A Day of Cleanliness

Starting off the work day with a boat ride to the first site.

Week of August 16, 2011

Last week we took it nice and easy, a day of counting, cleaning, and measuring. We went to every station to first count the algae in each plot (caged plot, cage control plot, or bare plot), to measure the amount of lime we laid down a quadrant (set up in a 4 by 4 size) then counted the how many of the quadrants had limu in them, we also recorded the type of limu (Graciliaria salicornia, Acanthophors spicifera, etc.) in the plot. While some interns were counting, others were cleaning the cages of any unwanted algae because this could cause unwanted results in the research that is being done. While cleaning the cages, we found that many young crabs like to hang around the cages to feast upon all the algae that has been growing on them. When this happened questions would arise: could the crabs change the habitat of the surroundings, are the crabs inside the cages eating all the limu, and others like that. I believe that the crabs sure enjoy the cages especially since they have all the food they can eat and a very cool hang out spot.

Even though this may have felt like a day of leisure, work was still done. Cages were cleaned and checked to make sure they were in proper condition, limu counts were taken at every plot, and we were even able to learn a little about the different crabs that would come across us.

Like all work days it was a day filled with fun people and getting to know them better as time goes on!

right: At one of the sites, Megsie demonstrates first how to use the quadrant to count limu and everyone else begins work on cleaning cages with brushes.

left: Having the power of the clipboard, intern Frances, gets to be in charge (only at this site lol) and makes sure everyone is helping out in one way or another.

right: This Samoan crab may look like he's angry, but all he really want is a BIG HUG!