MBRS Field Trip

Hello All!

Well, here is my first post updating you on one of 5 field trips that I will be attending this semester. This past weekend, I went to North Stradbroke Island (off the coast of Brisbane, in Moreton Bay) to the Moreton Bay Research Station where I spent a 3-day weekend studying coastal envrionments, swimming in the ocean and designing my own scientific study! I'll break it down into days so you can follow what I got myself into!

DAY 1: Saturday

The poor bus couldn't make it onto the ferry!!!

Up early (6am!) to catch a ride into the Uni for a 7:30am departure. We took a big coach bus to the city of Cleveland, where we caught the 45 minute ferry across to "Straddie" as the island is affectionately called. This was no small feat - our bus driver failed to get our extra-long bus into the ferry, and I felt so bad for the guy who had multiple spectators watch him struggle to back the bus up the ferry ramp! After what seemed like ages, he managed to get the bus off the ferry, leaving us on the boat and all our bags behind!!! Luckily, there was a second ferry coming shortly after, so the bags were unloaded from the bus of hell and put onto the ferry for us to pick up later on in the day.

Upon arrival to the island, it was a quick walk to the research station where we had a quick "morning tea" before hearing some debriefs on rules, safety and other regulations. Then, with no time to waste, it was out to the beach to survey the three types of coastal environments present and to get us thinking about our individual experiments we had to design and complete the next day. We first visited a rocky intertidal shore, then mudflats, then a sandy beach area, all the while comparing species diversity, and other scientific things. One thing I should mention was the fact that our 2 hour walk started out nice and sunny, but all of a sudden (when we were on the sandy beach) the rain came. And by came, I mean torrential down poured like none other. It actually hurt to get hit, the drops were so forceful and large!! We quickly ran back to the station, only after admiring the hundreds of soldier crabs who buried themselves instantaneously once the rain arrived!

Some interesting marine life on the afternoon walk - this was a sea cucumber!

Much to our dismay, the rain was not enough to deter the staff from the afternoon activity of seine netting. For those who don't know - seine netting is when we take a huge net out into the ocean, walk around in a horseshoe pattern and catch any fish/sharks/marine wildlife within it. I was given the task of donning gloves and helping to catch and release the fish we caught. Of course, no one told me that some of the fish were venomous, but it all worked out okay. There are a couple photo I've attached of me with my gloves and some cool species we caught!

Sorting through the catch from the netting activity

Here's a little puffer fish! Super cute until he deflated.....

This evening was laid back - mainly dinner, a movie and going out to the pub for a couple drinks with the TAs. We hit the sack early, since we knew tomorrow would be a long day full of data collection and analysis!

DAY 2:

We woke up this morning and spent a good couple hours planning our experiment with the group of our choice. I ended up working with a girl and a guy from the USA, one guy from the UK, one girl from France and one from BC. All of us are doing science degrees, so we knew the ropes and what to expect. After decided what our topic would be (whether or not there is a relationship between temperature of the water and crab population abundance) we headed out to the ocean/shoreline to catch and count crabs. For those of you who know me, crabs aren't really my thing - especially when they can pinch you! Luckily, I volunteered to be in charge of the data collection, so my role in catching crabs with bare hands was limited. We spent a good couple hours in the afternoon out next to the ocean, with the sun blazing. It was spectacular....despite the work we had to do!

After data collection, we headed inside for afternoon tea and a break before sitting down to organize the presentation we had to give to the group the next morning, as well as analyze the data in Microsoft Excel. Conveniently, the guy from the USA (he's from LA - perhaps that's why!) disappeared with the girl from the States and left the rest of us to do the grunt work. We were all tired and pissed - especially when he showed up a couple hours later only to critique our powerpoint and tell us we did things wrong! He apparently thought he was the Marine Biology God since he volunteers with the professor in his lab, but at that moment I wanted to smack him. Because of the group tension towards the end of the evening, we quickly finished up our presentation, decided who would say what and then went to bed. No practicing, nothing. We thought since we weren't being marked on the presentation itself that it wouldn't matter.....

DAY 3:

The morning was spent listening to all the groups present their experiment and results on powerpoint presentations. We went almost last, hadn't practiced and basically just talked our way through the slides, making things up as we went. Little did we know, all the groups were being judged on the quality of the presentation and the ease of comprehension! AND GUESS WHAT?? Our group WON!!

3 of the winning group members - and the prized water bottles!!!

Yup - despite all the "fantastic" group dynamics, our group's presentation came first and we won free Moreton Bay Research Station water bottles. After winning, the LA guy tells us it's because of all our hard work and I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from saying, "oh, you mean OUR work. You were gone." Whatever. Just another thing to boost his already too-large ego.

The afternoon was spent on a fantastic Gorge Walk at Lookout Point, then to Cylinder Beach for a couple hours of relaxation. It was a great way to end the weekend of hard work, and I slept most of the ferry ride back to the mainland. Overall, it was an interesting trip - learnt lots about marine crabs, USA's arrogance, and how little preparation but good presentation skills can land you first place!

Such a pretty island!

I head out tomorrow on another one-day field trip with my other biology course - this time to Brisbane Forest Park to look at the local flora and fauna. I've been told that there are high concentrations of brown snakes and black adders - two of the most deadly snakes on the continent. Brilliant. I won't be taking photos of those, since I hope to stay a far ways away at all times! At any rate, keep your eyes peeled for another post soon after I upload photos and get my assignments underway!

At lookout point

Me with the 4 TA's on the ferry back home

Miss you all!!

xoxo Danielle