Question:
What an incredible snorkel that must have been in the mangroves. You mentioned the upside down jellies...did they worry you? Did you find it hard to keep your head in the water and just drift along? Also, what has been a favorite snorkel so far, and why?
Answer:
Yes, the mangrove snorkel was an amazing experience. The upside down jellies, called Cassiopea, were abundant on the seafloor throughout the mangroves while we were snorkeling. When we were swimming in less than 3 feet of water a strong kick with a flipper could send a jelly floating into the face of the snorkeler behind you. It made some of us uncomfortable, and everyone was a lot more careful than usual. Although a jelly floating towards your face may make you want to get your head
out of the way, the best thing to do was just to float and let the current carry you. A favorite snorkel for many of us occured at sunset on Day 4. We were on a twilight snorkel in the wreck of the Hesperus, where we were approached by multiple sea turtles.
Question:
Is there a difference in doing a Plankton Tow during the day and at night?
Steve
Answer:
Yes, there is a huge difference between the day plankton tow and the night plankton tow. The phytoplankton and the zooplankton follow them in order to feed on them. Another reason plankton come to the top during the night is because theyare not easily seen by predators during the night, as they are in the day because of their huge biomass and density.
Question:
If I want to study sharks what do I need to study in school? How did you get to go on this program?
Answer:
To study sharks in the future, we were told it would be beneficial to take all the science courses (biology, chemistry, physical science, etc.) you can during high school and college. Also, volunteer in different nature-based environments, such as aquariums, nature centers, or research centers. We got into this program by going through the application process, which begins with an online application form found on the Shedd Aquarium's website.
