Recently in Daily Dilemma Category

Today we visited the island of Gun Cay to do a vegetation survey and a beach seine. While we were there we noticed a remarkable amount of garbage floating in the water and littered all over the shore. There were all sorts of trash and waste cluttering the shore and endangering many of the native animals. We discovered objects varying from pop bottles, to beer cans, random shoes, oil cans, chip bags, and even a hotel key card from 1957. We were shocked and a little bit disturbed by the carelessness of the people who had visited the island previously. Do you have any suggestions of ways visitors both to Gun Cay and the entire ocean could better manage their trash to prevent such high levels of pollution?

Kyle and Erin

"The sunken portion of Atlantis…a portion of the temples, may yet be discovered under the slime of ages of sea water near what is known as Bimini, off the coast of Florida. Expect it in 1968 and 1969, not so far away." In 1934, Edgar Cayce, the "sleeping-prophet," went into one of his hypnotic trances and made this prediction. Amazing enough, in 1968, indications of an unusual formation of the sea-bed came from observations by an aircraft pilot who noticed distinctive bands of coloration in the water near Paradise Point, North Bimini.

Geologists believe that when dealing with diagenesis, beach rock (also known as the Road to Atlantis) is developed from beach sand under the surface of the beach. When the compacted sand turned into rocks, it was then exposed during periods of erosion which made the rocks crumbles into large regularly sized rectangular blocks and fall onto the ocean floor.

Cultural Anthropologist's believe this formation is truly the Road to Atlantis because many large rocks are perfectly aligned and have uniform shape which continues in a band down the coast. Also found at this sight was a formation of rocks that resemble a human form including a head, arms, torso, and legs. Do you believe that this is actually the Road to Atlantis, or is it just an unusual coincidence?

Megan and Marty

We are trying to determine the health and biodiversity of many different ecosystems but have a limited amount of time on our trip. How can we make sure we don't miss or over look any important ecosystems such as the coral reefs, mangroves (a shelter for young fish), sandy bottoms, grassy bottoms, intertidal zone (rough areas that contain barnacles and small shelters for fish), and terrestrial (land and vegetation).

All of these ecosystems are important because different species live and thrive in them so they are all essential to maintain the balance of the ocean. Which ecosystems do you think we should focus on and why?

Conrad and Erin

Today we learned that there are companies that take tourists on trips to swim with wild dolphins. The dolphins are not fed and are free to come and go, approaching the tourists at their own will. Researchers occasionally tag along on these expeditions and collect data on dolphin behavior and how they interact with each other as well as humans. These trips can inspire people to take action and care more for the environment, and scientists are learning more about dolphins through the data they collect.

However, much like a grizzly bear can become too dependent on humans for food, dolphins and other marine animals can become completely reliant on shrimpers, tourists and other people that feed them. How do you feel about people approaching and interacting with wild animals? As we are interacting with the wildlife on bimini what should we do to keep the animals' best interests in mind?

Kyle and Chris

Tomorrow is our first snorkeling adventure! We are very excited to see all the varieties of marine life. What kind of marine life would you like to see pictures of? A variety of colorful fish, stingrays, corals, crabs, and other invertebrates are just some of the species that can be identified where we are snorkeling. Since we are in the Caribbean, unique species can be spotted so there are no limitations to your ideas.

Conrad and Pasama

Over the past week, we have learned a lot about the environment especially in Bimini. Hopefully the data we have collected will give us an idea of how development affects its surrounding ecosystems, and eventually we hope to better understand the long-term effect humans make on the environment. What we have all gained an appreciation for Bimini's varied coral reefs, mangroves, sand flats, and grass beds. We understand the importance of conservation and have seen what some people are doing to conserve the environment. For example, if anyone on this research vessel were to take a shower, it would be no more than 5 minutes. Also at the Shark Lab, scientists told us about frustration with animal protection laws, and how animals that migrate can be protected in one country but often are not protected in another. So we got a sense of how important social work can be for scientific progress. We have seen how difficult it is to make change. What would you do? Looking at other obstacles that can get in the way of making a difference, is it worth the trouble to do anything about the cause? Would you take an experience like this, and just be more aware of your surroundings but not make any changes to your lifestyle? Would you be compelled to make a change as an individual and rethink daily tasks that could be performed more eco-friendly? Would you have a need to make a difference in the world by educating others and/or creating change as a group? Amanda Hodo and Maria Murray

Today on our snorkel at Turtle Rocks we observed the fish diversity on a natural reef. Turtle Rocks is a natural reef. This particular reef is a series of rocks stretching a mile in length and around 79 yards wide. This reef is a coral reef full of brain, fire, red star, purple porites coral and an abundance of sea fans also inhabited the reef. We are researching the diversity of natural reefs vs. artificial reefs, such as shipwrecks. To prepare for our snorkel we paired with our buddies and were given a dive slate. We used our dive slates to record all the fish we identified.

On our dive, we saw an amazing amount of fish, rays and even a shark. Some fish that we saw were Gray Snapper, Stoplight Parrotfish, hogfish, squirrelfish, damselfish, Queen Angelfish, Banded Butterfly fish, a Nurse Shark, Spotted Eagle Rays, a Spotted Moray Eel and two octopi. Our dive of the natural reef proved to us that natural reefs are home to a bounty of fish & marine creatures alike.

We would like to compare the fish diversity in natural and artificial reefs. Do you have any ideas for methods for collecting data? What data should we collect to determine a difference in diversity between natural and artificial reefs?

Brock Malenke
M.C. Hannon

Lionfish may be a beautiful creature but they are very veracious fish. Scientist have cut open lionfish and found up to 22 juvenile fish in one's stomach. All they do is eat all day and then sleep at night. They are also an invasive species to the Bahamas. Another thing is the lionfish are poisonous, and if you touch their barb it will burn like crazy and you will have to keep very hot water on it for 30-45 minutes.

Many marine organizations are trying to promote the extraction and consumption of the lionfish. The organizations are offering a catch and kill order on the Lionfish. In the Bahamas, the government is not allowing any live Lionfish to leave the area, so they must be killed before they are allowed to leave the area so that they are not rereleased into the ocean again. So is this the right thing to do? Do you leave something that is very beautiful, or do you take away a beautiful yet harmful invasive species? The choice is up to you, do you take it or do you leave it?

Jordan Nowakowski
Alana Hernandez

Daily Dilemma: Should we shower on our 6 day voyage? Or not?

We stress water conservation on the Coral Reef II because of its limited supply. We can only use the water that is put aboard the boat before we leave, even though we are surrounded by it. We started our trip with roughly 2100 gallons aboard the boat and already by the end of our first full day we are down to 1750 gallons.

Another reason to limit water usage is because we stress limiting water usage for environmental purposes. Most of the planet is covered in water, yet most of it can not be used directly. There is a limited supply of fresh water on Earth. Here on Bimini they needed to install a reverse osmosis plant in order to sustain their water needs. Water is extremely important, our lives and many others depend on it.

So do we really need to shower? Tell us what you think we should do?

How do man-made changes in one habitat affect nearby habitats? For example, will the destruction of a mangrove affect a nearby coral reef or grassy bottom? On board the Coral Reef II, we have the capabilities to do plankton tows, beach seines, study fish and environments. How can we use data from these investigations to further our understanding of changes in habitats through human use?

Basically, we have 6 more days in the Bahamas. There's tons of possible research to be done. We want to know what YOU think we should focus on.

Maddy Huerta
Alana Hernandez

As our pre-trip classes come to an end, the task of packing is rapidly approaching. With limited space on the boat to store belongings, it can become difficult deciding what to bring. Because of the limited space on board, we need to have our bags and belongings in our bunks. As a result, bringing lots of clothing or bulky baggage is out of the question.

Because we are out at sea for a week and snorkeling in a variety of environments, it is of the utmost importance to pack the appropriate items for the task at hand. One item that seems to stump people is the long pants needed for the mangrove snorkel. The HSMB participants have been debating what kind of pants to get that will be light weight and easy to snorkel in. It will definitely take some smart thinking to pack everything that is a necessity while keeping it compact.

We need your help! What are some things that you think we should bring? What should we consider leaving at home?

Here at Shedd Aquarium, we have created a new family together. We are a very unique group that has been able to unite our ideas and form similar beliefs. Our basic question is, when HSMB 2008 has ended, will we be able to stay strong with our beliefs, opinions, and actions as individuals?

In a large group, it seems easy to simply be a follower, but as HSMB comes to a close, we must realize that we need to become our own leaders and make efforts to gain and inform new followers. For example, at HSMB we were able to comprehend how much waste we were producing everyday by weighing our trash. Now that we are going back to our individual lives, we need to be responsible enough to stay aware of our garbage production. We must not fall back into our old habits. Throughout this program, our instructors, as leaders, have successfully transformed us into leaders ourselves.

Now we need to complete the cycle and take in new followers to teach them to be leaders as well. Half the battle in leading is getting out of your comfort zone. We need to make an effort to stay informed and start informing the public as well. Even if our opinions are not heard, it is still important to try because along the way, someone will listen. If we continue this cycle on and on, this can be our first major breakthrough on making a huge difference in this complicated world.

At the start of day three, we got the opportunity to go snorkeling in the mangroves. Despite the rainy weather, we all had a great time observing the plants and animals in this unique habitat. We learned that mangroves provide an important home for many species of animals - particularly juvenile fish, sharks and invertebrates. During our first snorkel at La Chance Rocks we observed an ongoing construction project in an area north of Alice Town called Bimini Bay. Our instructors told us that the project in progressing quickly and they have added many news homes, a sea wall, a beach and a harbor just since the project began. The next phase of the project is scheduled to include lots more new homes and an 18-hole golf course that could put a lot of the mangroves, including the area where we snorkeled, in jeopardy.

When we visited the Bimini Biological Station (Shark Lab) we learned about how the destruction of this vital habitat may have a negative impact not only on the species living in Bimini, but the Caribbean at large. We discussed this matter with a few Biminites at the straw market in Alicetown. Many of them related to us that they have lost business to the new shops at Bimini Bay and have noticed that the dredging for the new harbors have already had an impact on the islands reefs, as well as conch and lobster populations that are so important for the islands economy.

Can you think of ways that the natural resources of Bimini can be preserved, while providing jobs and economic growth for the people of Bimini?

While we were in shallow water performing a grassy bottom beach seine a stingray swam around us. It returned several times circling our group. We were told by our instructors that stingrays are fed at this location and that it was looking to be fed. Many people and tour outfits feed wild animals like rays and sharks to bring people closer to these animals. By feeding these animals they begin to associate humans with food. This association brings humans and wildlife in more frequent contact which poses hazards to both wildlife and humans.

What are some ways that we can educate people about the importance of not feeding wild animals?

Australian Pines are invasive plants that are originally from Australia and were brought to the Bahamas to help protect homes against storms. Because the Australian Pine has shallow roots and will blow over in winds in excess of 60 mph, they proved ineffective against storms. However, they are effective at seed dispersal. The Australian Pines seed can remain dormant for up to a year allowing it to travel great distances by bird and ocean. This has allowed the Australian Pine to populate all the islands we've visited.

Their leaves are rolled up tightly giving them the appearance of pine needles, but this tree is not a pine tree it is a deciduous tree like an oak or maple tree. Their pine needles both create canopy cover that blocks light from passing and fall to the ground smothering surrounding plants which prevents native, deep rooted species from growing. The Australian Pine has become a serious problem for Bimini and the rest of the Bahamas due to the fact that it's eliminating all of the native vegetation.

Here are some ways to get rid of this invasive species. Mass burnings of the pines would eliminate this invasive species because native plant seeds are fire resistant while the Australian Pines seeds are not. Also the process of girdling, a deep cut that goes along the diameter of the tree, will kill individual trees targeting specifically the Australian Pine. Do you have any other suggestions on how to eliminate this invasive species?

Lionfish are amazing and very poisinous fish. They are a non native species to the eastern hemisphere,originally from Aisa. The Lionfish are always in a competition with the native fish. The big problem with the Lionfish in the Bahamas is that there are too many. The reason for this is because they have no natural preditors,therefore they can reproduce a lot without being disturbed.

What can be done to keep the Lionfish population from growing?

In Bimini, there is a large problem of overfishing Conchs; more specifically, the Queen Conch. The Queen Conch is known to be a fine delicase of the Bahamas. With the rise of tourism, the rate of Conchs that are being killed and eaten are increasing exponentially. These gastropods were once very plentiful throughout the Bamahas but now are much harder to find.

This morning's HSMB article discussion brought up a valuable lesson that continually comes up in life: there is never just one side of a story. This article touched upon the idea of conservation of marine environments. It spoke of many scientists' concerns with the disappearance of many of the world's beautiful coral reefs, especially in areas with new tourist development. Many organizations, such as Nature Conservancy, have taken action to protect these reefs, but with these actions came the jealousy of many native people in the area.

Shark-fin soup is a delicacy in many Asian countries; however with declining populations and high-yield catches, the shark population being fished for this delicacy has dwindled to very low numbers. However, with shark-fin soup being a delicacy in high demand, many native fisherman make a living off of catching sharks for the fins, and the soup is part of many ceremonies in several Asian cultures.

Over the last three decades hard coral cover on the reefs in the Caribbean has been disappearing at an alarming rate. In that time period surveys have shown the coral populations have dropped by around 40 percent. One new harmful cause that has grabbed researchers attention is the excessive use of sunscreen by tourists.

Hi everyone!

It is now day three of our Bahamas adventure. So far, we have had perfect weather. On day three, however, the water was a little choppier than usual. We finished our first Beach Seine where we found a lot of fish without any wave or weather problems. Our mangrove snorkel was also a blast. We saw SO much.. We were heading to our next destination, an old sunken barge in the middle of a *Randall's Ring, when the waves started to get a little choppier. The waves were too choppy to swim in without holding onto a line from the boat, but they were not bad enough to bother anybody on the ship. It was a short snorkel, but one that everybody enjoyed.

If there is another small storm that produces choppy waves again, we may or may not be able to snorkel in certain locations. In the spirit of the storm, our daily dilemma is the following:

Next time, what do you think we should do if there is an oncoming storm (ex- continue snorkeling, wait it out, etc.)? What should we do to be more prepared next time? Finally, if the weather does make us miss a good snorkeling location, should we revisit it?

*Randall's Ring: This is a large circle of sand, usually with a sunken structure in the middle of it. It is outlined in grass.

How are different fish species adapted to the environment where they live?

During our morning discussion there was a little bit of talk about the kinds of different species that live in different depths of the ocean and different habitats. Some organisms survive better with sunlight, such as corals, who require warm water and sunlight. Other species live hundreds of feet below the water's surface were it is cooler and darker such as angler fish and gulper eels. How are these animals adapted to such unique environments?

How vulnerable the fish is to predators has a lot to do with where it lives. Some factors might include, shallow water, areas with low fish populations, colorful reefs or open, spacious pelagic zones. Depending on the temperature of the area in the water, the amount of sunlight, and the motion of the tides, different fish will be able to survive in a different environment. Portray the behaviors and physical qualities of a fish that lives in shallow water, in warm water with many corals and shady rocks. How might a fish living here differ from a fish living in a deeper area, with a sandy bottom, but still a warm temperature and less or no corals and rocks? Give your input on this Daily Dilemma!

Claire

Every piece of plastic that has ever been created is still on this planet and always will be. Plastic is increasingly affecting the environment and is one of the most prevalent issues facing our oceans today. In the Pacific, circular currents have even accumulated huge floating masses of plastic and other wastes. These masses can stretch for miles; one called the "Plastic Continent" is approximately the size of Texas and protrudes 30 feet below the surface. All over the world, fish, sharks, marine mammals, birds and sea turtles are entangled by debris, lost traps, fishing line, and nets. Other times these animals mistake floating debris for food. Regardless of how animals encounter these pieces of plastic or waste, the results are never favorable.