Animal Cell 09.25

Paupau Beach 09.15.07

This was my first time in a long time to visit Paupau Beach. It's really far but really pretty too. There were a lot of people there, considering it was a weekend. Long story short, we didn't go snorkeling. Actually, I think no one did. But we had LUNCH =D Well, adjacent to the pavillion, it was evident that runoff had occurred. It was pretty bad, too. What made things worse was the trash and other miscellaneous materials present in that ditch. Furthermore, there was quite a lot. What made things worse was that it seemed like it was there for a while already. The cans, the plastic rings, the trash in general, were all over the place. If it rained really hard, all of the debris would go into the ocean...and that means........uh oh for nemo. The waters would be infected and the materials could infect the habitats they reside in. Now ladies and gentlemen, I think that it's pretty obvious now that we should and need to learn how to dispose our trash properly. & if possible, recycle! :)

Currents 09.13.07

1. Explain how currents contribute to the distribution of marine organisms around the planet.
2. The primary factor influencing ocean currents is temperature regulation. What might happen to the ocean currents (and has happened in the past) as global warming increases?
3. Explain how density changes cause currents.

Endangered Species 09.06.07

Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas

*one of seven species of sea turtles found throughout the world.

Habitat: world wide in warm seas; along the coasts of Hawai`i, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), unincorporated U.S. island possessions, and a small resident group in San Diego Bay, California.
They occupy three habitat types: open beaches, open sea, and feeding grounds in shallow, protected waters.

Reasons for endangerment:
-overharvest of turtles and its eggs
-habitat loss
-capture in fishing nets
-boat collisions
-fibropapillomatosis [disease]

Mt. Laulau Hike 09.08.07

Phew. Hiking up to Mt. Laulau was quite an experience. Prior to our journey up the mountain, I have never heard about any other mountain on Saipan except for Mt. Tapochao. The only thing that came to mind was the beach & the golf resort.

Upon arriving at Kagman, or the bottom of the mountain rather, I had no idea about what to expect. We began our journey with our Marine Biology instructor as well as Angelo, our guide. Hiking up that first hill was pretty shocking. I had not gone walking in a while & was required to walk UP this time. We continued on, going through tangantangan and trees of many sorts. We took breaks every so often and learned about the problems Mt. Laulau has been facing. Angelo told us of how this land was used. Many people burned the trees and bushes down, thus causing a negative effect on the soil. With dry soil, rain water could not be absorbed and plants could not thrive. Whenever it rained, the water immediately trailed down the mountain and into the ocean, dragging whatever was in its path. The plants's roots could no longer hold onto the soil and allow the rain water to slowly drift down the mountain. However, Angelo and a group of other people tried to fix this issue by planting trees and plants all over Mt. Laulau. We also learned about how important it is to be careful with how we treat our environment. The golf course keeps its grass green by utilizing fertilizer. Although it is appealing to the eye, it poses a threat when it reaches the ocean. It allows the algae to grow excessively, which restricts coral formation and growth.

Our hike up Mt. Laulau was extremely tiring. I got scratches on my legs and arms and hurt my ankle too. But I gained so much from this trip. I learned about how our environment is constantly fighting against those who do not treat it well. It's good to hear that there are many people on island who volunteer their time to help with the damages other people have done.

The Shape of Life 09.08.07

The Shape of Life

Episode I


What organism is thought to be the first multi-cellular animal?
The ancient sponge is thought to be the first multi-cellular animal.

How is it the same & different from animals today?
Animals today are much more diverse than sponges. They survive through caring for themselves and finding mates to reproduce. Their means of getting food usually involve moving around and searching for it. They engage in competitions between their own kind as well as other creatures living in that habitat. Sponges are much more difficult to spot. They don't have a particular type of body that distinguishes themselves from other living things. The way they get food does not involve hunting or searching for it. They do not move from place to place in order to seek a better habitat; they adapt to their environment.

How do scientists know it’s an animal?
Scientists can identify animals by its physical appearance and lifestyle.

What evidence do scientists have to prove that other animals evolved from this organism?
They've identified the genes in multi-cellular animals and compared it to that of the sponge. Every multi-cellular animal contained the same blueprint as that of the sponge's.

What more do you want to know?
I want to gain more knowledge concerning the life of a sponge and comprehend it's ways of surviving in the depths of the ocean.

Obyan Beach 09.03.07

Labor Day Monday
Obyan Beach

i SPiED...

Dwarf-spotted grouper, Epinephelus merra

Bleeker’s parrotfish, Scarus bleekeri

Sohal surgeonfish, Acanthurus sohal

Bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis

Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus

Banded pipefish, Corythoichthys intestinalis

Gold-lined sea bream, Gnathodentex aurolineatus

Orangespine unicornfish, Naso lituratus

Thicklip trevally, Carangoides orthogrammus

Convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus


**While snorkeling, we found a sea cucumber that looks like a loaf of bread! :) I did not find it's scientific name in our Coral Reef Field Guide.