The Observer, July, 2009

Students experience tidal zone at Kasitsna Bay

By MALAIKA KELLY and TRISTEN LARSON
Valdez High High School Students

On April 23, 18 students from Valdez High School boarded a mini-bus bound for the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory and Research Center. Once in Homer, we visited the new Islands and Oceans Visitors Center. Later that day, we boarded the Rainbow Connection and headed off to Kasitsna Bay. After unloading food and gear into the bunkhouse, we were given a tour of the lab by our guides from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

During low tide that evening, we had our first intertidal experience and found several anemones and unidentified invertebrate eggs. Several students helped collect plankton to use in the microscope lab we would be doing the next day.

The next morning, after a lesson on beach etiquette, we departed for Jakalof Bay. After a short hike, we reached the bay. Once there, we explored the intertidal zone at a low tide of -3.5 feet. We observed a wide variety of intertidal invertebrates including barnacles, sponges, anemones and sea stars. Some of the more impressive finds were an ochre star, a false lemon peel nudibranch, a colony of orange anemones, and a decorator crab. We also learned how to conduct a random sample transect line survey. This type of survey is done from the high tide to low tide and shows where and how many marine invertebrates live in the bay.

After documenting our findings, we returned to Kasitsna Bay Lab to participate in a series of experiments. We were able to observe an algae identification lab, a microscope lab, and an observation of collected invertebrates in the wet lab.

Later that evening, our guides led the students in a game. Divided into teams, the students were given different objects to use to make up an imaginary invertebrate. Objects included a fly swatter, sheet, duster, construction helmet, siphon, and colander. One person in each group dressed up as the invented invertebrate. Each team decided how their invertebrate lived, including where they live, how and what they eat, and how they reproduce. Afterwards, the invertebrate creature was presented to the other groups. It was definitely a lot of laughs for the students and the supervisors.

The next morning, the biology class had to get ready to leave. Everyone had enjoyed themselves so much that we did not want to go.

At low tide, this time a -4.1 feet, the class went out on the beach in Kasitsna Bay right next to the lab for their last experiment. The intertidal variety found there was just as great as in Jakalof Bay. Today was the last day to find the one creature that all of us had been hoping to see but none had seen yet. We found Christmas anemones, brittle stars, true stars and chitons, among other things, but no one could find the one elusive invertebrate we were looking for.

Finally, just as everyone was about to go inside for lunch, one of the students found it. The octopus was white and about the size a small dinner plate. It had been simply lying on top of the seaweed on the beach looking relatively uncomfortable.

With the help of a guide, some of the girls picked up the octopus. At first, the octopus was relatively unresponsive, but it suddenly started trying to get away. The students were able to hold on. After a while, the group decided it was time to put the octopus back into the water. When Annie was trying to place it back in the water, it would not let go of her hands. As she pried it off, the students finally got to see it change color and ink! The tentacles turned red. We left the octopus alone and headed back to the bunkhouse.

Soon after, we were picked up by the Rainbow Connection, and headed back to Homer. We loaded all the gear and started the long drive home, first to Anchorage and then to Valdez. It was a long trip, but everyone had a lot of fun and learned a lot.

This trip was partially sponsored by the council. For more information on our student sponsorship program, contact the council’s outreach coordinator, Linda Robinson: robinson@pwsrcac.org

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