Students research plankton in the sound
May 1, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Mount Si High School geology students awakened to the cawing of seagulls and the rocking of the waves on a 61-foot sailboat April 18-20. The 23-member crew had traveled from Anacortes to Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island and was ready to sail by several more San Juan Islands, before returning to the Snoqualmie Valley.
This was the third time science teacher Jana Mabry’s class had sailed the waters of Puget Sound. Working with Salish Sea Expeditions, students designed an experiment and worked through the scientific process, before reaching a conclusion about aquatic life.
Jenny McColloch, education director of Salish Sea Expeditions, called the program student-choice oriented. The students design their experiment, interpret the data, cook their own meals and learn how to sail the boat.
Mount Si students John Brulotte (left), Ryan Oswald, Melissa Webster and Kristina Johnson research plankton with a Salish Sea Expedition crewmember.
The Mount Si students decided to test the levels of phytoplankton, zooplankton and oxygen at different depths for their experiment. First, they learned about the relationship between the three: phytoplankton undergo photosynthesis to create oxygen. The zooplankton breathe the oxygen and also eat the phytoplankton.
Using a Niskin bottle, students collected water samples at two feet and eight feet below the surface. They found that there were more phytoplankton on sunny days. They also observed there were more phytoplankton closer to the surface and more zooplankton further down.
Senior Hannah Hayes said it was important to study plankton because they were “the base of the food chain,” meaning that if the plankton were experiencing problems, the entire food chain could be thrown off balance.
“It shows evidence about the health of Puget Sound,” senior Ryan Oswald said.
After emptying their Niskin bottles, students examined their samples under microscopes and recorded their observations, especially when an unexpected creature surfaced in their samples.
“We found a jellyfish inside a phytoplankton sample while doing the scientific portion,” wrote seniors Sarah Williamson and Hannah Gogan in the boat’s log. The girls noted seeing sea lions, otters, seals and birds from the Carlyn, as well.
When the students were not conducting experiments, they were learning how to sail the boat.
“Over the course of three days, everyone learned to set the sails,” Mabry said. “Everyone learned to tie the knots, everyone learned how to scrub the deck.”
On the third day, the crew gave students nautical coordinates, asking them to sail the boat and collect water samples, all without the help of the adult crew. Students had to select leaders to bark out orders and ask others to carry out the experiment.
“To be able to operate a boat of that size requires a lot of teamwork and cooperation,” McColloch said. “They took to learning the boat quickly. They only had a three-day trip, but at the end, the staff felt comfortable handing the boat over to them.”
Senior Elena Larson said she went sailing with a friend once before, but the Salish Sea Expedition staff gave her the skills, confidence and responsibility to sail the boat.
“I learned that using a sailboat is a lot harder than it looks,” senior Kristina Johnson said. “It takes a lot of strength in your upper body.”
In addition to receiving grants from the Mount Si High School PTSA and the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation, students fundraised for months before they had $7,500 in the bank for the trip. Although fundraising is an obstacle, attendance is an even bigger one.
Mabry was unable to take the fieldtrip for two years in a row because her class attendance was too small. This year, she boosted attendance by inviting Mount Si math teacher Tracy Petroske, and student siblings and parent chaperones along on the trip.
Petroske and Mabry noted that Mount Si’s science program prepared students for the three-day expedition.
“I think the kids learned a lot about the scientific process,” Petroske said. “They had to develop their hypothesis, the procedure and execute it.”
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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