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.