Dana Point
Click here to see my Dana Point Map in Google Earth
Our GIS class recently went to the Ocean Institute at Dana Point. We went out on a boat, also called the “Floating Lab.” The people on the boat taught us about different sea organisms and how to properly behave on the boat. There were different labs that we participated in, such as analyzing and identifying phytoplankton and zooplankton and finding different organisms in mud from the sea floor. While on the boat, we used a GPS to track where we were going and mark waypoints. It was beautiful out there, and we had the opportunity to see lots of different wildlife. It was great to feel the wind and just relax. After the ride on the boat, we went back to shore for more labs, such as testing properties of water, and making hypotheses about why/how a species can have rapid growth. During this part of the field trip, we saw even more biodiversity, such as starfish, crabs, and “jellies.” We got into groups of two and dissected mackerel. The smell was disgusting and it looked very gross. I refused to touch the fish, even with the tools, so my partner worked on the dissecting. She had lots of fun with it, and we learned about the structures of the fish. We took apart the stomach and looked at what the fish had eaten. We found that it ate another fish! Apparently, dissecting is one way to learn things about an organism, such as what its diet is. The trip was very fun.