Hosted by Brookdale's Ocean Institute on 12/3/05
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Participants from several states arrived early for an overview of the New York Bight, coastal issues and to set up an experiment to observe how shellfishes help maintain water quality by filter feeding. |
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 Frank explains how oysters function in the estuary and the economic impact of their depletion in N. Y. Harbor . |
 With the simplest of tools we set up a feeding experiment to see if the oyster will clear vegetable dye from the water. |
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 Oysters "clam-up" when first put into the tank, but gradually open and begin to circulate water to feed on plankton. |
 Open shells (Red) show that the oysters are beginning to pump water and white arrows show the direction of the current. |
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 Success!
After a few minutes the blue dye is being draw into the oysters. |
 Later that morning Dave answered questions about tides, currents and the productivity of the ocean. |
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 ...and hurricane patterns, winds and surface currents... |
 ...and the Gulf Stream and how it affects our weather and the transport of tropical fishes larvae to New Jersey. |
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 In the lab we searched under the microscope for zooplankton... |
 ...and phytoplankton like Noctiluca, a bioluminescent dinoflagellate. |
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 Tony brought benthic specimens to identify... |
 ...like this sand worm... |
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 ...and sea strawberries. |
 Dean and Art wrapped things up with discussions of sharks and other swimming creatures in New Jersey waters. |
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