Octopus lab

I learned many facts about the octopus from this lab. First there are over 300 species of octopus. Also octopi release an ink to confuse their predators from attacking them. Octopi have special skin cells called chromatophore that give them the ability to blend in with their surroundings. Because they have no skeleton they are able to squeeze themselves into tight spaces. They also have very short life spans. It could be as short as six months to five years. Finally I learned that Octopi travel through the water by jet propulsion which releases a quick flow of water and also uses a lot of energy. Or crawling along the ocean floor which does not use as much energy.
The most interesting thing I did was taking the beak out. I had no idea they had beaks that were so similar to a bird's. The most disgusting thing I did was accidental popping his brain and all the pieces of it coming out. It was AWFUL!!! What I liked best was the opportunity to dissect an animal that I most likely will never have the opportunity to touch again and get a closer understanding of marine life. There was really nothing about the lab I didn't enjoy. If I were to change anything it would probably have just been the time frame.

Guest from the Navy

Petty Officer Allen visited our class today. He is thirty-one years old married with two kids and has completed his seventh year with the Navy. Today we learned what exactly the Navy does on a regular basis. The Navy protects Americans from the enemies of the water. From submarines and ships they also can travel by aircraft. He has traveled to many areas such as Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. I also learned about the ONR or the Naval Research Laboratory. This research laboratory coordinates, executes and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S. they also perform deep sea searches. For instance they helped Bob Ballard find the Titanic. Tsunami prediction is also a growing study of the Navy. Because of the recent natural disasters relief effort programs are increasingly growing thanks to the Navy. I will remember that submarines have zero sight when they are under the ocean. They rely solely on sonar maps and previously drawn maps of the sea floor by people in the Navy who have visited the area already.

Whale Flukes

A Whale fluke is the tail fin. It is flat and can be used to identify the whale. Flukes are used to i.d. Whales because they act as a fingerprint for the whale. If there is a a scar the whale obtains as a child it will grow with the whale and can later be identified as a mature adult even from across the world. Scientists need this data to understand whale habits, migration, and individual characteristics. The most difficult part of the lab today was identifying the flukes on a black and white small scale picture. If you were to change anything in the lab it would just be the quality of the photos. And maybe a way for us to check our identifications without you having to run all over the room.

Overfishing

Over eighty percent of all life on earth in found in the ocean. Overfishing is becoming an increasing issue to our planet. The amount caught on an average fishing trip is over three times more than necessary. When the overfishing takes place the ocean is not able to keep up and sustain life. Fish are not able to reproduce at the speed needed in order to remain a large population. Because the fish population is not able to keep up our food recourses from the ocean in depleting. The food chain is starting to die off and harshly effected. In order to prevent the spread of overfishing it is important for us to severely cut down on our fishing habits and maintain the changes even after the fish population is able to catch up.

Coral bleaching!

Coral bleaching is when they lose their zooxanthellae because of loss in pigmentation. It is dependent on a symbiotic relationship so if anything changes in their lives the zooxanthellae leaves the Coral. For instance earth's temperature rising. If the Coral can no longer supply the zooxanthellae with the necessary nutrients to perform photosynthesis the zooxanthellae will abandon the Coral causing its conditions to only worsen. Eventually leading to death. If the coral begins to die off it can no longer remain a habitat for the marine life that were living and eating off the algae on it. Coral Reef bleaching is an important topic because according to Brian Skoloff of The Christian Science Monitor, "If the reefs vanished, experts say, hunger, poverty and political instability could ensue."

Marine debris

Marine debris is causing many problems for the ocean. Most of all it is causing the death and extinction of the different animals. Six pack rings, plastic bags, plastic pellets, and bottles are often found within the stomachs of the different marine animals. The marine debris is polluting the waters and killing the ecosystem. The debris can get caught on the plants and cover them from the sun. In order to prevent the continuing spread of marine debris we need to stop dumping our trash in the ocean. Also cutting up six pack rings in order to stop them from entangling animals. And finally recycling. The great pacific garbage patch is a perfect example of what not to do. In the last 40 years it has reached the size of Texas and only continues to grow.

Little stingers of the sea

When a puffer fish feels threatened they can reach up to three times their size. The puffer fish contains tetrodotoxin which makes them taste badly and also poisonous. Tetrodotoxin is extremely lethal to humans and one puffer contains enough poison to kill thirty full grown adults. There are more than 120 known types of puffer fish and they are most frequently found in tropical areas of the ocean. They can range from one inch to two feet in size. Depending on the environment the puffer has been known to eat anything from algae to small clams. They are not on an endangered species list however hunted for a delicacy continuing in popularity called Fugu. Fugu is considered a delicacy in Asia and of the highest class. If prepared correctly the after taste of Fugu leaves the tongue tingling. However if one mistake in preparation occurs the person consuming fugu will die.