Lots and lots of analysis was the name of the game today. We had a few samples left which still need to be gone through before we can hand over to the next group and then we can start on the “shrimp” project, and having a look in the guts of fish that might eat shrimp and see who’s dining out big in these fjords. Look forward to some awesome piccies there!
So for the samples there was a little bit more washing, because a lot of it looked like something.. well something dragged up from the bottom of the ocean. Full of little bits of seaweed, slime, the occasional rock and lots of mud.
So for the samples there was a little bit more washing, because a lot of it looked like something.. well something dragged up from the bottom of the ocean. Full of little bits of seaweed, slime, the occasional rock and lots of mud.
Then we divvied up the big and small bits, below you can see some of the bigger bits which are notable for looking like they’ll take a finger off and for making the occasional grown human squeal.
Then there was a LOT of looking through microscopes, which in some ways is awesome cause it immediately makes you look incredibly intelligent. However, its less than easy on the eyes. Much recommended to break up analysis with a bit of photography.
We saw some cool stuff and some common species we’ll need to know for the exam, but also some really really completely gut churning skin crawling icky stuff.
So there was the common as muck, Eualis gaimardii
So there was the common as muck, Eualis gaimardii
(and it’s eggs up close)
Now its eyeball
There was the cute little polaris with the purple spots:
General mess, find interesting things in here now, kaaaaay go!
There was a lot of cool stuff
Then there was a few that had leeches stuck to their heads.. cause that’s not completely gross. And then a whole bunch with HUGE parasites in their egg sacs. Which you can see up close here. I’m sharing this grossity with you because I had to see it up close, so be thankful you’re seeing it at the distance of the internet AND of along the lines of 12,000km. There’s probably people out there who love studying parasites, because there are people who love looking at anything, however I am not one of them.
The scientific excitement of the day was from the finding of the “Mystery in-between” shrimp. What is it? Who is it? Where does it come from? Where does it go? Why was this shrimp a mystery I hear you ask? (curiosity tingling in your voice). I’m so glad you asked, because it has two supraorbital spines, but is not so spiney as spinus. A supraorbital spine is a spine, or pokey bit, that pokes out above the eye. Kind of like a very enthusiastic eyebrow, and it is a key defining feature. So this guy, as seen below, is not featured in any of the keys for this area. So it looks like he’s migrating up from somewhere, silly little fella, doesn’t he know winter is coming?
We also collected samples to study when we get back to Uni.
I thought some of you might like to see my creative use of Snapchat to learn. The problem being that you can take a billion photos in the real world and then not be able to tell in the slightest what it was when you get back to your computer. Enter snapchat and being able to save a photo with writing on it for later perusal.
The normal excitement of today though is that it snowed, both on the boat and on Longyearbyen where the boat is hanging out for the day so that we can do the analysis on nearly calm waters. Just incase you were wondering why there was a lack of seasickness mentioned, its because the fjord is flat as a tack. Anyhow, the boat was pretty and so was Longyearbyen.
And from there, nothing too radical happened, we had to do presentations about what our groups were up to, to help the handover tomorrow. As you can probably guess there were quite a few photos, although apparently I labelled one of them wrong (Cue going bright red and embarrassment). Ah well, the world goes on.
And we met the open ocean! That’s right, the ocean that is open. And things were a little rougher than they have been to now, which definitely showed on a few people, and made looking down a microscope nigh impossible. Onwards to tomorrow, where we will analyse the innards of fish and count shrimp.
And we met the open ocean! That’s right, the ocean that is open. And things were a little rougher than they have been to now, which definitely showed on a few people, and made looking down a microscope nigh impossible. Onwards to tomorrow, where we will analyse the innards of fish and count shrimp.