Today concluded the class room sessions!! Which means the Brittish Virgin Islands are a heart beat away. Today what was done in class included the discussion of two articles and than a presentation from each group over the different kinds of marine life.
The first article was over leaping blenny. Leaping blenny are a species of fish whose skins are very vascular which allows them to absorb oxygen. These fish also can travel on land by flapping their tail. This article lead to a discussion over the possibility that humans evolved from blenny. At first I thought it as a possibility because of how they can easily move on land. I changed my mind after Dr. Grunninger pointed out his idea that these fish can lead us closer to evolution but there is still to much missing information.
The next article was over the lion fish invasion. This was the second article discussed this week over lionfish. I think it will be helpful since we will work with these fish alot at BVI. The article was about lionfish being found in Long Island, North Carolina, and Georgia in 2002. At the time lionfish weren’t viewed as a threat, but until recent times they are becoming an invasive species.
Finally we ended the class room sessions with one more discussion over marine life, which involved bony fish, cartilaginous fish, sea turtles, marine mammals, and plants. Each group was assigned to research one of these topics and teach it to the class. My group was assigned bony fish, which are the common fish that you will see in oceans, lakes, and rivers. I was compelled by the sea turtle discussion, especially when I learned that an average of 1 out of 2000 sea turtles will live to be a full grown adult.
I know I will miss the classroom. Looking back to day 1 I know I have learned way more than I ever thought I ever would and have had fun doing so.
