Day 1 In the Field

Today we got our first real lesson in doing research in the field. We went to a lab facility at Gerace Research Centre where we learned about the important work we will be doing here. One activity we will do here is working with transect lines. Basically, each research site on San Salvador has three transect lines. They are ten-meter long lines labeled points A, B, and C. At each of the one-meter markers along the transect lines, we learned how to look for and determine the percentage of coral bleaching that has taken place. We also learned to use a PI Frame (see picture) with orange flags to record various types of coral that can be found under each flag (such as hard corals and soft corals). In the afternoon after lunch, we headed to an area on the southern tip of the island, known as French Bay. Unfortunately, the weather was still somewhat rough so we didn’t get to do any research today, but we did have the opportunity to go snorkeling. I had on my full wetsuit so it was fairly warm. I saw a few different types of coral such as brain coral and a type of coral known as “dead man’s fingers”. Some people in my group have underwater cameras so in the next few days I will try and post some pictures of the fish and coral that I see. Talk you soon!