This week is off to a fun start! Dr. David Garbary from St FX and Rob Cameron from Environment Canada came to the centre for a few days to help us collect and identify the algal species found on the protected land. We spent a day and a half learning how to identify the different algal species and press a collection. David also taught us a neat technique to monitor beach erosion over time. All it requires is a GPS and a notebook! Hopefully, future students can use this technique and continue to monitor the Sandy Bay beach erosion.
Abbie Hudson laying a transect line, necessary to determine the percent cover of an epiphytic algae growing on ascophyllum.
Last week we continued our work collecting and pressing a collection of land plants found on the protected land. We have over 26 species from the beach alone. It will likely take a few more full days to complete our collection. Our jellyfish surveying has also been going well, there are lots of washed up lion’s mane jellyfish on the beach. We will continue this survey until the end of the summer.
Sundew prepared to be pressed
Poppy Balser’s workshop at the centre last weekend was a blast! We had a great time with the participants who were all so keen and talented. We are looking forward to our next workshop this weekend – Chainsaw skills and safety – women only.
Group photo from the Plein air watercolour workshop with Poppy Balser
Wild Wednesday’s have been going very well, Abbie and I are pleased with the enthusiasm of all our participants so far. Last week the theme was tidal pools. We had several participants join, all with different backgrounds, from a retired marine biologist to a six-year-old. We found all kinds of neat animals in the tidal pools. Some of the big hits included: a crab carrying eggs, and a couple of sea anemones.
Wild Wednesday (Tidal pool) group walking to the tidal pools.
Best wishes and until next time,
Leah