Wachapreague, VA Field Trip Guide By: Jessica DeLosa

Getting Started… When: September (all data collected on 9/14) When: September (all data collected on 9/14) Where: Wachapreague, VA Where: Wachapreague, VA What: Our class collected data for various aspects of the marine environment from several sites, such as What: Our class collected data for various aspects of the marine environment from several sites, such as –Temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc –Types of marine life –Water depth

Where is Wachapreague?

Methods of Data Collection… We went out on two boats early in the morning (at high tide) We went out on two boats early in the morning (at high tide) We went to several sites, and at each site used several instruments to collect data We went to several sites, and at each site used several instruments to collect data YSI Probe- measured temperature of the water, salinity of the water, and dissolved oxygen YSI Probe- measured temperature of the water, salinity of the water, and dissolved oxygen Secchi Disk- measured the turbidity of the water and how deep the photic zone was Secchi Disk- measured the turbidity of the water and how deep the photic zone was Trawl, Dredge, and Plankton Net- to collect various organisms from the water Trawl, Dredge, and Plankton Net- to collect various organisms from the water Two poles and 10 m of string to profile Cedar Island. Two poles and 10 m of string to profile Cedar Island.

Methods of Data Collection YSI Probe Dredge Secchi Disk Trawl Sediment Collector

Methods of Data Collection Click the box This video shows the various methods that we used to collect data throughout the day.

Site 1- Inlet (General Information) Time- 9:35 am Time- 9:35 am GPS Location- N 37 ˚ ” GPS Location- N 37 ˚ ” W 75 ˚ 37.81” W 75 ˚ 37.81” Geographic Description/Location- Inlet between Paramore Island and Cedar Island Geographic Description/Location- Inlet between Paramore Island and Cedar Island Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full

Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Chemical Water Data) Total Water Depth- 80 ft Total Water Depth- 80 ft Photic Zone Depth- 1 m 3.5 cm Photic Zone Depth- 1 m 3.5 cm Tidal Stage- High Tide, going inland Tidal Stage- High Tide, going inland Drift- 1.3 miles in 25 minutes Drift- 1.3 miles in 25 minutes

Site 1- Inlet (Physical and Chemical Water Data) DepthTemperatureSalinityDOpH 0.0 m (surface) 25.2ºC31.1 ppt5.8 mg/l8.5 2m25.2 ºC31.6 ppt5.71 mg/l8.2

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 Snails Dead Fish Jelly Fish (no tentacles) Conk Shell (Boosicomb) Clams Oyster shells Gobee (naked) Hermit Crab (Flat Clawed) Knobwelk Gardiella (red) Olva (green)

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (General Information) Time- 2:26 pm Time- 2:26 pm GPS Location- N 37º 35.35” W75º 37.80” GPS Location- N 37º 35.35” W75º 37.80” Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% of Full Other- Tide is starting to fall Other- Tide is starting to fall

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Meteorological Data) Wind Speed- wind speed has picked up from first site Wind Speed- wind speed has picked up from first site Cloud Coverage- very cloudy Cloud Coverage- very cloudy General Weather Conditions- overcast General Weather Conditions- overcast Relative Humidity- none Relative Humidity- none

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Physical and Chemical Water Data) Total Water Depth- 12 ft Total Water Depth- 12 ft Photic Zone- 1 meter Photic Zone- 1 meter Current Speed- 1 knot Current Speed- 1 knot

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Physical and Chemical Water Data) DepthTemperatureSalinityDOpH 0.0 m (surface) 25.8ºC32.6 ppt6.69 mg/l8.4 2 m25.2º C32.5 ppt5.75 mg/l8.3 3 m25.9º C32.5 ppt5.77 mg/l?

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Geological Data) How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab Color- gray, black, brown Color- gray, black, brown General Description of Texture- shelly bottom General Description of Texture- shelly bottom Compaction- hard shells Compaction- hard shells

Site 2- Clubhouse Point (Biological Data) Plankton (drifters) Method of collection: Plankton Net Neckton (swimmers) Method of collection: Trawl Benthos (bottom- dwellers) Method of collection: Dredge Wide body, antennas, transparent dark body Body- nauplius? Calanoid One rod-like Sea pork Comb jelly Sea weed Bay anchovies Conidium (dead man’s fingers) Crab Olva Grassilaria Sea urchins mollusks

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (General Information) Time- 3:15 pm Time- 3:15 pm GPS Location- N 37 º ” GPS Location- N 37 º ” W 75 º ” W 75 º ” Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% full Moon Phase- Waxing Crescent 11% full

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Meteorological Data) Wind Speed- very windy Wind Speed- very windy General Weather Conditions- overcast General Weather Conditions- overcast Relative Humidity- none Relative Humidity- none

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Physical and Chemical Water Data) Total Water Depth- 15 ft Total Water Depth- 15 ft Photic Zone- 1.5 meters Photic Zone- 1.5 meters Current Speed- 1 knott Current Speed- 1 knott

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Physical and Chemical Water Data) DepthTemperatureSalinit y DOpH 0.0 m (surface) 25.6 ºC32.9 ppt92.0 mg/l8.2 2 m25.5 ºC32.9 ppt92.2 mg/l7.9 3 m25.6 ºC32.9 ppt91.8 mg/l?

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Geological Data) How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab Color- green, gray, black Color- green, gray, black General Description of Texture- more mud than shells General Description of Texture- more mud than shells Compaction- muddy, soupy Compaction- muddy, soupy

Site 3- Hummocks Channel (Biological Data) Plankton (drifters) Method of collection: Plankton Net Neckton (swimmers) Method of collection: Trawl Benthos (bottom- dwellers) Method of collection: Dredge Earthworm like figure Looks like a centipede 2 black “eyes” Fins by its head, fin on top Sectional body Red dot Black lines perpendicular to where spine would be Fish Comb Jelly Sea Lettuce Sea Pork Baby Crab

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (General Information) Time- 3:44 pm Time- 3:44 pm GPS Location- N 37º ” GPS Location- N 37º ” W 75º ” W 75º ” Geographic Description/Location- mudflat Geographic Description/Location- mudflat Moon Phase- waxing Crescent 11% full Moon Phase- waxing Crescent 11% full

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Meteorological Data) Wind Speed- windy Wind Speed- windy Cloud Coverage- very cloudy Cloud Coverage- very cloudy General Weather Conditions- overcast General Weather Conditions- overcast Relative Humidity- none Relative Humidity- none Surface Water Temperature- warmer than at previous sites Surface Water Temperature- warmer than at previous sites

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Physical and Chemical Water Data) Total Water Depth- 5.2 ft Total Water Depth- 5.2 ft Photic Zone Depth- 25 cm Photic Zone Depth- 25 cm Current Speed- 0.4 knotts Current Speed- 0.4 knotts

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Physical and Chemical Water Data) DepthTemperatureSalinityDOpH 0.0 m (surface) 25.7 ºC33.4 ppt4.75 mg/l8.0.5 m25.6 ºC33.3 ppt4.56 mg/l7.9

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Geological Data) How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab How was sediment collected? Ponar Grab Color- black Color- black General Description of Texture- mud General Description of Texture- mud Compaction- soft and soupy Compaction- soft and soupy

Site 4- Nicawampus Creek (Biological Data) Plankton (drifters) Method of collection: Plankton Net Neckton (swimmers) Method of collection: Trawl Benthos (bottom- dwellers) Method of collection: Dredge Some swim fast, some slow Clear; dots, black Gray/dark gray on top White perch Blue crab Spot Brief squid Black sea bass Shrimp Pompano Clams

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

Site Data Summary The salinity of the water at the different sites was actually slightly higher at the end of the day. The salinity of the estuary is actually higher than the salinity of the ocean because the water is more concentrated and because it hadn’t rained in a while. The salinity of the water at the different sites was actually slightly higher at the end of the day. The salinity of the estuary is actually higher than the salinity of the ocean because the water is more concentrated and because it hadn’t rained in a while. The types of marine life we found from site to site was very diverse. We found a large amount of benthic organisms at sites 1 and 2, while we found a lot of nektonic organisms at site 4. The types of marine life we found from site to site was very diverse. We found a large amount of benthic organisms at sites 1 and 2, while we found a lot of nektonic organisms at site 4.

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

Site Data Summary

What type of data would we find at a deep marine site at 36 ˚ N and 60 ˚ W? The salinity at this site would probably be lower than at the sites where we tested, because we were testing in an estuary. Being in an estuary, the salinity is usually higher because the water is more concentrated. The salinity at this site would probably be lower than at the sites where we tested, because we were testing in an estuary. Being in an estuary, the salinity is usually higher because the water is more concentrated. We would probably find more nektonic organisms than anything else in more open water. We would probably find more nektonic organisms than anything else in more open water. The water temperature would probably be about the same, as water temperature does not change as much as land or air temperature. The water temperature would probably be about the same, as water temperature does not change as much as land or air temperature. Sea Surface Temperature Sea Surface Salinity

Paramore Island vs. Cedar Island Paramore Cedar

Paramore Island Maritime Forest Maritime Forest Marshy side Marshy side Parts of the island were very dried up Parts of the island were very dried up Both muddy ground and sand Both muddy ground and sand There was once a lake towards the center of the island- has now dried up There was once a lake towards the center of the island- has now dried up Italian Ridge (ancient dune) Italian Ridge (ancient dune) Island shaped like a drum stick Island shaped like a drum stick A lot of vegetation, high grass, and bugs A lot of vegetation, high grass, and bugs Very short shoreline, not flat (eroding further back every year) Very short shoreline, not flat (eroding further back every year)

Cedar Island Smaller of the two barrier islands Smaller of the two barrier islands Full of sand dunes Full of sand dunes Not much plant life (mostly dune grass and sea grass, found in center of the island) Not much plant life (mostly dune grass and sea grass, found in center of the island) Large number of shells on both the ocean side and inlet side Large number of shells on both the ocean side and inlet side Many dead horseshoe crabs Many dead horseshoe crabs Very large, wide, and round Very large, wide, and round Many birds (seagulls, pelicans) Many birds (seagulls, pelicans) Flat beach Flat beach

Cedar Island- Profiling While on Cedar Island, we profiled the island from one side to the other. While on Cedar Island, we profiled the island from one side to the other. We did this by taking to large poles with a string tying the two together. We did this by taking to large poles with a string tying the two together. One person had one pole, and another person had the other pole. One person had one pole, and another person had the other pole. You would put one pole in the sand and the other person would move with the other pole until there was a change in topography. You would put one pole in the sand and the other person would move with the other pole until there was a change in topography. This was repeated across the entire beach. This was repeated across the entire beach.

Cedar Island Profiling MeasurementSlope DirectionSlope Measurement (cm)Distance measured (m) 1increase124 cm - 66 cm3.25 m 2increase124 cm cm4.75 m 3increase124 cm - 64 cm5 m + 5 cm 4decrease124 cm cm8.5 m 5increase110 cm cm10 m 6decrease124 cm cm4.5 m 7increase112 cm cm6.667 m 8increase124 cm cm7 m 9decrease129 cm cm2.25 m 10decrease124 cm cm2 m 11increase66 cm cm2.75 m 12decrease124 cm cm10 m 13decrease142 cm cm10 m 14decrease124 cm cm10 m 15constant124 cm cm10 m 16decrease124 cm- 104 cm10 m 17decrease142 cm cm10 m 18decrease124 cm cm10 m 19increase94 cm cm7.75 m 20decrease124 cm cm10 m 21increase92 cm cm10 m 22increase124 cm cm10 m 23decrease142 cm cm10 m 24increase124 cm cm10 m 25decrease40 cm cm10 m

The 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!