Day 7 - Sabado De Lluvia Y Domingo De Caracol

  

Photo by Tralee Chapman

Our day off finally arrived on Saturday and we were all excited to explore the town of Bocas and it's beaches! Unfortunately, the weather had a different plan for us. We started the morning off by bearing the rain and going to explore a botanical garden that is down the street from STRI. The garden not only had native plants but also included plants from all over the world. The garden was beautiful even with the rain beating down on us. 

   

Ginger Shampoo Plant
Photo by Tralee Chapman 

After being drenched from the rain we all decided to get dry and warm before heading out for lunch in town. Around noon we all crammed into two taxis and headed into town. We had a delicious lunch while overlooking the water at El Pirata. With our bellies happy and full we explored the stores in town and got all of our souvenir and hot sauce shopping done.  

As the rain and adventure filled day came to an end a couple of us went hunting for a Sloth. After about 15 minutes we managed to find one! He was hanging from a tree and as we shined the light on him he slowly moved his head to cover himself from the light. This was my first Sloth sighting here at STRI and it was everything I had hoped for! After watching him for a few minutes we left the Sloth alone so that he (or she) could do all of it's Sloth things in peace. 


Sunday, September 8, 2019

After yesterday's torrential rain we were hoping for sunshine. We didn't get sunshine but we also didn't get rain which was a win for me! The day started with time to work on our projects and soon after breakfast all the groups went out to collect more data. Mitchell and I went out to House Reef to continue collecting data on how fast urchins cover themselves. Tralee & Genevieve went our to STRI Point to continue their search for anemones and shrimp while Gabby & Vanessa continued their work with damsel fish at House Reef. Ella & Casey used this time to modify and perfect their project and worked off the STRI dock.

Sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus)
in the middle of covering itself during
our experiment

In the afternoon we headed out on the boat and went snorkeling at Punta Caracol. Punta Caracol was filled with fish and coral! The most notable fish I saw was the Cowfish! Vanessa & Gabby spotted a Southern Stingray while Tralee & I caught sight of a Ctenophore. 

Southern Stingray
Photo by Vanessa

Ctenophore
Photo by Tralee 

One of the most notable things we saw at Punta Caracol was the Elkhorn Coral. Elkhorn Coral is one of the main reef building corals of shallow fringing reefs. This coral was once abundant but has been affected by White-band disease and has unfortunately suffered mass mortality. 

                          

                             Elkhorn Coral featuring a Fireworm
                        Photo by Gabby

Elkhorn Coral
Photo by Gabby

Time is flying by here in paradise and as we start our final week in Panama I'm looking forward to all the snorkeling still left to do and to learning all the things! 

Hasta la proxima,

Natalie Contreras