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From the Bayous of Louisiana to the Gulf of Alaska:. Bringing Real-World S cience into the Classroom: Earthwatch Live from the F ield and NOAA Teacher at Sea Fellowships. Earthwatch : Live From the Field 2008 Hunting for Caterpillars. The Expedition. The team consisted of: 7 teachers
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From the Bayous of Louisiana to the Gulf of Alaska: Bringing Real-World Science into the Classroom: Earthwatch Live from the Field and NOAA Teacher at Sea Fellowships
The Expedition • The team consisted of: • 7 teachers • The principal investigator, Dr. Lee Dyer • Our expedition leader, Rebecca Hazen
The Research • We studied the effect of extreme weather events on “tritrophic relationships • Extreme weather events =hurricanes • Tritrophic relationship = plants, caterpillars and parasitoids (wasps, and flies that lay their eggs in caterpillars)
The Procedure • First we sampled plots of land in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. • Every caterpillar possible was collected. • Back at the lab the caterpillars were identified, photographed and catalogued. • The caterpillars were then cared for until they formed chrysalidsand hatched into moths or died.
The Importance of this Research • Caterpillars are one of our main agricultural pests. • The concern is that extreme weather events may decrease the population of the parasitoids. • If the population of parasitoids decreases, then the caterpillar population should increase. • This could cause increased deforestation and crop damage.
The Classroom Connection • We kept in touch with our classes through blogs and videoconferencing.
Community Connection • Students worked with seniors to plan and build a butterfly garden at the Willington Senior community Center
NOAA Teacher at Sea:Researching Pollack in the Gulf of Alaska
The Expedition • Ecosystem and Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) Late Larval Survey • Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Kodiak Island, Alaska • May19 – June 2, 2010
The Research • What - Ichthyoplanktonsurvey and process studies • Where – Gulf of Alaska from ShumaginIslands to ShelikoffStraits • Why - To estimate the abundance, transport, and factors influencing the survival of young Pollock larvae.
Alaskan Pollock(Theragrachalcogramma) • Also known as Walleye Pollock • Member of Cod family • Lives in the North Pacific and Bering Sea • Mid-water to bottom dwelling fish • Lifespan is up to 17 years. • Young feed on plankton and small fish; older Pollock feed mostly on fish • Main predator is the Stellar Sea Lion
The Importance of this Research • Research is part of the management program for a commercially important fishery • Researchers are creating a model to show future abundance of adults based on larval survival rates. • Will compare to actual population numbers obtained from fisheries researchers who sample the adult harvest • Pollock is declining – possible causes are predation by Arrowtooth flounder on juveniles and changes in water temperature
With Sampling Bongo Nets
The Classroom Connection: • Students accompanied me on my journey through the use of my blog • Each day they would read the newest post and then complete their challenge activity and post their questions for my to answer
Community ConnectionHow can we help protect LIS? • Go to Long Island Sound Study website: http://longislandsoundstudy.net/get-involved/what-you-can-do/ to learn about what students can do to help protect the Sound. • International Coastal Clean-up
How to follow along • You can access this power point, my blogs and resources at my 7th or 8th grade Wikis • http://sciencerocks8.wikispaces.com • http://yeah-science7.wikispaces.com
Earthwatch Live From the Field and NOAA Teacher at Sea Bring the Science Home