Old Fort Pond
The salinity of the water was 29.8 PSU and the temperature was 10.9 degrees Celsius (51.62 degrees Fahrenheit). This shows that Old Fort Pond has more salt water than fresh water, and the water is rather cold since winter just passed. Also, the depth of pond was around 1 and 1/4 meter. When we put the secchi disk down we could see it until it reached the bottom. This indicated that the water was relatively clear. The coordinates where we took the sample were 72.26471 west(latitude) and 40.52683 north(longitude).
Green seaweed and jellyfish were also visible near the surface of the water.
We observed a pair of mute swans nesting in the area, an invasive species which can be rather aggressive and chases most other species of birds away while protecting their nest. We saw the distinct differences between the side of the pond on which SoMAS is located versus the side occupied by the Native American reservation. During hurricane Sandy, the houses built near the shore on the SoMAS was badly flooded and damaged, resulting in the houses having to be raise higher using beams. Unlike like the Native American reserve, where they built the houses far away from the shore. This shows how modifying shorelines reduce the environment’s natural barrier against natural disasters. Also, the sample taken from the bottom of the pond was very dense and mud-like, with few rocks or shells. There was also a smell that came along with the material picked up from the bottom troll, most likely from the detritus from marine organisms/human waste that gets runoff into the water.
Shinnecock Canal
It was a very windy day so we weren’t able to measure the depth of the water, as the secchi disk was pushed away by the strong current. However, we were able to see the secchi disk pretty clear, so the water quality was pretty good. The salinity of the water was 26.99 PSU (a bit less ocean water than Old Fort Pond) and the temperature of the water was 10.57 degrees Celsius (51.026 degrees Fahrenheit).
When we collected the sand from the canal floor it was lighter sand than Old Fort Pond. It was also very rocky, grainy and contained a vast amount of shells. A chiton was also found on a shell.
While anchored at the canal we observed an osprey, multiple species of gulls, and many double-crested cormorants. While relocating to the trawling point, we saw a common loon. There were also american crows and scoters present.
Cormorant Point otter trawl
From the trawl, we saw a lot of slick and limey seaweeds that were pretty heavy. Also, we caught spider crabs, mud crabs, base scallop shells, arthropods, worms, a lion’s mane jellyfish, and a clear jellyfish
We caught two malespider crabs and two baby crabs. We learned that they were male crabs because the shape of their abdomen was triangular. Female crabs have a broader abdomen for their eggs.
We also found many mud crabs near the residential area of the bay. The ground was more rocky and sandy. There were also algae grass meadows that only grow in the spring, home to many organisms. Through observation and comparison of the spider crab to the blue swimmer crab, we learned that spider crab can’t swim because they don’t have flatten legs that resemble paddle like the blue swimmer crab. Instead that have sharp pointy legs that help then walk on the seafloor.