Institute
of Maritime Studies – Marine Science
Mr. Rick O’Connor – roconnor@escambia.k12.fl.us
Annual Maritime Conference
Thursday May 10, 2007
Gulf Power Building on Bayfront Pkwy
Marine Science I
During 3rd quarter the Marine Science I students were trying to
determine what forces influenced current within Project Greenshores.
Measurements were made each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday beginning
on January 18 and ending on February 1. All measurements were made
between 1530 and 1600 CST.
Results:
Predicted winds (from the internet) averaged from the North at 16
knots
The actual winds (measured) averaged from the NNE at 4 knots
The mean tidal range was 1.46 ft (from the internet); the highest
range was 2.23 ft and the
lowest was 0.34 ft; the mean time for high tide was 17:12 and the
mean time for
low tide was 07:48 CST (the tide was rising or at high tide each
sample).
Current speed (measured ) - average was 0.05 meters/sec; the fastest
speed was 0.10 m/s
and the slowest was 0.02 m/s
Current direction (measured ) – average was 279º WNW;
all samples were between
225º SW and 330º NNW. The currents never traveled east.
The one thing we did notice was that when the wind traveled in one
direction and the tide the other, it was the wind that had the strongest
influence.
Marine Science II
Team 1 – Kayla King, Jane McCormack, Hunter Medley, and Kim
Mejia have switched their project to Searching for Diamondback Terrapins
on Garcon Point.
Marine Science I
The Marine Science I students have just completed a
survey of fish within Project Greenshores. Ten samples were taken
(five using a
seine net and five visually while snorkeling) during the month of
September. A total of 17 different species of fish were found during
this survey:
| Frillfin |
Goby |
Sheepshead |
| Pinfish |
Gulf
Whiting |
Jack
Crevalle (juv) |
| Silver
Perch |
Spotfin
Mojarra |
Spanish
Sardine |
| Silverside
Minnow |
Longnose
Killifish |
Inshore
Lizardfish |
| Gray
Snapper |
Spot
Croaker |
Pigfish |
| Striped
Mullet |
Leatherjacket |
Sheepshead
Minnow |
The Marine Science I students will be conducting current and plankton
surveys during the month of November within the project.
During the second quarter the Marine Science I students monitored
water quality and sampled plankton populations at Project Greenshores.
Below are the results of that study.
Table
1. Water Quality Data from Project Greenshores – November
2006
| Date |
|
Oct 31 |
Nov 7 |
Nov 14 |
Nov 21 |
Nov 28 |
MEAN |
| pH |
|
7.7 |
8.0 |
8/0 |
8.2 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
| Salinity |
Ppt |
20 |
25 |
19 |
24 |
17 |
21 |
| Water Temp |
ºC |
21 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
19 |
| DO2 |
mg/L |
5.9 |
8.8 |
8.5 |
9.3 |
9.8 |
8.5 |
| NO3 |
Ppm |
Nd |
0.00 |
0.11 |
0.16 |
0.15 |
0.10 |
| Fecal Coliform* |
Colonies / 100 ml |
2 |
430 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
87 |
| Time |
CST |
Nd |
1500 |
1550 |
1506 |
1507 |
1516 |
* data
collected from station #4 of FDEP’s water quality
monitoring program
Water Quality
Sample range Mean ± sd
pH--- 8.2 – 7.7
8.0 ± 0.2
Salinity--- 25 – 17 21 ± 4 the
only unusual data here is the fecal
Water Temp--- 21 – 17 19 ± 2 coliform… there
was a very high value
DO2--- 9.8 – 5.9 8.5 ± 1.5 recorded
on November 7. We are not sure
NO3--- 0.16 – 0.00 0.10 ± 0.07 why
this datum was so high. Other than that
Fecal coliform--- 430 – 0 87 ± 171
water quality seems fine
Plankton
Division Baccilariophyta (diatoms)
Nitzchia, Ditylum, Coscinodiscus, Navicula, Chaetoceros, Manguinea, Thalassionema,
Odontella,
Melosira
Division Pyrrophyta (dinoflagellates)
Glenodinium, Noctiluca
Phylum Protozoa
Orthocernia, Amphitrema, Cyphoderia, Dysteria, assorted species of radiolaria
Phylum Nematoda
unidentified species
Phylum Arthropoda
Copepods, amphipods, naupilus larva, zoea larva
Marine Science II
First semester research projects:
A Comparative Study of Filtration Rates of Two Local Bivalves; the
eastern oyster and the hooked mussel
Diana Hac, Kayla King, Hunter Medley
The Effect of Plant Density on the Rate of Dune Restoration on Santa Rosa Island
Bradley Davis, Zach Holzworth, Greg Nesvik, Cameron Townes
Artificial Reef Complexity and Preference by Fish
Thomas Fields, Stephen Hughes, Amber Ray, Gabrielle Watson
Aging Rays and Skates
Mark Christian, Kyle Haddock, Tommy Jacobsen, Matt Roche
Testing Intelligence in the Common Octopus
Jane McCormack, Kim Mejia
Many of the Marine II projects will change for
second semester. Here are the results of the 1st semester projects
A Comparative Study of Filtration Rates of Two Local Bivalves;
the eastern oyster and the hooked mussel
Diana Hac, Kayla King, Hunter Medley
They found no significant difference in the filtering rate between
these two bivalves. Diana is going to continue to do analysis
of this data for her second semester project. Kayla and Hunter
are going to conduct a census of turtles in Gulf Islands National
Seashore.
The Effect of Plant Density on the Rate of Dune Restoration
on Santa Rosa Island
Bradley Davis, Zach Holzworth, Greg Nesvik, Cameron Townes
Currently the plot with snow fencing is forming the best dune.
Of the plots with grasses, the 16” plot is forming the
best dune. This supports the hypothesis. This project will continue
this semester.
Artificial Reef Complexity and Preference by Fish
Thomas Fields, Stephen Hughes, Amber Ray, Gabrielle Watson
This team found that the pinfish attracted to the more complex
reef may have been due to chance. They were not attracted to
any one more reef more than another. This team will be conducting
a turtle census in Gulf Islands National Seashore this semester.
Aging Rays and Skates
Mark Christian, Kyle Haddock, Tommy Jacobsen, Matt Roche
The purpose of this project is to develop a graph that can use
a ray’s length or width to determine it’s age. To
date the graphed data is showing any pattern. Therefore, at the
moment, they can not tell the age of a ray using this method.
They will continue this semester.
Testing Intelligence in the Common Octopus
Jane McCormack, Kim Mejia
We were never able to secure an octopus for this experiment.
In early November this team switched and measured the amount
of seagrass in Project Greenshores. They were only allowed to
survey the southeastern section of the project due to construction.
In this area they found that less than 1% of the area contained
seagrass. We are not sure whether there was seagrass there originally
but it does not appear to be spreading. The greatest concentration
of grass was between the berm (islands) and the shore.
Turtle
Census Gulf Islands National Seashore – Naval Live
Oaks *new project
Team 1 – Kayla King, Jane McCormack, Hunter Medley, Kim
Mejia
Team 2 – Thomas Fields, Stephen Hughes, Amber Ray, Gabrielle
Watson
Marine Science III
Research
project at University of West Florida – Dr. Wayne
Bennett, Ms. Laura Enzor
Aerobic Respiration in the Common Fiddler Crab
Kim Goebel, Alex Marsh, Kevin Mayes, Alex Vail
Partner Projects
Dune Restoration with Gulf Islands National Seashore
Project overseen by Mr. Riley Hoggard
Biological and Abiological Surveys at Project Greenshores
Project overseen by Mr. Jim Lappert
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center – turtle exhibits, nature trail
clearing, new exhibit development
Project overseen by Ms. Molly O’Connor
