Today was our first field trip and I had a blast. We went to VA Key/Key Biscayne. We left the university clean and somewhat energetic (teenagers and mornings don't mix well) for the trip and came back sandy and smelling like sea water. But that didn't matter, because it was worth it!
We went to two beaches and they were both different yet somewhat similar. Our class caught plants (seagrass area) crabs, shrimp, shells and a great variety of fish. We even saw a mother blue crab and she was large. Once back at the university we put the organisms into three separate tanks (some of them would eat the others or produce a toxin, so separation was necessary). Sadly, some of the organisms did not make it. They floated towards the bottom of the tanks and we had to take them out. We ended up using two of the dead fish to feed the anemone and the leech. It was interesting how these completely different species gained energy via food. The anemone had to feel the dead fish against its tentacles before it grabbed it and began to feed. It took the leech less than five seconds before it began to feed (suck out all of its blood). I don't think I will ever stick my finger into the leech's jar.
Another field trip is tomorrow and I am excited. We get to spend the entire day at a mangrove. We will snorkel at Matheson Hammock.
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