Robin, UR... Frequently Asked Questions

Hello Everyone it has been a few weeks, but I am here to share a few obscure research hang ups I have.
When I am researching I always find my-self in the "Frequently Asked Question" section and it never seems to disappoint me.






I was searching articles for information on Oyster Bed Restoration when I found myself in the FAQ section and this one question caught my attention: #10 "What are the environmental benefits of the oyster restoration project?" the answers, which I am going to share with you because I believe it sums up the reason, the whole ideal interests me for my IRP.

•   The reefs will provide an increase in essential habitat available for many species of invertebrates besides oysters, such as shrimp, clams, snails, crabs, as well as may species of fish.
• A large oyster population will effectively filter more water in the estuaries. When fully populated with oysters, the reefs will be able to filter the total volume of the St. Lucie Estuary in about one month.
• The improvements in water quality will lead to expanded seagrass growth, which creates important fish nursery habitat.
• Oyster reefs along with mangrove and other plantings will serve as effective shoreline stabilizers, helping to combat erosion.     

                                                                                              

This one FAQ is one of the reasons I wanted to be in the Environmental Science Technology field. The Idea of a little physical outside work, proper education and some guidance, in being good stewards in helping planet earth for future generation is a job I am willing/wanting to take.

Rob - UR - Indian River Lagoon Recovering

Well, after last week's blog post, I wanted to continue on with some more information regarding water quality issues in our immediate area. I came across this article from September 2014 which addresses some of the local happenings. Apparently, some good news is on the horizon as the Indian River Lagoon seems to be making a turnaround after 3 years of being plagued by Brown Tide, waterway clogging algal blooms, fish die-offs and a still unidentified die-off of dolphins and manatees. 

So moving past 2012-2013 and into 2014 and beyond things are definitely looking up. New water quality monitors have been providing a continuous stream of data to be analyzed. The Indian River Lagoon is showing vast improvement in the expanse and density in sea grass beds, and along with this recovery, many other species are returning to repopulate the area including seahorses and crustaceans.

Another area showing signs of improvement are the oyster beds, with a marked improvement in growth over the preceding 2 years. Finally, although the algae which are responsible for the algal blooms of the recent past are still present in the water, they are present in much lower concentrations than before. This also includes the brown tide which is also still present in the water, but has not shown up in any blooms.

Well, this is definitely going to be something to watch. Maybe we will be able to pinpoint some trends in the water quality which might be either a cause or an aftereffect of this improvement in the quality of our local waters.

Amanda, UR, Illusive information

I've been digging for answers to Dr. Woodall's questions about our fun lake in Central Park (how big it is, how deep, is it man-made?) I do know they are man-made and it's 'rumored' that they are old shale pits that were originally dug for the shale to distribute on dirt roads in the 1960's. All the links I went to just describe the parks and not really the depth of the waters. An interesting side note: they are thinking of setting up an environmental learning area at lake 2.

This picture is a great shot from someone's kayak in the Central Park waterways

Central Park

Joining all waterways of Central Park

This is one of the groovy tunnels they dug to connect the lakes; all 4 lakes are connected now and you can kayak/canoe back and forth between them without land interruption.

Luckily this is ongoing research so hopefully I'll be able to unearth some history on these fun water ways.
I was able to read more on sampling methods: there are sampling methods literally called clean hands (ch)/dirty hands(dh) and grab sampling. The sampling methods are very precise and ch/dh takes 2 people whereas the grab method requires that you're not afraid of alligators because you will be wading!!

Courtney, UR- Frisky Horseshoe Crabs...

So I have decided on doing my IRP on horseshoe crab populations since I have an awesome opportunity with an internship to do a little more research on this unique yet very important marine species. This article, "Beachgoers asked to watch for frisky horseshoe crabs", basically gives a little more of an idea of why horseshoe crabs are important and what needs to be done to help them.



This is an Adult Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe crabs may look intimidating but they are actually completely harmless and are not related to crabs at all but more to scorpions and spiders! They are vital to coastal ecosystems because many coastal animals rely on the 100,000 eggs that horseshoe crabs lay in a single mating season and if there aren't any eggs then many animals don't eat. Horseshoe crabs are also important to us humans because we rely on the harvesting of their blue blood, which actually does NOT harm the horseshoe crab, for an important chemical, Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate, used to test the sterility of medical equipment and other medical related testing/research.

Populations are declining due to habitat destruction and beach development and there is little documentation on Florida's horseshoe crab population and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission can use all the help it can get on getting more information. As a child I pretty much grew up on Florida's coast and I used to see horseshoe crabs all the time and was always fascinated with them so I am really excited to be able to help with the research and documentation of these unique and vital marine creatures.

This is a picture of a baby horseshoe crab



Paul Ferguson, UR - Azooxanthellate Coral... Hard to Pronounce, Even harder to Keep Alive

       I recently made contact with Chad Macfie, who is an Environmental Specialist II over at the Marine Science Center. He is the manager of Live Collection and Life Support there and referred me to an article in order to get me on board with what we plan to research. This article, Non Photosynthetic Corals,  discussed the difficulties in keeping this variety of soft corals alive in a closed system. Azooxanthellate corals differ from zooxanthellate corals in that they do not share the symbiotic relationship with the photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Azooxanthellates must therefore derive their energy to grow and recolonize from filter feeding tiny microscopic zooplankton.

Leptogorgia virgulata

Leptogorgia virgulata

      Part of the difficulty in keeping these corals alive in a closed system is determining what kind of food each coral will survive and thrive on. Some zooplankton are just too large for the coral to be able to capture, hold, and deliver to its mouth. Another major concern is current strength. All of these species have a threshold for optimization of feeding. In a slow current, their tentacles within a polyp orientate upstream in order to capture prey, while in a fast current, they face downstream to create an eddy. As the flow rate increases, their ability to feed increases, peaks and then decreases as the rate of flow continues to increase.

       The species I will be conducting my research on is the Leptogorgia virgulata. This species is located right in our backyard in the Indian River Lagoon and there are many questions to be answered with this species of azooxanthellate coral. This species occurs on ledges, inlets and the intracostal waterway. I haven't narrowed down exactly what my research will include or what specific question I hope to have answered, though I am thrilled at the opportunity to research something I have always thoroughly enjoyed learning about.

Todd, UR; Are we swimming in garbage?

Landfills take great measures to protect groundwater but do they do enough to stop surface run off, especially when they are built approximately 2,000 ft from a river and it’s headwater?  

The West Volusia Beacon Online tells its readers that The Tomoka Landfill has "good surfaces to drain rainwater.  And, the rainwater becomes leachate as it filters through the trash, and it must be collected and processed before it is allowed back into the environment." 

What types of chemicals are associated with surface water runoff? What types of chemicals are associated with leachate holding ponds and contaminated groundwater near landfills?

     According to Cornell University they do define known contaminants as having "a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and high concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, chloride, iron, manganese, and phenols. Many other chemicals may be present, including pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals" (Cornell Waste Management Institute).     Using well known groundwater contaminants as a example is not a good idea because Cornell explains that there are other local variables to be taken into consideration therefor the local landfill can not be held at fault.

     

Does the Tomoka Landfill lie within a Flood Plain or Watershed?

From Google maps one can tell that this landfill is within approximately 2000 ft.  from what is the starting point of the Tomoka River, does something like this matter?  

    According to the EPA  "Headwater streams are the smallest parts of river and stream networks, but make up the majority of river miles in the United States. They are the part of rivers furthest from the river's endpoint or confluence with another stream. Many headwater streams have been lost or altered due to human activities such as urbanization and agriculture, and this can impact species and water quality downstream.

Watershed managers have had little guidance to help protect headwaters or assess their condition. Because there are so many headwater streams, monitoring all of them for health and permanence is impractical. Therefore, other methods are needed".

How will I know if this landfill lies with in sensitive areas?

I will use GIS to show the "Natural Floodplain and Wetlands" from a existing shape file data.  

Taylor - UR - Octopus Behavior

As of this week, I finally decided that I will be studying my IRP on octopus behavior instead of studying sharks. They're my favorite animal so this is perfect! I have read articles and watched many videos on the intelligence of octopus and have always been fascinated by their capabilities that have been so underestimated until recent years. This article called, "How Smart is an Octopus?" really goes into detail about what the intelligence of an octopus really is and some of the amazing skills it's learned. Octopi have been known to mimic other animals, disguise themselves as coral by changing colors and even being enclosed in a jar and freeing itself (watch it here). When they talk about the "intelligence" of an octopus, they're not talking about the IQ score of and octopus but the adaptations and skills they're brains have evolved to be able to accomplish. I also found it quite amazing learning that they have about half a billion neurons in their lobed "diffuse net" which is much like human brains; AND they also have the biggest brains of all invertebrates.
I think all of this is so fascinating that I am planning on working with an octopus at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet to possibly do some behavior tests on it. There are many possibilities for what I could research, but finding one to really put to the test is hard to find. I would love to try and "teach" the octopus how to do something such as open a jar to get food out or even try and reinact the same octopus in the YouTube video freeing itself from a jar. I will be talking with Chad Macfie in charge of the Marine Science Center Aquariums about some other ideas I could possibly do with the octopus.

On a side note, this is going to be one of the most exciting things I have ever done and possibly one of the happiest days of my life. I have always wanted to work with an octopus one on one and I now will have my chance! I don't think anyone understands just how excited I am!

Jody, UR... Answers to some Questions

MOSQUITO LAGOON  
North America's most diverse estuary.

One of the questions asked buy Dr. Woodall regarding my topic on Golf Courses and their impact on the environment was. How many golf courses are there within the Indian River Lagoon drainage basin and how much area (acres, square miles, percentage?) does this represent? Although this is a very dynamic question to answer specifically, I will try to throw some light on it. Look here for a  interactive map to most of Volusia County's Golf Golf Courses. Keep in mind some of the pointers are not 18 hole golf courses at all, some are putt-putt's, a couple are driving ranges, and some are just golf shops. But the nearest I can count is approximately 20 full sized courses along the I-95 corridor in Volusia County. As far as the Indian River Lagoon drainage basin part of the question I'll need to do some research regarding where that line is (more to come on that). As far as acreage the average 18 hole course requires about 120-150 acres. One other item that has to be considered is, Golf Courses are designed topographically to keep all the precipitation that falls on the property on site. Most all of the surface water drains to the ponds/lakes which are then connected and drain to a central lake on property. That water will then be used for irrigation when needed and a lot of irrigation is needed, in the summer we put down close to 180,000 gallons a night. A lot of time and expense is taken to rid the course of excess surface water quickly and store that water for future use. So only in extreme precipitation events will this water have a chance to leave the property. What I'm trying to get to is most of the chemicals we put down to keep the grass so green do not have much of an opportunity to leave the property. Just saying... not trying to defend!!!

INDIAN RIVER MARSH

 (More to come) Indian River Lagoon Watershed Stats - The following information is quoted from this same webpage>
"Size of Basin: 155 square miles
Major Cities and Towns: New Smyrna Beach, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, and Melbourne Beach
Counties: Fifty percent of the watershed lies within Brevard County, and smaller areas lie within Volusia and Indian River Counties (I Did not count Golf Courses in Brevard County)
Major Water Features: Ponce de Leon Inlet, Jupiter Inlet, Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River Lagoon, Banana River, and St. Lucie River and Estuary".

Rob Sierzega - UR - Water Resources Partnership

The article I chose for this week's blog post can be found online HERE at the Daytona Beach News Journal.

As you may remember me mentioning on the first day of class, I took part in the water sampling and analysis which Dr. Woodall and her OCE2013 students performed on the Tomoka River back in October. After taking part in the lab, I was lucky enough to be put in touch with Ms. Annie Morgan from the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. Ms. Morgan was able to provide me with water sampling data from all over Volusia County dating back approximately two years. It is this data which I am hoping to incorporate into my IRP this semester.

Focusing on the article, one of the main reasons I was put in touch with Ms. Morgan is due to the unveiling of Project H2O, a new partnership between the Marine Discovery Center, several local colleges and universities, and several community organizations with a focus on Education, Collaboration, and Science. The partnership has also reached out to State and Federal agencies for their cooperation as well.

This partnership is going to focus on Water Quality improvement all over Volusia County. This will include Stormwater Management, Wastewater Treatment improvements, and replacement of aging septic systems all in an effort to improve the overall water quality level of Volusia County's waters.

Amanda, UR, To sample or not to sample

I did find what appears to be an informative site on water sampling that lists equipment needed along with methodology.

I will be able to elaborate on the topic after I've had more time to research it.

http://www.epa.gov/region6/qa/qadevtools/mod5_sops/surface_water_sampling/low_level_metals/r6wtr-sampling-metals.pdf

As some of you know, my intent is to sample the water in the little lake near my house because I've been quite curious as to what chemical run off is spilling, seeping, and leaping into the waters there. I'm thankful for the opportunity to work on this project. It should be interesting what I find and hopefully I will be able to inform the neighbors in a "nice" way as to what the impact is on our natural water ways.

Education can mean preservation.

Paul Ferguson, UR- Hope for Dying Reefs

Paul Ferguson, UR -

    The topic I chose to cover was a segment from PBS Newshour discussing a new and faster way to try and replenish coral reefs off of the Florida Keys. The dying off of coral reefs is a problem that only seems to be advancing at alarming rates. Pollution, overfishing and climate change have pushed our oceans health to the brink. Transplanting new fragments of corals to dead reefs is something has been tried before. However, biologists out of Mote Tropical research lab in Summerland Key, Florida are trying a promising technique to hasten the process of reestablishing coral reefs. It is seen as groundbreaking because of the rate at which they are able to grow hard coral species.
    David Vaughan, head researcher, describes how in order for some of the hard coral species they are working with, it would take 500 to 1,000 years to grow to the size of a large boulder or small car. With estimates of coral loss to from 25 to 40% of the world’s corals, we simply don’t have the time to wait centuries for the coral reefs to reestablish themselves. The biologists discovered that when the corals are cut into small strips, they quickly try to heal themselves. This is essentially getting the coral to have forced growth spurts and likened it to human skin that quickly tries to heal when injured.
 
    One example showed a piece of brain coral that would have taken about 10 to 15 years to grow in the wild. They were able to reach that size in one year in the lab. What they then do is put multiple fragments in a circle about the size of a dinner plate, which eventually grows together creating a coral that would have taken 25 to 50 years grown in only one year. This can be likened to have multiple grass plugs in a yard that grow together to form one large yard. Once the microfragmentaion process begins, they are placed in the ocean in a cage for 30 days to keep fish like parrot fish from eating them until they have lost their bright color, and then transplanting them onto dead corals of the same species.
    With the rates at which they are able to regrow corals and the possibility of being able to have entire reefs regrown, this seems very promising. Corals have always been an interest of mine, whether it was diving in the keys or watching them grow (slowly) in my tank. Hopefully this process of microframentation yields some real results and hope for the world’s coral reefs.

Courtney, UR: Climate change threatens sea turtle conservation.

As you all know I am really interested in doing my IRP on sea turtles even though I have a broad interest in Florida's marine wildlife so I am by no means limiting myself to just sea turtles. I did come across this interesting article that shows how climate change is potentially threatening 30 years of sea turtle conservation particularly in Florida. The change in climate is causing a rise in sea level which as a result is effecting the beaches in which sea turtles nest as well as the environment that other coastal wildlife depend on. The major concern in this article is that the rising sea level will negatively impact the Archie Carr Refuge, a 13 mile long stretch of uninhabited beach, by eroding and narrowing the beach in which sea turtles nest. What the coastal community does as a result of rising sea levels will drastically effect the sea turtles and other wildlife. There is a need for a logical and strategic plan that will solve the problem of the naturally eroding beaches.

 

I found this article interesting because not only is it effecting Florida's sea turtle populations but an array of coastal wildlife as well. I feel this could be a good start to a possible IRP, I am just not exactly sure where to begin!

Taylor - UR - Sharks, Sharks and More Sharks. IRP Ideas?!

I am a big shark advocate and am very fascinated by their species and behavior.  Below are a few article links on some ideas of what I would like to do for my Independent Research Project. My absolute favorite idea to do for the IRP would be a topic on shark tagging, its benefits and what scientists have learned from tagging. I am always watching shows on it and would love to have hands on experience researching and hopefully tagging sharks. Although I wish we didn't have to tag sharks to learn about them, I know a lot has been revealed by doing so. The articles below are about shark tagging and following particular sharks on their migrating and feeding paths.

• Katherine the Great White tracked through Volusia county waters:

• Lydia the 2,000lb Shark:

As for some other ideas, the two articles below relate to each other because they have to do with the water quality and how it affects sharks, their behavior and swimming patterns. This interests me because I have always been concerned about the negative effects of water pollution on sea life and behavioral effects it would have on them. I believe that I would be able to find a way to research this further, but I am not sure exactly what yet.

• Sharks Need Healthy Coral Reefs:

• Climate Change Affects Sharks Swimming

The other articles I found were very interesting as they talk about whether or not fish and sharks feel pain. I'm not sure how I would research this but I have always been very curious about it and think others would find it interesting as well.

• Do Sharks Feel Pain?

• If Sharks Feel Pain, Why Are They Not Better Protected?

So, these are my ideas for the Independent Research Project! Sorry there are so many but I love them all! Any ideas, questions or comments? Anything will help! 

~Taylor

Robin, UR ...Putting a Voice with a Face

Hello everyone, my name is Robin and I am a EST student at Daytona State College, currently I'm a hairstylist, have been for 20 + years. I had own and operated "Snapperhead lawn and landscaping" business for 10 years which is were I discovered that the out doors and nature is where I need to be. As a young girl I was always playing in the woods and where there was water, I was there too. I like to build, fix, and create/design things. My decision to go to college was one of the best things I've done and the Environmental Science Technology course is awesome, a lot of work, but worth every minute.  This course, for me, it is like "putting a voice with a face".

"Oh by the way, I will be marring my best friend, April 20th, this year."

The amazing life of Forest Froehlich UR.

Aloha! My name is Forest Froehlich! I’m a big time surfer and swimmer; I love everything about the water.  I am studying to get an ocean engineering degree. I have Recently been interested in finding a new alternative energy source using the natural currents and power of the ocean. I’m also interested in rebuilding the coral reefs and rebuilding the Eco-structure of the ocean.  My favorite animal is the otter!!!!  

                                                                          **WARNING**

I Have been struck by lighting and my heart at random time likes to stop beating. It always restarts it self so it nothing to worry about. If you happen to see me in the middle of my heart stopped try not to freak out.  other then that Im super excited to be making new friends and cant wait to get to know all of y'all better. :)

Todd Singleton, UR; The Earth can be mended

Todd Singleton, UR

Several years ago I took a road trip with my grandparents across the U.S. and southwestern parts of Canada to visit the National Parks.  Aside from all the natural beautiful scenic wonders, I could’nt help but notice how man had exploited the earth of its resources.  One the most impactful impressions of this was at Calaveras Big Tree State Park, California, where locals cut down a giant sequoia so that its stump could be used for a dance floor and its trunk could be used as a two lane bowling alley (www.parks.ca.gov).  Another thing that made a lasting impression on me was where miners cut a mountain ridge in half to strip mine for copper.  They destroyed what was once a mountain side and turned it into a "mile high and a mile deep" polluted pit with contaminated water.  This chemical brew leaches out of the mine creating a huge ecological disaster (http://www.mininghistoryassociation.org/Butte1.htm).

             

Berkeley Pit Lake, The Most Deadly Lake in the United States 

Having all this negative imagery in mind, as well as a growing concern for the rapid land development in Florida, I felt as if I could (and should) do something.  My interest peaked when  I read an environmental science article on how researchers and ecological engineers worked to correct polluted phosphorus rich waters in the Everglades.  Their combined data entaled that cattails, which were known for absorbing and thriving in phosphorus rich areas, could be useful if promoted to grow upstream from the Everglades. In addition, the researchers found that not only were cattails effective in abating phosphorus pollution they were also absorbing arsenic and pharmaceuticals and could be used to remediate other contaminated sites. (http://cleantechnica.com/2009/05/16/cattail-army-deployed-to-fight-water-pollution/)

I know this class will help me in my pursuit of a rewarding career and enable me to mend the injuries that mankind's activities have caused.

Courtney Lewis, UR- A little bit about me

 My name is Courtney! I am married and I am a mother to an amazing little girl named Olivia. For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with the biology part of science and always have had a strong passion for the nature, the outdoors and especially animals. I defiantly have a saltwater soul, I absolutely love everything about the saltwater from the beach to fishing to all the marine life.
I currently have my AA and will be finishing my AS in Environmental Science this semester. My goal is to continue my education and get my B.S in Biology in hopes that someday I can get a job where I can  focus more on the wildlife biology part. The more I take marine classes the more interest I have in focusing on marine life, mainly Florida's coastal marine environments.
Through this class I hope to learn a lot more of what I need to know in the real world and I can't wait to get to know everyone in the process!

 

 

 

Charlotte Grant, UR - Herrooo!!!

Hi everyone! My name is Charlotte Grant, and I'm interested in becoming a marine biologist. This is my first year at college and I'm super excited to learn all I can. I am interested in things such as harp seals, astronomy, water movements, water in general... science in general... I could go on and on. I love all the animals of the ocean and want to experience so much more. I'm so excited to take this class. I also do quite a bit of photography, so if you ever need professional photos or just a fun day, I'll come around and be your paparazzi.

I'm 18, and I work at Publix in most of my spare time as a cashier. I love it there. I like to play video games and drink coke slurpees. Yum! Here are some photographs I've taken on my marine biology adventures. I've also worked on making those coral mats that hopefully will help regrow our ecosystem.

                                           

Thank you everyone! Have a great day! 

Rob Sierzega, UR, Hello, is this thing on???

Hello out there on the Interwebs... I'm Rob, and I'm in my final semester here at Daytona State College in the A.S. - Environmental Sciences Technology program. I've met a boatload of super cool people along the way and I'm hopeful that someday we shall all cross paths again. 

I've always felt in touch with nature, so after returning to college at an older age to complete my A.A., I felt it was a wise decision to switch over to the EST program and earn my A.S. degree. Two of the biggest reasons can be found right below...

Buddies

Those are my two younglings, Hannah 10, and Vincent 6. They are the main reason why I want to pursue a career in Environmental Science. It is up to me and like-minded people like us to help preserve what we have here in our hands for our future generations to enjoy. There is no better place to start than here, and no better time to start than now...

Paul Ferguson, UR -This is me

Hello all. As stated, this is me. I am a father to three wonderful children that consume most of my life. I wouldn't change it for anything because it wasn't always this way. I medically retired from the US Army Infantry after 10 years of service a few years back and finally getting to where I've spent more time with them than away. In total, I spent about three and a half years in Afghanistan and I am glad to have had the experiences I have. Being stationed in the mountains of a third world country or frozen upstate New York, one thing, besides my kids, that I truly missed was the ocean. From as far back as I can remember I have always loved everything marine, and science for that matter. I finished my AA about a year ago and switched to the EST program so I could continue taking courses in science. I strive to constantly find a better understanding of the world we live in. The beauty is in the details, and balance. I am thrilled to be taking this course and continuing my education in the field I love so much. I look forward to getting to know everyone a little better and discovering what others are passionate about. Thanks for reading.

Taylor Reynolds UR Introduction: Shark Lover

Hi there! My name is Taylor Reynolds, a mountain girl from Colorado that found her way to the ocean. Currently, I am studying to get my AA in Marine Biology. I have always had a curiosity for the ocean and it's inhabitants and knew that it was what I wanted to study when I got to college. I have a huge love and obsession for sharks and invertebrates such as crabs, jellyfish, starfish and octopuses and always wanted to learn more about them and one day get to work around them. I decided to take this course because after taking my Marine Biology course, I really enjoyed all of the aspects and wanted to go a step further to take the oceanography class for a bigger picture. Taking the lab was one more thing I wanted to do to get a hands on experience of what it is really like to work in the field. I hope to learn a lot from this class and really understand the life of a marine biologist and what types of data they collect and what they use it for. I am very interested in finding ways to protect our oceans and marine species so seeing what this type of field work is like will really open my eyes to how it is possible to protect and save the oceans and how others have already come up with ideas. I'm very excited for this class! :)

Crystal Jack, UR - Introduction

Hello everyone! I'm an Environmental Science Technology major but I must admit that I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do with my life. My interests are broad and I've yet to work out the specifics. I know that I have a healthy respect for science and a love for nature. If I could somehow use science for the greater good in making the world a better place, I would be a happy lady.

Amanda Adams, UR, Intro

Hey y'all. Amanda here as a first time blogger. I'm super stoked about this course because I love all things having to do with the environment, animals (land and water dwelling), and helping our beautiful planet. I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up" but hopefully all that we experience in this course will help give me the ah-ha moment I'm looking for.
Good luck to all of us and let's have fun.

Jody, UR...Why my interest's are what they are!!!

Ever since my first deep sea fishing experience with my father and a couple of his salty dog friends at the age of 7, have I been fascinated with everything ocean. I have never forgotten the experiences of that day. Being the late 1960s well before loran (long range navigation) or gps, these guys where able to, using only a watch, tachometer, and compass find a reef marked by only a black buoy the size of a 5 gallon bucket 18 miles off shore. Well outside the visual range of the coast, not a easy feat considering wind, current and wave conditions, dynamics that could only be factored in by what is called dead reckoning. I'm still astonished by how in tune with their environment these men where and how well they were at it, we where within visual range of that buoy within 5 minutes of when they said start looking for it, even after a two and a half hour voyage.
My recollection of the Atlantic ocean around this part of Florida back then was a far cry from the one we see today because of mans negative impact on it. Not only was there considerably more visible life in the sea back then on the surface like flying fish, sea turtles, manta rays, porpoises, and whales. (as well as no plastic.) But one very rarely returned without anything in the cooler, as far as catch, like one so often will now.
This is one of the many reasons why I have a sense of duty for the Earth and its oceans which was the #1 reason for me selecting the EST program so that through this degree I might be given a chance to make a positive impact on the environment. I feel man has become out of sync with his environment and it is my goal to personally get back in tune with it.