Day 9 - Research continues

As we get closer and closer to the end of this trip, work regarding our projects becomes more and more prevalent. So, this morning, each group set off to the field to start finishing up trials. Casey and I took our last set of trials for our experiment, which included hanging two different "flavors" of agar cubes off the docks. One contained ground up Ophiothrix suensonii, a spiny brittle star, and the other contained Ophioderma brevispinum, a brittle star lacking spines. O. suensonii ophiuroids live out in the open, commonly on sponge or coral, while O. brevispinum live under rocks presumably because they are eaten more often. We are aiming to determine whether or not the spines on O. suensonii create a physical defense against becoming a fish's favorite snack, or if there is something deeper to it like a chemical defense (i.e. tasting or smelling bad, etc). Research like such took place for all of us throughout the morning.

After lunch, Mitchell, Genevieve, Natalie, and Maya headed out for an afternoon snorkel while everyone else stayed back to continue research work, or to heal from the sunburns a few of us got the day before (I was doing both). It was reported to me that some amazing naps were taken. Casey and I finished the ends of our data collections and took pictures of some of the process.

Casey and I's two cubes in the water

At hospital point reef, the others spotted some trumpet fish, cow fish, and as always lots of coral.

Mitch and Natalie collecting extra ophiuroids for Casey and I

After dinner, which as always was insanely delicious (with fights over the homemade hot sauce), we finally went night snorkeling! There were many nights we pushed this off because of tiredness and weary visibility. But tonight we suited up in as much clothing as we could to avoid stings and jumped in.

Some sleeping fish, puffer fish, spider crabs, banded coral shrimp, and a few barracuda were spotted. Overall successful, cool to see everything we see in the day exist in the night. 

Very lucky to see the things we see here in Panama! Time is flying by, for the next few days will be consisting of finishing project presentations and our posters. So we'll be soaking up all of the warm salt water we get to and looking for sloths up in the trees all the way up until Saturday. 

Love

Ella Sullivan :)