The environmental sample processor (ESP)

ESP is an automated molecular biology laboratory that fits in a pressure housing. It can detect microbes and other tiny living organisms using their DNA. It can also detect other biologically important compounds such as toxins generated during harmful algal blooms. It is used by biomedical marine researchers

Plankton

Plankton are vital to the marine food web because they are the main producer, so without them all of the marine life would starve. Phytoplankton consist of diatoms and dinoflagellates while zooplankton consist if jelly fish, copepods, ostracod, and more. 

Christmas Tree Worm

Spirobranchus giganteus, feed using their radioles (hair-like appendages or feathers) to catch phytoplankton. Found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide. Shed their gametes into water where eggs and sperm become part of the zooplankton, carried by the currents. Come in colors of orange, yellow, blue and white. Small with an average of 3.8 cm in span, Retract into burrows when sensing danger. Their plumes are used for respiration. These are the most widely known sedentary polychaete worms

Sail Boat

We used two small gatorade bottles as our base, a plastic piece as out keel, a big popsicle stick stuck as our rudder, and a plastic bag as our sail. We designed it specifically to be able to hold the 20 marbles sufficiently. However, our times were bad because our keel and rudder were ineffective so our boat did not travel straight. 

Charles Darwin

Darwin sailed around the world discovering new plant and animal species. Proposed the theory of natural selection and evolution. He was an English naturalist, one of six children, and received a Royal Societies Royal medal for his work on barnacles. His father was a doctor and Darwin married his own cousin.

Tiger Shark

The tiger shark is scientifically known as Galeocerdo cuvier. Found in tropical or temperate waters, it is common around pacific islands. Females mate once every 3 years. The tiger shark is an apex predator and is known to eat anything. This is a near threatened species due to finning and fishing. Their jaw has adapted to be wide and powerful, their teeth are adapted to be as sharp as a serrated blade, and their eyes are adapted to be able to change to low light levels quickly. Known as the garbage can of the sea, Hawaiians thought they were sacred, and they live up to 50 years.

Marine Biomedicine

I would like to be a marine biomedicinal researcher. These people find cures for illness and disease through oceanic resources. New pharmaceutical companies are focusing on developing drugs from marine resources, so this field is in high demand. To find a cure for cancer through the natural resources of our ocean would be amazing. Also, i am just genuinely interested in a field that combines nature and medicine. This seems like a unique and fulfilling job for me.

Wanted Dead Not Alive

It is important to be aware of invasive plants in order to protect our local water bodies. Lewisville Lake is a very recreational lake, and if an invasive species contaminated the lake it would be nearly impossible to boat and all the fish would die. To prevent invasives, do not put aquarium plants into bodies of water and wash your boats when entering and re-entering different lakes.

Hawaiian monk seals

Monachus schauinslandi, the hawaiian monk seal, are an endangered species that reside in the Pacific Hawaiian oceans. They mate between December and August. Females reach maturity at age four and the fetus takes 9 months to develop. Prey on bony fish, cephalopoda, and crustaceans. Tiger and Galapagos sharks are both predators. Fishing and entanglement are main human threats to these animals. The monk seal is part of the Phocidae family. They shed their hair and outer skin layer in an annual molt. This is one of the two remaining monk seal species; the other being the mediterranean monk seal.

Bob Ballard

I did not know that 50% of our country lies beneath the sea, we have better maps of Mars, the ocean ridge covers 23% of the world, the rift valley is 9,000 feet deep, and there are actually active volcanoes beneath the sea. Bob Ballard thinks exploring the ocean is important so people can understand and appreciate its beauty, and that most of it is still undiscovered. He is trying to explain that we are too busy trying to crack the mysteries of outer space that we don't realize we still haven't discovered everything our oceans have to offer.

Dragonfly

The dragonfly is scientifically called Odonata. It resides in every continent except antarctica and is found in freshwater ecosystems. They lay eggs in water which hatch into wingless naiads. They are a predator to mosquitos and aren't usually the prey, even as babies. Odonata have been around since the dinosaurs, used to have meter long wingspans, and have special extending mouths. 

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (Naegleria fowleri)

This is a single-celled ameba. It goes through 3 morphic phases- Trophozoite, flagellate, and cyst. This ameba lives in warm freshwater and soil. It infects the brain and destroys brain tissue. It causes flu-like symptoms that then transform into more severe symptoms such as seizures and hallucinations. Treatment is unclear and this infection is always fatal. Although it is rare, you can prevent this disease by limiting water up your nose and staying away from dirty, neglected freshwater.

Dissolved Oxygen Demonstration

This demonstration included four bottles. We recorded the time, date, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, and pH of each bottle. We used special tools to record the dissolved oxygen. We also found that DO and temp are directly correlated to the environmental factors 

Dichotomous Key

dichotomous keys are important when trying to figure out what type of substance you are working with with what little information you are given

Algae Search

We found alot of clams during our search, which can be used to filter the water. 

we also found various forms of algae which can capture chemicals and prevent them from contaminating water supplies

Watershed

A watershed is an area of land that water flows across, through, or under on its way to a stream, river, lake or ocean. i live in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River watershed. The address is 12030103. They capture, store, and release water. Failed septic systems, pesticides, and toxic chemicals are some problems caused by people that affect watersheds. 

Lab Report

I. Purpose: to monitor a fresh water ecosystem over time and collect and interpret data. 

II. Materials: 

tank, water, rocks, water kits, bubbler, fish, nitrate, nitrite, thermometer, dechlorinator, paper towels, baggies, bacopia, gravel, fish food, filter, plants, fake plants, ammonia, net, filter, scrub brush, pitchers, tubberware

III. Procedure

1. clean tank & gravel

2. put gravel, plants, decor, & water in tank

3. test water

4. dechlorinate water

5. retest water

6. add fish

7. add bubblers

8. add filter

Freshwater Fish

Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) reproduce in the spring and the eggs are deposited into shallow water. Found in slow sluggish water in the Gulf of Mexico and southwestern rivers. Eat catfish and waterfowl and are seen as a freshwater predator. 300 pound gars have been found, they are not fished with hooks, and while they live in slow water, they spawn in running water.

Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle starts with fish consuming food. The fish then makes waste. Bacteria (Nitrosonoma) breaks down ammonia, and it turns into nitrite. The nitrite breaks down into nitrate (nitrobacteria), which is taken in by plants.

Algae Search Lab

My partner and I found snails, daphnia, dragonfly larvae, and seed shrimp. However, we added 5 snails and our fish ate 3 of them. So only two survived to help our tank environment. 

River Model

The river model has 4 different tubs with different "environments" and four pipeways between each one. We want to observe the patterns of which tubs the fish reside in. On Sept. 5 we had 23 of the 26 fish left due to pump death. In pool 3 there were 20 ghost shrimp and no minows, 2 brown minows in pool 2, and and orange & brown minow in pool 4. 

Temperature and Density

For this demonstration, there were 4 jars- two filled with cold (blue) water and two filled with warm (red) water. We placed 1 cold jar upside down over a warm jar, and the other warm jar upside down over the other cold jar. When the warm was over the cold, the water stayed in place. But when the cold was over the warm, the water mixed. This is because warm water rises and cold water sinks.

Water Issue

My water issue is "How do prescription drugs affect our drinking water and lake organisms?" I chose this issue because I have always heard rumors that school water contains ADD and ADHD medication because of students who flush it down the toilet, and I would like to determine fact vs fiction. It also interests me that the prescription drugs can physically alter the anatomy of fish species. 

Alkalinity and Water

My water property is alkalinity and water and alkalinity basically means water with a pH higher than 7. It's a measure of the capacity of water to neutralize acids which also helps figure out how "buffered" the water is against any changes in pH. For our demonstration, Garrett and I filled two beakers with water, one with Grapevine Lake water and the other with tap water. We used to pH strips to test which solution had more alkalinity. The Lake water read over an 8 on the pH scale while the tap water read a steady 7. This was due to the fact that the lake receives calcium carbonate from nearby limestone deposits. Calcium carbonate is the most notorious compound causing alkalinity. We learned that it is important to aquatic ecosystems to contain alkaline because it balances the pH in areas with acid rain and protects aquatic life against sudden changes in pH. 

About Me

My name is Stephanie Huffstutler and I was born on February 16, 1996 in Morristown, New Jersey. I work part time as a hostess at Patrizio in the Highland Village shopping center. I plan on attending NCTC my first year to save money so I can also maintain a job. I enjoy long boarding and going to the gym in my spare time. I have an older brother who is a volunteer firefighter and a younger sister who is a junior at Marcus. I have yet to discover what career path I want to follow but I do know for sure I will only settle for something that will make me happy.