
HOME ADDRESS ________________________
CITY / STATE / ZIP ______________________
HOME PHONE __________________________
e-mail _________________________________
Educators please complete:
SCHOOL ___________________GRADE_______
SCHOOL ADDRESS _______________________
CITY / STATE / ZIP ______________________
√ If you have ___ attached or ___ need a COSEE Application
Please include a $400.00 deposit payable to
Tropical Marine Ecology and return by March 3,'09