UWF

 Happy to be swimming Sammi

 Flashing lights with Johnna

 Diatom under a microscope

 Whole group at the Alabama-Florida border

 Family with a couple sharks in the water

 Anoxic PONAR sludge

Giant seine net pulls in the Gulf were exhausting

This week, the activity levels got ramped up. We were busy every day collecting data from various locations around Pensacola. It was interesting to learn about the first-order stream located right here on campus and how they are doing construction without consulting with the local biologists. The impacts on the local streams affect the rivers and consequently the bays and the Gulf. I love that we got the chance to snorkel at these locations and pull a ton of seines. It was tough to pull them through the Gulf but it was rewarding work. I love that we got to do work sea turtles and the local species that are affected by the water quality. The data we took was actually used and it was cool to see our work pay off. It was also nice to get together with the other cohort and finally do work with them. The presentations were a little stressful in the time alotted but the fact that all of the data that was collected (YSI, radiometer, PONAR) could be put together like a puzzle is just a testament to the bigger picture. The access to all the wonderful experts and doctors was so valuable and the lessons learned can be used further on into our course. Bonding with our group was fun and our first full week was humbling as well as rewarding.The different habitat types like the seagrasses, Perdido Bay, and the Gulf were so cool to visit in one state. They were different but connected, just like all the principles of marine science and biology. I loved this week.