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Every
year a group of students come onboard as part of Emerson
College’s marine biology course led by Alan Lee Hankin.
Alan has been involved with the Ernestina and brings
energy and great science onboard every year.
The professor for this year’s
class, Marianne Farrington, is also onboard, and
between the two of them bring a wealth of knowledge to the
students. Fifteen
students came onboard between Thursday night and Friday
morning with a couple late arrivals.
With a 0630 wake up we were able to get through the
station bill and get off the dock by 1000.
We set the four lower sails and headed south towards
Rhode Island with a good breeze on our stern. Student got oriented with the boat and prepared for the
afternoon’s science station.
As we tacked up the Sakonnet River, A watch prepped the
Otter Trawl, and we got ready to deploy our gear.
Our goal was to do an Otter Trawl, two plankton tows (phyto
and zoo), and a water chemistry station all in the same area. At
1630 we put our gear over the side.
We had a tremendous tow with spider crabs, a baby
flounder, skates, a worm, and much more.
Our plankton nets got a great selection of phyto and
zoo plankton. After
our station wrapped up, we struck the sails and let go the
anchor. We furled
the sails, and finished our water chemistry station just in
time for a fantastic dinner of salmon, beef, veggies, salad,
fresh bread, and apple crisp!
Program
Coordinator: Gretchen Stuppy
Captain:
Doug Nemeth
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