Long Beach sunset – 26 February 2013

Marine debris – Project Week in Tofino

While it is not officially a Marine Science project, the week that Kenta has planned and he and his team are carrying out is very applicable to topics we cover in the course (and there are two Marine Science students participating!).

Very soon after arriving in Tofino on Sunday afternoon, we (Kenta, Helen, Amalia, Cassandra, Shuli & Laura) went to Chesterman Beach in the rain and wind. Despite the weather, we did collect some marine debris.

Kenta’s focus is on Japanese debris – he has high hopes of finding debris from the tsunami of 11 March 2011. His intention is to collect marine debris and make artwork that he will exhibit both in Canada and Japan.

Monday morning we went to Ucluelet and met with Karla Robison, Manager of Environmental & Emergency Services for the District of Ucluelet. She presented a lot of what she knows about Japanese tsunami debris then took us to the Public Works Yard where marine debris from many beach clean-ups is being stored.

Karla gave the students permission to sort through the debris and take anything that they could use in their artwork.

 Karla & Amalia

 Cassandra & Helen

 Kenta & Karla

Kenta sorted through all the plastic bottles and based on the writing was able to identify several Japanese bottles and many Chinese bottles.

Kenta was also interviewed by Andrew Bailey, a reporter from the ‘Westerly News’.

After loading the back of the van with debris we drove and hiked to Florencia Bay where we collected more debris, a lot more debris…

 This is the result of an afternoon at the south end of Florencia Bay.

More to come…

Mariana’s photos from Albert Head Lagoon

On Friday 8 February, F block marine scientists went on a field trip to Albert Head Lagoon.  We played ‘orca and salmon’ and did a beach scavenger hunt.

Mariana took these amazing photos and was willing to share them:

Mammalian diving reflex 2013

If you feel your heart rate decreasing just by looking at these photos of Marine Science students with their faces immersed in icy cold water, then maybe you too would exhibit a mammalian diving reflex. Or perhaps you would actually need to feel the cold water on your temples to cause bradycardia. Why not try it?!

Once again this year, there were many willing participants in a short experiment we did in class today and many who did show a significant decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), one aspect of the mammalian diving reflex.

Pedder Bay sunrise – 4 February 2013