By: Julie, Matt and Marcus
We started the day at The Friday Harbor Laboratories working with different scientists in Professor Adam Summers’ research group. With Dr. Marianne Porter we learned about cartilaginous fish and observed an MTS (Materials Testing System) at work. Dr. Thomas Kleinteich explained the 3D printer that he works with and how the 3D computer images are created with a CT scanner. With Cassandra Donatelli we dissected and explored the body of a dogfish shark using surgical tools. Dr. Petra Ditsche-Kuru described her work with clingfish attachment strength and what she plans to do in her future work. Stephanie Crofts helped us view a housefly and pieces of shell with the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope. Finally, David Shapiro displayed his work on hermit crabs’ selection and preference of different shells. For sharing their amazing work with us, we shared a lunch of pizza with them.
After returning to the house, we had two hours of free time before going back to The Labs for the 4:00 Wednesday seminar. The first talk; A glimpse into the life of echinoderm larvae exposed to intense salinity fluctuations, was given by Professor Sophie George. It was an interesting talk on the effects of salinity fluctuation on Pisaster starfish during the larvae and juvenile stages of their life. The second talk; Marine invaders and aquaculture: sources impacts and consequences, was given by Professor Dianna Padilla. Twas a thought-provoking discussion that addressed the consequences of aquaculture organisms spreading and becoming invasive and destructive to native creatures.
At dinner tonight we had Professor Rachel Merz, as well as her students Mark Levine-Weinberg, Samantha Chavez, and Leah Lee over for Shish Kabob. Desserts were accompanied by presentations of the students’ summer projects, which will be presented to The Friday Harbor Labs community next week. Mark showed us his work with fighting sea anemones and told us about his frequent travels to Cattle Point to collect new specimens. Samantha Chavez presented her studies on Hairy Hermit crabs and their habit of abandoning their shell when picked up. Lastly, Leah Lee shared her investigations of burrowing sea cucumbers, which make tunnels in soft sediment. Now off to bed and up early to catch the tide!
