Marinating MST (Math, Science and Technology)
Noyce SEA Program
July 16-20, 2012
Adelphi University
Adjunct Professor Lou Siegel
Monday – Learning how to use the equipment.
Measuring biological, physical
and chemical parameters
Oxygen nitrates nitrites ammonia phosphates pH density salinity depth
transparency cloud cover humidity dew point wind speed wind direction
Materials for the course, provided by Long Island Sound Study & Pearson Publishing,
(Marine Animals purchased from Connecticut DEEP)
Tuesday morning – Exploring Jones Inlet
with Capt Don Harris from Operation SPLASH
Operation SPLASH boat and crew at work.
Operation SPLASH is a successful environmental group with
6 boats, manned by volunteers, that each makes one or two
trips every day to clean debris from the waterways of the
south shore of Long Island. They also have a strong educational
component to spread the conservation and clean up message
which allowed them to assign a boat to our class on this day.
Testing the waters – in Jones Inlet
Identifying organisms from the
biological dredge sample
Using a seine net to sample the waters for swimming organisms.
Tuesday afternoon- Visiting the Town of Hempstead
Clam and Oyster Grow Out Facility
Tom Landi of the Town Department of Conservation and Waterways describes
the program to supplement the bivalve populations of the Hempstead Bays
before leading the students on a tour. The building is powered by both solar
and wind energy, actually producing excess power which is sold back to LIPA.
Tom explains the electrical system which collects, converts, stores and distributes
the power generated by wind and solar energy. Students were able to see the flowthru
upwelling system (FLUPSY) and the clams being grown at the facility.
The FLUPSY barge uses solar power to run
the paddlewheel, shown here in the lower
left photo, to circulate water over the
growing clams and oysters which are located
in the towers placed below the deck that
the students are standing upon. The barge
greatly increases the capacity of the nursery.
It can also be moved to other locations where
conditions may be more favorable for the
growing mollusks.
Raw shells are kept for one year before being used as substrate for oyster larvae (upper rt.)
Bags of oysters are suspended from dock before being placed out on reefs in the bay.
The group finished out the day with a trip to contrast the ocean beach
environment with that of the bay by visiting the Point Lookout beach. Here
We discussed dune formation, the longshore movement of sand,
the maintenance of inlets for the commercial and recreational boaters
Wednesday morning – Kayaking in Hempstead Bay
The Hempstead Bays are a fantastic resource to study urban ecology. Within a
two mile area there is found: an electricity generation plant, sewage treatment plant,
a landfill, commercial and residental development, an active recreation park,
a golf course, a nature preserve and a fantastic expanse of saltmarsh and uplands,
home to many species of birds, fish and invertebrates. On Tuesday morning, after a safety
and paddling lesson from Mike and Gabby at Empire Kayaks. the group explored
the Garrett marsh area, paddling through the snake channel at the north end.
A great place to stop and discuss saltmarsh ecology!
Contrasting
Developed
And
Natural Environments
Stopping to test the waters for chemical and physical parameters
The group safely back at Empire Kayaks in Island Park
Wednesday - Afternoon The Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area
The Town of Hempstead opened one of the first study areas of its type on the
first Earthday in 1970. Mike Farina, artist, photographer, naturalist and conservation
biologist at the Study Area orients the students to the area at the beginning of our trip.
Continuing the discussion on the new bridge over a creek where we were able to
observe several bird species, mudsnails, mussels, worms and the variety of
plant species found at the Study Area.
Seining at Oceanside
Our catch
Mike Farina demonstrates the effectiveness
of the cast or throw net, varieties of which
are used by many cultures world over.
Processing samples in the study room
at Oceanside.
Still smiling at the end of a long day, students complete their identification of
the organisms collected and the physical/chemical data obtained during the two trips.
Thursday - Whale and Dolphin
watching trip
Prior to leaving the dock at Rockaway,
Queens we explored the local shoreline.
We were able to see the lifting of the
Marine Parkway bridge which is a
counter-weighted lift bridge.
It is necessary to provide transit of oil
tankers and other vessels servicing
Kennedy Airport at the East end of
Jamaica Bay.
The group set out along
the beach in a light rain
to collect specimens and
artifacts which we later
discussed.
The whale and dolphin watching trip on the
American Princess out of Rockaway Queens
Included interpretation by naturalist
Paul Sieswerda and artifacts including
baleen and this whale tooth being examined
by the students.
Coney Island from the sea. The day we went out there were high seas
which restricted us to the near shore area. We cruised from the Rockaways
to the lower harbor below the Verrazano Bridge. During the winter this area
has burgeoning Harbor and Gray Seal populations, the result of laws to protect
marine mammals.
Channel markers guide shipping from all over the world under the Verrazano Bridge
and into New York Harbor where these truck bodies are off loaded.
Sampling the water from New York Harbor
Organisms from the American Princess floating dock
at Rockaway, Queens
Students work to identify
organisms collected from
the American Princess dock.
Can I touch it?
Fellow passengers were very interested in our activities and it gave
our future teachers the opportunity to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.
Friday - Atlantis Marine World – Riverhead
Due to rain our trip out on the historic vessel, Christeen was cancelled.
The alternative trip to Atlantis Marine World included a behind the scenes
tour and a special tour by Joe “Fish” Yaiullo one of the owners of the facility.
We ,like all visitors, were greeted by several Harbor and Gray Seals in an
outdoor pool at the entrance to the Aquarium.
The Aquarium is also the home of the
non-profit Riverhead Foundation, the
only authorized marine mammal and
turtle rescue group in New York State.
A volunteer described their programs
and walked the group through the
informative exhibits.
Our tour began with a
look at the tanks from
the public gallery
The behind the scenes tour included the mammal kitchen where food is prepared, the protein
skimmers, the view from above the shark tank, and a visit to see the extensive plumbing
and systems needed to maintain the specimens.
Joe “Fish” Yaiullo one of the owners of the Aquarium and one of the foremost
coral reef experts in the world treated us to a personal fish feeding session in
the largest reef tank on the eastern seaboard. He than was gracious enough to
take us on a private, behind the scenes tour and a session with the penguins.
Nearly microscopic brine shrimp and
Several different types of algae are
grown to feed various invertebrates
and larval forms.
Joe Yaiullo and Atlantis are highly
regarded by the aquarist community
for having developed methods for
propagating many species of corals.
Adelphi University - Marinating MST - July 2012
Noyce SEA Program
Lou Siegel, Adjunct Professor
Adelphi University SEA Program
Noyce Scholarship Program
July 2012
www.lousiegel.net
lsiegel@adelphi.edu
For more information about the SEA Program at Adelphi University
contact Professor Tracy Hogan at 516.877.4019 or seanoyce@adelphi.edu.
Photos by
Lou Siegel
Gabrielle Sheppard