The Field School team just returned from a successful expedition to Abaco with the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization. Despite windier than expected weather, we spent several days tracking sperm whales, including an overnight track! We were also able to retrieve and download data from the two underwater arrays we set with BMMRO during our November expedition (despite some challenging diving conditions). During the search for the western array, we were weathered in for two days at Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands, where Field School staff and participants had an amazing time exploring the island, including the beaches. We also went looking for (and found) a previously tagged manatee taking advantage of freshwater being released in the marina. On the final day, we encountered and collected data on an enormous pod of melon-headed whales (estimated to contain more than 100 individuals). It was the perfect way to end an incredible trip! Our thanks to the amazing BMMRO and our awesome participants for making even the roughest day spent at sea a ton of fun!
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On the last day of our sperm whale expedition, Field School and Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization were lucky enough to encounter a pod of over 100 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra). These amazing animals, which despite their common name are part of family delphinidae—oceanic dolphins—are rarely seen by humans because they rely on deep water habitats. When they aren’t diving down to 500 m (1600+ feet!) looking for food, melon-headed whales spend a lot of the time resting on the surface in small social groups. Encountering this pod was the perfect way to wrap up our expedition!
During our recent expedition to the Bahamas, our team stopped over in Bimini, where we came across this amazing Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) doing some nighttime hunting. In the video you’ll see the octopus changing color using amazing specialized skin cells known as chromatophores, and expanding its tentacles into a “skirt” to trap small fish and invertebrates so it can eat them. These octopuses are cryptic (hard to see and find) and hunt mostly at night, so it was a rare treat for us to get to see it in action!
Here at Field School, we believe the opportunity to gain field experience and hands-on training in scientific research skills should be available to all interested students, regardless of income. We are excited to announce our second annual writing competition for a full scholarship to attend our summer sharks and rays field research course! Entrants complete a short essay in addition to our course application, telling us about their passion for sharks and what they would hope to gain from participation in a field course. Winners will be given a full (grand prize) or partial (runner-up) scholarship to attend our hands-on elasmobranch summer research course. During their week living and working aboard RV Garvin, students will be instructed in shark and ray biology, ecology, and conservation, and will get practical experience with a variety of field research techniques, including the use of BRUVs (Baited Remote Underwater Video), drum lines, gillnets, and long lines. Students will also get experience and training in how to work on a research vessel and safely restrain shark species for data collection. The deadline for submission is April 2. Winners will be announced by April 9. The course runs from June 17-23, 2018. All food (with the exception of one inexpensive "dinner out"), housing, research activities, and transportation are included in the tuition for the course once students arrive at the R/V Garvin. Get started on your submission here! We hope to see you in the field this summer! |
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