Each day is filled with excitement and adventure, and Day 3 proved it! After a second lesson in concept mapping with Howard at the start of the day, participants ventured out on the Neeskay

to search for the last remaining zebra mussel in Lake Michigan with researchers Carmen Aguilar and Russell Cuhel. The vessel made a brief stop at GC 30 to collect water samples for chemical and biological analysis and Ponar grabs.

Educators learned to differentiate between a zebra mussel shell and quagga mussel shell while observing today’s sample.

They also did a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) to measure water parameters at various depths. Then the Neeskay moved to CG 20 to put in an ROV

to collect additional samples and video footage.


Samples were taken from the top surface of a rock as well as the side. Additional water samples were gathered using both the bucket and Niskin bottles. Water clarity also was measured using a Secchi Disc, and educators learned a fun method for relating this to the penetration of various wavelengths of light using M&Ms. This portion of the trip was expedited due to a storm rolling in. However, a last stop was made to take surface water samples before heading back to the harbor. Once back at the Great Lakes Water Institute (much to the relief of a few seasick passengers), educators worked with the samples to document data. Using calipers, they measured the length, width and height of living quagga mussels and searched for the possibility of a final zebra mussel. (It was not to be found!) Groups created morphometric and size distribution plots.



They also visited lab stations to observe zooplankton and witness demonstrations with living mussels and mussel shells.

After dinner, everyone boarded the bus to familiarize themselves with the Ocean Literacy Principles and to watch Paddle to the Sea. Tomorrow’s adventures will resume in Chicago. It was another great day on Lake Michigan!

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

Theresa Bills: I learned today that a zebra mussel’s length is twice its width and three times its thickness. We measured hundreds of them and graphed the results to discover this correlation. Now that’s cool science!

RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT

Barb LaMourea shares: Water on the Web is a website to explore. This website puts archived data from RUSS, an underwater system of testing equipment set at various areas of Minnesota. The site posts a lot of data and also excellent teacher curriculum with background information, as well as excellent student pages. I use this website to enhance my aquatic studies and I also assign homework from the student pages.