Monday,March27,2017

Today,wesurveyedharmfulalgalblooms,wentonamarineprotectedareawatch,andlookedatcreaturesinintertidalpools!Afterbreakfast,wewentdowntothedocktoconductwaterqualitytestsandtowforalgae.Assomeofuswerestillkickingoursmartphoneaddictions,wetriedourbesttotakeselfies…withthewindspeedmeter.WealsoidentifiedsomePseudo-nitzschia,Chatonella,andCeratiumalongwithquiteafewfalsealarmsincludingpiecesofalgae,saltcrystals,andthepoopofanunknownorganism.However,withtheconstanthelpandsupportofLorraine,ourskillsimprovedgreatlyandwewatchedbarnacleandcrabnaupliiziparoundthefieldofviewandafewunknowneggsfloataround.

Afterwehadbecomeexpertsattoxicalgaeidentification,wesetoutonaMarineProtectedArea(MPA)

WatchhiketoobservehumanactivityintheMPA.Thoughwesawnohumanactivity,wesawplentyofbeautifulwildflowersandamazingviewsoftherockycliffsdroppingawayintoasparklingdeepblueocean.Wedidourbesttopickourwayaroundthemanycacti,withsomesufferingafewminorcasualtiesatthespinesofparticularlysneakycacti.Particularly,ourfellowclassmate,Gabe,hadabitofanaltercationwithoneandgotafewneedlesimplantedinhisshoe.However,wesoonfoundoutthecactiwerenothingcomparedtothedreadedCursedInvasiveMustardForest.Withblood,sweat,andtears,webravelybattledtheviciousmustardforeststogether,withafewbravesouls,Noah,evenrippingouttheplantsbytheroots.Atlastweemergedvictoriousandheadedstraighttoadeliciouslunchof(rotato)potatotacos!

Next,welearnedaboutintertidalorganismsandobservationprotocol.AfterweA-C-EACE,ACE,ACE,

ACED!identificationquizzesonalgae,anemone,echinoderms,barnacles,limpets,andmuchmore,wepackedintovansandheadedtoLittleHarbor,whereweputourskillstothetestandwadedintotheicywaterstofindsomeintertidalcritters!Alongtheway,wesawsomebisonchillingbythesideoftheroadanddrinkingwater.AtLittleHarbor,wespottedsomewhelksandthree-wingedmiraxes,lethermitcrabscrawloverourhands,observedmanyspeciesofalgae,includinggoldenrockweed,TurkishTowel,andsurfgrass,andsawmanybarnaclesandlimpets!Allofthatintertidalobservationmadeushungry,sowepickedupsomegiantkelppneumatocystsforaquicksnackwithastrongsaltyoceanflavorandjustahintofsandforsomeadditionaltexture.

Butthepneumatocystswereonlytheappetizerforadeliciousdinnerofhotdogs,chips,ands’mores!Wehadsomeprettyheateddebatesovertheoptimalroastingtechniqueforahotdog,juju-edonthatbeatandcartwheeledacrossthegrass,andconstructeddouble-deckers’mores.ThenwedrovetoSharkHarbortowatchthesunset.WesquishedinbetweenwoodenpostsalongaropefenceingroupsofthreeandbeltedoutsongsfromJourney’s“Don’tStopBelieving”toHannahMontana’s“PartyintheUSA.”ThekaraokecontinuedonthecarrideallthewaybacktotheWrigleyCenterwherewepromptlycrashedinourbedsandpracticedthe“logging”techniqueofdolphinsaswerestedandrechargedforanotherfullandexcitingday!

Tuesday,March28,2017Hi!

TodaywasoursecondamazingdayonCatalinaIsland.Wewokeuptoanassortmentofdeliciousfood,includingbacon,sausages,eggs,bread,andanycerealwewanted!Then,wewereofftokayaking. Afterabrieflesson,allofthepreviouslyinexperiencedkayakers,wereexcitedtogetonthewater.Inpairsoftwo,weembarkedonourfirstkayakingjourney.Afterpaddlingaroundandplayingkayakbumperboats,webegansearchingformarinemammals.Followingapredeterminedroute,wekeptoureyesoutforseals,sealions,whales,anddolphins.Theresearchscientistsexplainedtousthatflocksofseagullsflyingoverspecificareasofwater,oftenindicatethepresenceofamarinemammalscaringfishtothesurface.Afterthefirstfewminutes,althoughwehadn’tyetseenanymammals,welearnedallaboutthedistinctionsbetweensealionsandseals.Makingahardrightoffthecoastline,wesetoutforbirdrock,aminiisland,coveredinbirdpoop,thataccordingtoonescientistwasboughtfortwomilliondollars,despitebeinganaturepreserve.AdmiringtheCormorantsdottingbirdrock,weturnedacornerandsawthem:ourfirstmammalsontheexpedition!Twosealions,amotheranditspup,werebaskinginthesunontopofBirdRock.Weimmediatelyenteredthedataandpictures(attachedbelow!)intotheMarineMammalDatabase,includingthelocation,species,andactivityofthesealions.Kayakingbacktobase,weturnedaroundjustintimetoseethemothersealiondiveofftherockintothewater,followedbyitsmoretentativepup. AftertheintertidalID,halfofthegroupdriedoff,strappedonourhikingbootsandbeganhiking.Followinganarrowpathupahill,welistenedcloselytoAndeasshepointedoutallofthenativespeciesofplantsandflowers.Oneofourfavoriteswasavinecalleda“wildcucumber.”Walkingintotheshadeofalargeoakwecouldseethespikycucumberfruithangingdownfromthevinecrawlingupthetree.Amazingly,thevinegrowslimbsthatessentiallyreachoutintotheopenairuntilfindingabranchthatitthenwrapsaround.AsAndeexplained,thishappensoverthecourseofafewweeks.Onourwayback,wesawcratersliningthepath,representingthebisonthathadpassednotlongbeforeus.Thegroupevengotmomentarilysplitupwhenthestudentsinthebackofthegroupheardarattlesnake.Afterafewminutes,Andetoldusitwassafetocontinue,andwemovedon,eagertogettolunchafterabusymorning.

Whileonehalfofourgroupwashiking,theotherhalfproceededtomonitorintertidalzones.WehikedupandacrosstheridgetoreachtheTheIntakePipesatBlueCavernsOffshoreSMCA,wherewewerebriefedonthebesttacticsforfindingseastarsandabalone.Wechoseoursiteandbegancarefullyinspectingfor30minutes.Whilstwefoundneitherseastarsnorabalones,wefoundaggregatinganemones,mussels,shorelinecrabs,hermitcrabs,periwinkles,pinkacornbarnaclesandmanyotherspecies.Wetookaquickbreakinordertograbsomewaterandrestbeforethenexttask:measuringquantitiesofvariousspecieswithquadrats.Ondesignatedlines,wecountedhowmanysquaresleafbarnacles,mussel,pinkacornbarnacles,rockweed,andcommonbarnacleswerepresentin.Itwasdifficulttoseesomeofthesethings,astheycanbeverysmall,howeverwemadedo.Anotherchallengewasthatthetidebegantoriseasweworked.Assuch,ourfeetwerecompletelysubmergedinwater(tothevexationoftheseveralofuswearingregularshoes),andwewereallsubjecttofrequentsplashing.However,wesuccessfullycollectedthedatawehadsetouttofind,andwehadreceivedzerocactusrelatedinjuriesalongtheway.

Afterdinner,Vivianledusdowntotheamphitheater.There,waitingforus,wasahugetelescopewithCaitlynCarlisle,anactualastronomer.Sittingsidebysideintheamphitheater,wewatchedthesunsetasCaitlyntoldusallaboutastronomy.Welearnedtheimportanceofthestarsforancientcivilizationsinbeingabletodevelopcalendarsandpredictnaturalevents.CaitlynexplainedthegeocentricmodelandhowCopernicusfiguredoutthattheearthactuallyrotatesaroundthesun.Asthestarsbegantoappear,Caitlynwasabletonamethemall,sometimeswithoutlooking.ShepointedoutVenus,thenorthstar,andwhereJupiterwouldsoonappear.Shethenstartedtotakeusthroughtheidentificationofallthevisibleconstellations.Armedwitha

laserpointerandaglow-in-the-darkminichalkboard,CaitlynexplainedtoushowtoidentifyOrion,Gemini,thetwins,Leo,andmore.Whileweweremarvelingattheconstellationsthatwehadneverbeforetrulyunderstood,Caitlynsetuphertelescopeandweweresoonlookingatdifferentgalaxies,millionsofmilesaway.WeevengottoseeJupiteranditsfourmainmoons.Wefinishedthenightfeelinglikeastronomyexperts,andwewereallexcitedtoshowoffournewskillswhenwegotbackhome.-JackandAlex

Wednesday,March28,2017 AfteraheartybreakfastofpancakeswithblueberrysauceweweretreatedtoawholepodofRissodolphinsrightattheentranceofthecove.Afterwatchingtheirgraybodiesandwhiteheadssplashinandoutofthewaterwelefttokayakforourmarinemammalobservation.Thinkingwe’drunoutluckweweresurprisedwhenwewereinterruptedby2sealionspokingtheirheadoutofthewater.Onlyacoupleofminuteslaterwespottedaharborseal.Wethenmadeourwaytobirdrockwherewespottedabaldeaglefeastingonafish.Thiswasespeciallyexcitingconsideringhowrareabaldeagleisandthatfewofushadeverseenonebefore.Havingmadeasuccessfuljourneyonourmammalwatchweheadedbacktotheshoretriumphantlyandchangedtogetreadyforournextactivity.

Thegroupthenbrokeupintotwoseparatesubgroups.Ourgrouptestedthewaterinavarietyofdifferentwaysincludingitsoxygen,nitrate,andnitrogenlevels,thepH,salinity,andvisibility.Wealsousedatowingnettopullupsomeplanktonthenheadeduptothelabtolookatoursampleunderthemicroscope.Seeingthetinyspecksonourpetridishescometolifewasspectacular.AsthetinybodiesoftheZooplanktondartedaroundwesearchedforthePhytoplanktonandespeciallyforthosethatmightbetoxictofishandothermarineanimals.After,weheadedtolunchandcouldn’twaittofinallygetourchancetogosnorkeling.Throughmanyfrustratingbuteventuallysuccessfulattemptsattryingonscubagear,especiallythedreadedwet-suit,weheadeddowntothedocksandmadeourwayonebyoneintothewater.Belowusawholenewworldopenedupwhereweexploredthecolumnsofseaweed,flashingGaribaldi,andswarmingschoolsofblacksmiths.Towardstheendofthesnorkelweevengotthechancetohandleamassiveseahare,atypeofblackseaslug.Itwassmooth,squishyanddownrightadorableinitsownway.Wethenreturneditbacktotheoceanfloorandheadedbacktothedock.Weremovedourwet-suitsanddriedoff.

Oncewewerecompletelydriedandchanged,weheadedbacktothelab.Wecontinuedtoexamine

moresamplesofwaterandfoundmoreplankton.Afterrecordingallofourfindings,wewenttothetouchtankstolearnabouttheorganismswithin.Wehandledaseacucumber,somemuscles,aseaurchin,andaseahare.Thisseaharewasdifferentbecauseitwasmuchsmallerandorangewithblackspots;despitethecolordifference,itstillwasjustassmooth.TherewereothersmallerfishinthetankaswellasalargeCaliforniaspinylobster.Anothertankheldalargemorayeelandseveralabalone.Wewereabletofeedoneabaloneandwatchitnibbleonapieceofkelp.Fromherewewenttodinner.

Attheendofdinner,wecelebratedanothergroupmember'sbirthdayalongwithoneofthehead

researchers.FromtherewelefttothelecturehalltohavealecturetaughtbyJohnHeidelbergwhoisanassociateprofessorofbiologicalsciencesatUSC.Hislessonwasaboutbioluminescenceandhowit’sutilizedbyorganismsintheocean.Afterwardswehadsomefreetimeinwhichweplayedbananagramsandgotreadyforbed.

Thursday,March30,2017

HappyThursday!Westartedthedaywithabreakfastofeggs,baconandsausage,potatoes,andtoasterwaffles(yaytoasterwaffles!),andourguestlecturerfromlastnight,JohnHeidelberg,joinedusandansweredsomeofourquestionsaboutmicrobiology.Thefoginthemarinezonewasreallydenseinthemorning,sowehadtopostponekayakinguntilafterlunch.Afterbreakfast,welearnedhowtouploadtheMPAwatch,intertidal,marinemammal,andHABsdatawehavebeencollectingthisweek.ChristinaFriederpresenteduswithalectureonUSC’sresearchonoceanacidification,andwetookatouroftheculturedoystersintheaquaponics“blueroom.”Itwasinterestingtoseehowmuchcarbondioxidewasintheoceancomparedtotheatmosphere,andhowCO2levelsvariedevenindifferentoceanenvironments.

Finally,afterspendinghoursinthelecturehall,MarkandhiscrewmadechickenCaesarwrapsforlunch,andwegotreadytogokayaking.Thefoghadliftedsincethismorning,andwesetoutonakayakingjourneythatlastedovertwomiles.Wespottedagroupofsixsealionssunbathingonabuoy,andLoraineshowedusthevolcanicrockthatmadeuponesideoftheisland.Afterasplashingwarbetweenafewofthekayaksonthewayback(initiatedbyoneJackWeber!),wechangedintodryclothesandgotintoourgroups,theHABsandtheHAB-nots(akatheintertidalgroup).Becauseofhighwindsthatcausedlargewaves,theHAB-notswentonaMPA

watchhikeinsteadofgoingtothetidepools,whiletheHABscollectedandobservedplankton.AfewoftheorganismswesawwereCeratium,Pseudo-nitzchia,andprotoperidinium,whiletheMPAwatcherssawalotofboats,butunfortunatelynomarinemammals.

TwoHABsposewiththeequipment.We’resohip!

Aprotoperidinium(thetransparent,pinkdinoflagellateneartheneedle)!

Dinnerincludedchickenfriedsteak,mashedpotatoes,greenbeans,andgravy.Becausethewindswere

goingbeintenseallnight,wecouldn’tdoanighthikeornightsnorkelthatwasplannedfortonight.Windswereasustained20mph!Westayedinandplayedgamesasagroup,asRachel,Michelle,andCarolineloudlysangsongsfromRent.(Jivanconfirmsthis,itwasLOUD!!!!)Weallkickedbackafter4longdaysofactivityandgotsomedowntimetorestupforourlongdaytomorrowinAvalon.Overall,wearesuperexcitedtocontinuelearningmoreaboutthisamazingplaceandhopetoseemorecoolthingsintheremainingtwodaysofourtrip!!!!!!!!

Friday,March31,2017

OnFridaythe29th,theentiregrouptookatripacrosstheisland,endingupinAvalonfordinner.Twovansweretaken:thefirstdrivenbyLynnandinhabitedbyNoah,Jivan,Rachel,Jeren,Jack,andMichelleandtheseconddrivenbyAndeandinhabitedbyMike,Lauren,Gabe,Gavin,Giramnah,Alex,andOleg.

Ourtripstartedniceandearly,followingbreakfastandourfirststopwasMiddleRanch.MiddleRanchis

thecentralhuboftheCatalinaIslandConservancy.WewereintroducedtoTylerDvorak,aresearcherandwildlifebiologistattheConservancy.Wetouredthroughthefacility,seeingvarioustypesofendangeredendemicplantsincludingtheCatalinaIronwood,knownforitssmoothbark.Additionally,welearnedaboutthevariousgeographicalwatershedsandtheirimportancetotheisland’sflora,aswellastheconservancyregions,whichsplitstheislandintofourzones.ThesezoneshelptheConservancyorganizethespreadofendemicspeciesoffloraandfaunawhilesuppressingthatofinvasivespecies.NearbyMiddleRanch,wevisitedanaviaryinwhichabaldeagle,aswellasagoldeneagle,werekeptforrehabilitation.

WethentraveledtotheCatalinaIslandAirport,wherewewhippedoutoursandwichesandenjoyedascrumptiouslunch.Inadditiontobeingonlyafootortwoawayfromanislandfox,wewanderedthroughthegiftshop,buyinggiftsforourparents(MichelleandOleg)andtryingoverhyped(nutallergyhell)cookies.Luckily,Gavin’swalnutallergywasjustamyth.Beforedepartingtheairport,wecheckedoutaretro-ultralittiledmapoftheIsland.Wethenlefttheairporttopursueournextadventurouspartoftheday. ThedaybroughtustotheNatureCenterinAvalonwhereweexploredthehistoryofwildlifeonCatalinaandreceivedasurpriselecturefromMeghan,oneoftheexpertsattheNatureCenterandamemberofAnde’sgraduatingclassatCalPoly.Rightafter,wetookashortdrivetotheCatalinaIslandMuseumwherewelearnedabouttheculturalhistoryoftheisland.Aftersomuchresearchintotheecologicalhistoryoftheisland,itwasinterestingtolearntoaboutitspastasahollywoodvacationdestination,militarybootcampduringWorldWarII,andthespringtraininglocationfortheChicagoCubs.Mostimportantlyfromourmuseumvisit,wesawplentyofChihuly’suniqueblownglasssculpturesthatmimicthefloraandfaunaofCatalinathroughcolors,shapes,andlight.Afteraquickdiveintotheirgiftshop,weexploredthetownalittlebit.First,westoppedatBigOlaf’swhereweindulgedourselveswithtastyicecream.Followingouricecreambreak,wesplitintotwogroups,oneforshoppingandanotherforsightseeing.DinneratMiCasitawasdeliciousandsoendedourdayatAvalon. Ourtripbackaddedanexclamationpointtothedayweenjoyedsomuchthroughsing-song,deepconvos,andbisonattacks.MusicemanatedfromLynn’scarfortheentirejourney,eventhoughJivansupposedlydidn’tknowanyofthesongs.Whiletheysangtheirwaybacktocampus,ourcarconversedoneverythingfromseaharebreedingtomethodsfordealingwithstressandoverwhelmingsituations.Additionally,wearguedfor,whatwebelievetobe,betternamesandphrasesforvariouswords.Forexample,thepetitionfor“snakes”toberenamed“dangernoodles”should100%becomeofficialand“swervy-curvies”arebetternamesfor“switchbacks.”Lastlyandmostimportantly,wecannotstresshowimportantitistoneverwakeasleepingbison.#ItsCharging

Saturday,April1,2017Webeganourday’sadventurewithahikeupontheridgetowardstheintertidalzone.Wesawcaterpillarswakingfromtheirslumberandcarefullydancedaroundcacti.Weknewtheoceanwouldgreetuswithitscrisp,coldwavesbutwereexcitedtostartourworkwiththesunriseasabackdrop.Althoughourabaloneandseastarsearchendedindisappointmentanddespair,thesun’srayschasedawayourfrustrations.Withourquadratswestartedtoquantifytheabundanceoflifeintheintertidalzone.Wecountedrockweedalgae,strawberryanemones,acornbarnacles,andafewcrabsthatinhabitallsurfacesofthisintertidalmarineuniverse.

Afterouradventuresintheintertidalzone,weheadedbacktoWrigleytoprepareforourlastkayakinthecove.Beforewelaunched,wenoticedlargenumbersofbeachedredcrabonthedockandwonderedwhathappened.Redcrabsaren’tverystrongswimmersandthusaresubjecttothewhimsofoceancurrentsandwinds.Thelasttwonightswereverywindyandassuch,theywerestrandedonshore.Duringourkayak,weeavesdroppedonsealionconversationsandobservedtheboatspassingintheMPA.OurinnerprotectiveinstinctsoftheMPAstirredfeelingsofangerandwewonderedoutloudiftheseboatswerepassingthroughorillegallyfishinginourbelovedmarinelifesanctuary.WeknewthebestcourseofactionwouldbetoreporttoCalTip!Laterthatafternoon,gatheredwithourgroupmatestodiscussandanalyzetheHABwatch,MPAwatch,marinemammalwatchandintertidalsurveydatawecollectedthisweek.Wepreparedadetailedpresentationandsharedourlearningswiththewholegroup.

Afterthesunset,wehurrieddowntothedockstogetreadyforournightsnorkel.Wewiggledandshimmiedintowetsuitsandslippedintothedarkwatersofthecove.Theicywatersimpaleduswithcoldspearsofpainbutweweredistractedbythebiodiversityaroundus.Worms,zooplanktonandsmallredcrabsswirledaroundus.Weswamwithlobsters,seaharesandgaribaldifish.Atlast,itwastimetoexperiencebioluminescence.Weturnedoffourdivelightsandallowedoureyestoadjusttothedarkness.OnLorraine’scue,wegentlysubmergedourfacesintothewaterandwaved…theoceanlitupasiffairiessprinkledfairydustinthewater.Everymovementofourwarmsandfinsproducedwavesofsmallshimmeringlights.Weswamwithstars--itwassurreal.-Jeren,MichelleandOleg

Jeren’sDramatizedversion: Upontherisingsun,wesawthesunradiatingraysofwarmthuponourskinwhichbringbeauteouslightinourdayandlives.Likeachildemergingfromawombweseawcaterpillarswakingfromtheirslumberandthecreaturesoftheoceanstarttostir.Wetrudgetotheintertidalzone.Wegreatlyanticipatedthecrispcoldwavescrashinguponoursuitsandbodies,peeringtotheglowinghorizon.Westartourabalonesearchonlytofinddisappointmentanddespair.Therearenonetobeseen.Againwithasenseoflosthope,wesearchouttheever-evasiveseastarsonlytobegreetedbysadnessoncemore.Thesun’slightboiledawayourfrustrations,aswearerebornasexplorersoftheintertidal.Withourquadratswestarttoquantifytheabundanceoflifeintheintertidalzone.Rockweed,strawberryandsunburstanemoneinhabittheinnersanctumsoftheotherworldlymarineuniverse. Afterouradventuresintheintertidalzone,wekayakedintheabyssoftheocean.Westumbledintothemassacreofredcrabsmurderedbythepowerfulwindsofthenightbefore.Theirbodieslaydecayinginagraveyardofkelpanddeath.Wethrustedthecrabsintotheoceanonlylatertobeconsumedbytheravenousgullsofthemenacingsky.Aswekayaked,weheardtheshrillscreamofthesealionasthesun’srayscaressedtheirrubbery.WeobservedtheboatspassingthroughtheMPAandstaredintothevillainouseyesofthesailorsandfisherman.Criminalsandenemiestoconservationthefishermancasttheirrodsintotheocean,stealinglifefromthesea.Wewatchedandrecordedtheircrimes,yetimmobilizedbypacifism.WereturnedtotheshelteroftheWrigleyinstituteandembracedthecoldwatersofthecove.Ourvoyageintheoceanwasfollowedbypresentationsofourresearch,aculminationoftheknowledgebywhichnaturehadbestoweduponus. WeconcludedouradventurewithEarthWatchwithanightsnorkel.Weequippedourbodieswiththeblubberyskinsofsealsandemergedourbodieswiththedarknessofourwetsuits.Aswedoveintotheicywatersthatimpaleduswithcoldspearsofpain,wormsandzooplanktonswirledaroundusandthelittlestarsglowedaroundus.Thegalacticoceanconsumeduslikeahungryseabison.Withinthemysticalseaofdarkness,lifethrivedineverycorner.Inthemoistcrevicesoftheoceancavernslobsters,seaharesandgaribaldifishsquirmedattheharshglowofthedivingflashlightthatinvadedthemnativelands.Likethebeatingofnativedrumsinthedistantmountain,thewavestranquillycaressedourfacesandsoothedoursenses.Weemergedfromthewaterrefreshedandinspiredlikeabaldchickensqueezingthroughabrokenegg.Anunforgettableexperience,thetriptoCatalinaislandrenewedourappreciationfornatureandsparkedapassionforconservation