Observing Algae

On Monday, February 14 we went out again to find some algae. While looking for algae the birds were chirping, seagulls flying and the ducks were swimming. As we were going to different locations the color of each of the algae were different. Some were green, dark-green and brown. All the lighter algae was in the little stream on the rocks under the water. The darker algae was in the lake on the edges where the plants were growing. (Images uploaded from KW (http://marineecologykw.blogspot.com/2011/02/algae-observations.html))

Plankton Observation

Phytoplankton are free floaters unattached plants, usually microscopic. These plankton do exactly what what plants on land do, they create oxygen. Phytoplankton also make the water their in a green color, they are the base of the food chain in the ocean. I saw diatoms, little square single-celled, yellow green plankton. The sand we saw underneath the microscope, star sand is another type of plankton that dried up and its skeleton makes the soft sand on the beach. Also the star sand is micro because it's so tiny that it's easier to see under a microscope. Diatoms also create a long rectangular shape to keep the floating instead of sinking. Dinoflagelates use small hairs to move around, we saw one of these under the microscope, we saw a worm. Bacteria use flagella to move them around also.

Day 3, February 3

first site, at the creek, was damp, muddy, cold, and had little signs of life. the muddiest parts of the site 1 were all near the rdge of it. even though it was cold it was still a little damp out. holes in the ground shows there mayby signs of life like a snake, snail, or some kind of bug.another piece of life that was there were crows flying around and sitting in trees. ALso we herd the crows cowing away while they sat in the trees. I felt the grass and they were a bit wet from the dampness in the air.SITE 2: Site two was just the same as 1 by being cold damp and muddy but diffrence is that it was the pond. There were a couple ducks or geese swiming around on the opposite side from where we were standing. Holes in the ground near pond aswell, and cattails. Sounds we herd here were the ducks and the pond water. SITE 3: Site 3 at the trail next to the lake was really muddy. Everywhere you steped there was mud. The trail was also where the wind blew a little harder making some people freeze. I felt the mud slip as i walked on or over it. I've also herd the wind blowing along with the crows. felt cold air on my face and hands.SITE 4: Site 4 was outside the school door by two or three trees. The cold air wasn't so cold and there were crows there too.

Obserservation site 4

birds in the distance that were mainly crows and tiny birds. cold air all over the place all mainly from the wind blowing. Sunny and in the spots where the sunlight hit were warm. Windy, wind blowing hard making it cold.

Obserservation site 3

Dip in the land allows little wind to hit you. Frost site on the ground from the freezing air.There are little sounds only ones were birds. The sun shinning making it a bit warmer.

Obserservation site 2

leaves are damp of moister in the air. Little trees allowing the sun to shine to the smaller plants. Dead trees tiped over from rotting. Frost on the leaves makes them crunch when stepped on. Shadows appear from small amounts of trees.

Observation site 1

Air is cold, freezing when wind blows. Shady from the shadows of the trees.  The lake is frozen due to the temperature. Frost on the ground makes leaves slick, and mud is slippery. Crows and smaller birds flying around, briers sticking to peoples' clothing.