We went right back to the reef today, this time with another research project on coral health and reef biodiversity in mind.
We used small 2×2 foot square quadrats and placed them over coral before counting the coral and organisms inside.
Though they were mainly for research experiment, these quadrants were also really fun to pose with!
While on the boat waiting for our last pair to finished we spotted a singular dolphin swimming and jumping by! I was hoping all along to spot a marine mammal, either a whale or a dolphin, so I was super stoked when that became reality.
Specifically, we were looking at coral health between Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and unprotected waters.
In between reefs, we found the molt of a large lobster!
In the afternoon, we compiled all our data and created our fourth poster of the class!
After we presented, we went back out to the dock to relax a bit and enjoy the view. While we were there, someone caught a bonefish! It was super cool and we all got to touch it. Surprisingly, it didn’t feel scaly at all but rather really smooth and mucusy.
While we were on the dock, the brown pelican that’s been diving around us perched on the dock, which was super cool.
Anyways, that’s all for today! See you tomorrow for our last full day at Glover’s Reef!
Ian C