Home at last

So I wake up and its 15 degrees outside. I must be back in good old Buffalo. I have many fond memories of the coral reefs on San Salvador. In a complete paragraph of at least 7 sentences, tell me some of the things you learned and or found interesting.
In the second paragraph what is your conclusion on the future of the coral reefs. Do they have challenges? What can we do to ensure their health?

This will be recorded as a grade. Be as neat and complete as you can.

The sailing started getting rough...

Talk about getting your butt kicked. It has been very windy the last couple of days and we really needed to get back in the water and record some data. The waves and the wind don't care about our data. We made it out this morning and were pushed around pretty good. Of course, we did not give up (your talking about science teachers!) and we did a pretty good analysis of the reefs on Franch Bay. And of course we identified some very beautiful fish. I am continually amazed at the colors of these fish. They are the most vibrant and luminescent body patterns possible. I saw an especially bright Blue Parrotfish this morning.
Now the bad news. We snorkled on a reef that looked like a graveyard for giant Elkhorn Coral. Apparently, the Elkhorn Coral experienced a serious dieback in the early 1990's. Because parts of coral are made of calcium, after the organisms die, the skeleton remains. The skeletons we saw this morning were about 20 ft. across and looked like pieces of art. They were amazing. These beautiful organisms, when alive, provide shelter and habitat for many kinds of animals. Now, for the next few years, their skeletons will provide a similar service, but eventually, they will break apart and return to the bottom, and we all will have lost.
For the journal- Why do you think these fish are so brightly colored?
- I hope you are recording the average temps of both EA and San Salvador so we something to study when I get back.

I will SEE you tomorrow around 1:00pm. Bring your journal and your questions!!

Just when I was getting the hang of it....

We were not able to get in the water today. It seems San Salvador is having some very atypical weather. A storm has moved through and has really been kicking up the winds. The water is very choppy and since alot of the studying is at the surface, the waves tend to beat you up when you're swimming. It is also very difficult to stay steady and count the corals and fish.
But out of life's greatest disappointments come new opportunities to learn. We took a kind of historical, archealogical expedition on land today. This island has history going back to Christopher Columbus. (It is between this island and another that claim to be the spot where he landed). We visited a church from the 1750's. I have pictures of the altar and the walls that remain. We also visited an old plantation. The building is in the most beautiful location. It is on top of a hill where you can see the ocean down below. It is amazing that there is not anybody living there today.
Well actually it is not that amazing. The whole issue with this island is that is no natural fresh water anywhere. There are many inland lake but they are all hypersaline. That means SUPER SALTY. There is water water everywhere but not a drop to drink. This island does have remarkable history.
For your journal- The church and plantation I saw today had crumbled. You could see where at first small plants moved in and started growing and then after a while small trees took over. What is the name of this process.
For the blog- How would you get fresh water if you lived on an island like San Salvador?
I will blog you tomorrow and see you Thursday
Mr. Grisanti

Holy Mackeral

- Saturday February 21st. After arriving at noon and recieving lunch and our room assignments, we took a trip into "town". The town here is about two blocks long and one block wide. There are houses spread out along a road that basically circles the island. The total population of this island is about one thousand people. How many people live in East Aurora?
-The day was very atypical for the island. It was very cloudy, very windy, about 700 and it rained in what is the dry season for the caribbean. But we still ahd to learn how to snorkel!!! It was warmer in the water than it was on land. My first attempt at snorkling was a complete failure!! As soon as I put my face under the water I started to hyperventilate!! I was taking huge deep breaths and I couldn't seem to relax. I needed to get back to shallow water where I could put my feet down. The lead scientist John Rollino came to my assistance. "Mr. G" he said, (every body calls me Mr. G) "put your face under water and take six relaxed breaths." I did and it worked. I would not be denied. Soon I was out of shallow water and over my first coral reef. I had done it. I saw my first live coral reef.
Tomorrow is Sunday and while all of you will be trying to get your school things in order after a week off, I will be learning how to dive with snorkel gear. I'll keep you posted.
Into your Journal
Record the temperature in East Aurora and San Salvador. Mr. Shelley and Mr. Evans have the weather station in their rooms for EA's temperature. Google Temperature and San Salvador. I'll remind you everyday to record this. You will need Monday thru Friday. We will be constructing a graph when I return.
Your first bonus question. Feel free to talk with a buddy to figure it out.
San Salvador has no large trees. Why? Hint- Very similar but not exactly the same reason why a grassland or chaperaal has no large trees. (Look in the chapter explaing Biomes).
Sunday 2/22/09
The problem with learning how to snorkle is you have to swallow alot of salt water. So what does this do to the cells in your nose and throat? (put it in your journal). However, today was very cool. We have been practicing snorkling and for not even swimming in the last several years all of the teachers here are doing very well. While we were in the water today we saw several interesting fish. At one point I was being shadowed by a BARRACUDA!!!! It was only about 3 feet long so I wasn't worried about getting eaten, but to see him within 5 feet of me was really cool. Apparently, they are very curious and they like to see if small fish are chased out by our presence.
For the journal- The effect of salt water on human cells.
For the blog- Tomorrow we go out and finally collect data. What science skills do you think I'll use to collect scientific data. Go and Comment.

For those who are having difficulty with commenting. Ask Mrs. Finlayson for guidance. Tell her I said thank you.


Monday 2/23/09

We went to work this morning. Wow. This is work. I am exhausted and we have to go back out this afternoon. We swam to a reef about 100 yards from shore and proceeded to count the different hard and soft corals, sponges, rock, sand, and algae. Try this while fighting the current and then try to sneak in some sightseeing! We did see some very cool fish again today. We swam with many Queen Trigger fish, Parrotfish, Blue Tangs, Wrasses and the coolest of all.....a large Ray. It was hiding under the sand but moved as we approached. It was about 3.5 feet wide and at least 5 feet long. Very cool.
We are trying to fight through communictiion problems. But I am sure we'll be able to talk to you later this week.
Keep Blogging and stay on top of your journal.
QuOD(Question of the Day)- Think of a valid question to ask when we teleconference. Write it down in your journal and bring your journal with you when we do speak.


I have not had a chance to address your comments in a couple days. Don't worry. The comments will stay in the blog until I check them and I will also know what date and time you posted the comment.


Happy Blogging from the Reef
Mr. Grisanti

A comet on Monday

I have just read that a comet will cross the sky and should be visible from San Salvador (and probably East Aurora) on Monday evening. So not only will my attention be focused on the water and its inhabitants, I can also look upward for inspiration and awe. On the cover of your journals, I want you to draw three things; 1. a specific type of TROPICAL fish that I might encounter, 2. a specific type of coral 3. you on a beach with a comet passing over. This can be one scene or three separate drawings. If you need colored pencils, use the ones in my room during activity period or after school.

Almost there....

Only a couple more days until I depart Buffalo and arrive in San Salvador, although I have been thinking more about the Great Lakes recently. List two environmental problems facing the Great Lakes ecosystem. You can use chapter 6-3 as a reference. Now compare these issues to the Bahamas. Are they similar? How? This assignment should be complete by Monday 2-23-09.

View from the reef

Outside my window it is raining and windy but at least its above freezing. I am slowly coming around to the fact that in a few days I will be in a radically different climate with unique biotic and abiotic factors. The coral reefs, with their myriad of colorful fish and spiny invertebrates, will be my focus of study.
To my students;
Find the location of San Salvador, Bahamas in Google maps and locate the research station on the northwest corner of the island. Tell me the name of the research station. I also need a list of at least three biotic OR abiotic factors I will encounter. I need your reply by 9:00pm Thursday.

I look forward to being able to share this experience with my students and all others who read this blog. I look forward to collecting data with the scientists and I think the Bahamas will provide a great comparison with the Great Lakes ecosystem and the difficulties it faces.

...for a three hour tour..
Mr Grisanti