Boston University Marine Program

While the weather the past few days may have inhibited our ability to post updates, it didn’t inhibit our ability to get in the water for research! Rain or shine (mostly rain…all rain), the students have continued learning and gathering data for their projects!
1: a student diver measures a coral while looking at fish-invertebrate interactions
2: snorkelers note the health of corals, looking for any disease
3: professor Robin checks out a venomous scorpionfish

The Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes started in on research today by practicing fish surveys and comparing results across different habitats. Students have learned how to identify families of fishes as well as how to run a belt transect and use underwater slates! We’ve taken advantage of the nicer weather by doing some work on the coral reefs; these will become inaccessible when a front rolls through on Tuesday bringing with it some blustery winds. Students will switch gears and work in the sheltered mangroves and seagrasses until the wind calms down a few days later. A good field scientist checks the weather and uses their time wisely as it can change quickly!