wachapreague, va field trip guide

Wachapreague, VA Wachapreague, VA Field Trip GuideField Trip Guide

By:By:

Jessica DeLosaJessica DeLosa

Getting Started…Getting Started…

• When: September 13-15 (all data collected When: September 13-15 (all data collected on 9/14)on 9/14)

• Where: Wachapreague, VAWhere: Wachapreague, VA• What: Our class collected data for various What: Our class collected data for various

aspects of the marine environment from aspects of the marine environment from several sites, such asseveral sites, such as– Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etcTemperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc– Types of marine lifeTypes of marine life– Water depthWater depth

Where is Wachapreague?

Methods of Data Methods of Data Collection…Collection…• We went out on two boats early in the We went out on two boats early in the

morning (at high tide)morning (at high tide)• We went to several sites, and at each site We went to several sites, and at each site

used several instruments to collect dataused several instruments to collect data• YSI Probe- measured temperature of the YSI Probe- measured temperature of the

water, salinity of the water, and dissolved water, salinity of the water, and dissolved oxygenoxygen

• Secchi Disk- measured the turbidity of the Secchi Disk- measured the turbidity of the water and how deep the photic zone waswater and how deep the photic zone was

• Trawl, Dredge, and Plankton Net- to collect Trawl, Dredge, and Plankton Net- to collect various organisms from the watervarious organisms from the water

• Two poles and 10 m of string to profile Two poles and 10 m of string to profile Cedar Island.Cedar Island.

Methods of Data CollectionMethods of Data Collection

YSI Probe

Dredge

Secchi Disk

Trawl

Sediment Collector

Methods of Data CollectionMethods of Data CollectionClick the box

This video shows the various methods that we used to collect data throughout the day.

Site 1- Inlet (General Site 1- Inlet (General Information)Information)

• Time- 9:35 amTime- 9:35 am• GPS Location- N 37GPS Location- N 37˚ 34.848˚ 34.848””

W 75W 75˚ ˚ 37.8137.81””• Geographic Description/Location- Inlet Geographic Description/Location- Inlet

between Paramore Island and Cedar between Paramore Island and Cedar IslandIsland

• Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full Full

Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Chemical Water Data)Chemical Water Data)

• Total Water Depth- 80 ftTotal Water Depth- 80 ft

• Photic Zone Depth- 1 m 3.5 cmPhotic Zone Depth- 1 m 3.5 cm

• Tidal Stage- High Tide, going inlandTidal Stage- High Tide, going inland

• Drift- 1.3 miles in 25 minutesDrift- 1.3 miles in 25 minutes

Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Chemical Water Data)Chemical Water Data)

Depth Temperature Salinity DO pH

0.0 m (surface)

25.2ºC 31.1 ppt 5.8 mg/l 8.5

2m 25.2 ºC 31.6 ppt 5.71 mg/l 8.2

Site 1- Inlet (Biological Data)Site 1- Inlet (Biological Data)

Plankton (drifters)Method of collection: Plankton Net

Neckton (swimmers)Method of collection: Trawl

Benthos (bottom-dwellers)Method of collection: Dredge

Clear, very tiny oval shape, can see a spine like structure inside, one red dot at the end

SnailsDead FishJelly Fish (no tentacles)

Conk Shell (Boosicomb)ClamsOyster shellsGobee (naked)Hermit Crab (Flat Clawed)KnobwelkGardiella (red)Olva (green)

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (General Information)(General Information)

• Time- 2:26 pmTime- 2:26 pm

• GPS Location- N 37º 35.35” W75º GPS Location- N 37º 35.35” W75º 37.80”37.80”

• Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full of Full

• Other- Tide is starting to fallOther- Tide is starting to fall

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Meteorological Data)(Meteorological Data)

• Wind Speed- wind speed has picked Wind Speed- wind speed has picked up from first siteup from first site

• Cloud Coverage- very cloudyCloud Coverage- very cloudy

• General Weather Conditions- General Weather Conditions- overcastovercast

• Relative Humidity- noneRelative Humidity- none

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)• Total Water Depth- 12 ftTotal Water Depth- 12 ft

• Photic Zone- 1 meterPhotic Zone- 1 meter

• Current Speed- 1 knotCurrent Speed- 1 knot

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)Depth Temperature Salinity DO pH

0.0 m (surface)

25.8ºC 32.6 ppt 6.69 mg/l 8.4

2 m 25.2º C 32.5 ppt 5.75 mg/l 8.3

3 m 25.9º C 32.5 ppt 5.77 mg/l ?

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Geological Data)(Geological Data)

• How was sediment collected? Ponar How was sediment collected? Ponar GrabGrab

• Color- gray, black, brownColor- gray, black, brown

• General Description of Texture- General Description of Texture- shelly bottomshelly bottom

• Compaction- hard shellsCompaction- hard shells

Site 2- Clubhouse Point Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Biological Data)(Biological Data)




Wide body, antennas, Wide body, antennas, transparent dark bodytransparent dark body

Body- nauplius? CalanoidBody- nauplius? Calanoid

One rod-likeOne rod-like

Sea porkComb jellySea weedBay anchovies

Conidium (dead man’s fingers)CrabOlva GrassilariaSea urchinsmollusks

Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (General Information)(General Information)


• GPS Location- N 37 º 36.472” GPS Location- N 37 º 36.472”

W 75 º 38.671” W 75 º 38.671”

• Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% full full

Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Meteorological Data)(Meteorological Data)

• Wind Speed- very windyWind Speed- very windy



Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)• Total Water Depth- 15 ftTotal Water Depth- 15 ft

• Photic Zone- 1.5 metersPhotic Zone- 1.5 meters

• Current Speed- 1 knottCurrent Speed- 1 knott

Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)Depth Temperature Salinit

yDO pH

0.0 m (surface)

25.6 ºC 32.9 ppt 92.0 mg/l 8.2

2 m 25.5 ºC 32.9 ppt 92.2 mg/l 7.9

3 m 25.6 ºC 32.9 ppt 91.8 mg/l ??

Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Geological Data)(Geological Data)


• Color- green, gray, blackColor- green, gray, black

• General Description of Texture- more General Description of Texture- more mud than shellsmud than shells

• Compaction- muddy, soupyCompaction- muddy, soupy

Site 3- Hummocks Channel Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Biological Data)(Biological Data)




Earthworm like figureEarthworm like figure

Looks like a centipedeLooks like a centipede

2 black “eyes”2 black “eyes”

Fins by its head, fin on topFins by its head, fin on top

Sectional bodySectional body

Red dotRed dot

Black lines perpendicular Black lines perpendicular to where spine would beto where spine would be

FishComb JellySea Lettuce

Sea PorkBaby Crab

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (General Information)(General Information)


• GPS Location- N 37º 37.648”GPS Location- N 37º 37.648”

W 75º 40.813” W 75º 40.813”

• Geographic Description/Location- Geographic Description/Location- mudflatmudflat

• Moon Phase- waxing Crescent 11% Moon Phase- waxing Crescent 11% full full

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Meteorological Data)(Meteorological Data)

• Wind Speed- windyWind Speed- windy

• Cloud Coverage- very cloudyCloud Coverage- very cloudy



• Surface Water Temperature- warmer Surface Water Temperature- warmer than at previous sitesthan at previous sites

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)• Total Water Depth- 5.2 ftTotal Water Depth- 5.2 ft

• Photic Zone Depth- 25 cmPhotic Zone Depth- 25 cm

• Current Speed- 0.4 knottsCurrent Speed- 0.4 knotts

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Physical and Chemical Water (Physical and Chemical Water

Data)Data)Depth Temperature Salinity DO pH

0.0 m (surface)

25.7 ºC 33.4 ppt 4.75 mg/l 8.0

.5 m 25.6 ºC 33.3 ppt 4.56 mg/l 7.9

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Geological Data)(Geological Data)


• Color- blackColor- black

• General Description of Texture- mudGeneral Description of Texture- mud

• Compaction- soft and soupyCompaction- soft and soupy

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Biological Data)(Biological Data)

Plankton (drifters)

Method of collection: Plankton Net



Some swim fast, some slowSome swim fast, some slow

Clear; dots, blackClear; dots, black

Gray/dark gray on topGray/dark gray on top

White perchBlue crabSpotBrief squidBlack sea bassShrimpPompano

Clams

Site Data SummarySite Data Summary

• At the beginning of the day, the tide was At the beginning of the day, the tide was coming in, and at the end of the day, it was coming in, and at the end of the day, it was going out. The tide coming in and going out going out. The tide coming in and going out can make a huge difference when collecting can make a huge difference when collecting marine animal samples and sediment marine animal samples and sediment samples. A flooding tide can bring marine samples. A flooding tide can bring marine life and sediments from the open ocean into life and sediments from the open ocean into an estuary, while an ebbing tide can drag an estuary, while an ebbing tide can drag these things right back into the ocean. these things right back into the ocean.


• The salinity of the water at the different sites The salinity of the water at the different sites was actually slightly higher at the end of the was actually slightly higher at the end of the day. The salinity of the estuary is actually day. The salinity of the estuary is actually higher than the salinity of the ocean because higher than the salinity of the ocean because the water is more concentrated and because the water is more concentrated and because it hadn’t rained in a while. it hadn’t rained in a while.

• The types of marine life we found from site to The types of marine life we found from site to site was very diverse. We found a large site was very diverse. We found a large amount of benthic organisms at sites 1 and 2, amount of benthic organisms at sites 1 and 2, while we found a lot of nektonic organisms at while we found a lot of nektonic organisms at site 4. site 4.


• The temperature of the water was The temperature of the water was actually pretty constant throughout actually pretty constant throughout the day from site to site. While there the day from site to site. While there was some slight changes, it was was some slight changes, it was never anything drastic. never anything drastic.

Site Data SummarySite Data SummarySurface Water Temperature

24.5

25

25.5

26

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4

Sites

Tem

pera

ture

(deg

rees c

elc

ius)

SW Temp

Salinity

293031323334

Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4

Sites

Salinity (ppt)

Salinity

What type of data would we find What type of data would we find at a deep marine site at 36at a deep marine site at 36˚̊N and N and

6060˚̊W?W?• The salinity at this site would The salinity at this site would

probably be lower than at probably be lower than at the sites where we tested, the sites where we tested, because we were testing in because we were testing in an estuary. Being in an an estuary. Being in an estuary, the salinity is estuary, the salinity is usually higher because the usually higher because the water is more concentrated.water is more concentrated.

• We would probably find We would probably find more nektonic organisms more nektonic organisms than anything else in more than anything else in more open water. open water.

• The water temperature The water temperature would probably be about the would probably be about the same, as water temperature same, as water temperature does not change as much as does not change as much as land or air temperature.land or air temperature.

Sea Surface Temperature

Sea Surface Salinity

Paramore Island vs. Cedar Paramore Island vs. Cedar IslandIsland

Paramore

Cedar

Paramore IslandParamore Island• Maritime ForestMaritime Forest• Marshy sideMarshy side• Parts of the island were very dried upParts of the island were very dried up• Both muddy ground and sandBoth muddy ground and sand• There was once a lake towards the center There was once a lake towards the center

of the island- has now dried upof the island- has now dried up• Italian Ridge (ancient dune)Italian Ridge (ancient dune)• Island shaped like a drum stickIsland shaped like a drum stick• A lot of vegetation, high grass, and bugsA lot of vegetation, high grass, and bugs• Very short shoreline, not flat (eroding Very short shoreline, not flat (eroding

further back every year)further back every year)

Cedar IslandCedar Island

• Smaller of the two barrier islandsSmaller of the two barrier islands

• Full of sand dunesFull of sand dunes

• Not much plant life (mostly dune grass and Not much plant life (mostly dune grass and sea grass, found in center of the island)sea grass, found in center of the island)

• Large number of shells on both the ocean Large number of shells on both the ocean side and inlet sideside and inlet side

• Many dead horseshoe crabsMany dead horseshoe crabs

• Very large, wide, and roundVery large, wide, and round

• Many birds (seagulls, pelicans)Many birds (seagulls, pelicans)

• Flat beachFlat beach

Cedar Island- ProfilingCedar Island- Profiling• While on Cedar Island, we profiled the While on Cedar Island, we profiled the

island from one side to the other. island from one side to the other.

• We did this by taking to large poles with a We did this by taking to large poles with a string tying the two together.string tying the two together.

• One person had one pole, and another One person had one pole, and another person had the other pole.person had the other pole.

• You would put one pole in the sand and the You would put one pole in the sand and the other person would move with the other other person would move with the other pole until there was a change in pole until there was a change in topography. topography.

• This was repeated across the entire beach.This was repeated across the entire beach.

Cedar Island ProfilingCedar Island ProfilingMeasurement Slope Direction Slope Measurement (cm) Distance measured (m)

1 increase 124 cm - 66 cm 3.25 m

2 increase 124 cm - 126 cm 4.75 m

3 increase 124 cm - 64 cm 5 m + 5 cm

4 decrease 124 cm - 110 cm 8.5 m

5 increase 110 cm - 124 cm 10 m

6 decrease 124 cm - 93.75 cm 4.5 m

7 increase 112 cm - 124 cm 6.667 m


9 decrease 129 cm - 124 cm 2.25 m

10 decrease 124 cm - 104 cm 2 m

11 increase 66 cm - 124 cm 2.75 m




15 constant 124 cm - 124 cm 10 m

16 decrease 124 cm- 104 cm 10 m



19 increase 94 cm - 124 cm 7.75 m







The MudflatThe Mudflat

Click the box

At the end of the day, we visited a mud flat to dig for worms. This video shows us digging for worms and shows a close up of one of the worms that was found.

The End!The End!

wachapreague, va field trip guide

Documents

chemical water datasite

hummocks channel physical

inlet physical

inlet biological datasite

inlet general informationtime

ftphotic zone depth

pmgps location n

metercurrent speed