Programs Blog
Feeling Salty in the Marsh
Pre-College Marine Biology
August 10, 2026
Amazing A Cottage
Good Evening from A cottage!
Today the Pre-College Marine Biology group took our first field trip to Little Sippewissett Marsh to practice collecting data out in the fields. After a quick guest lecture by Hillary L. Sullivan Ph.D from Woodwell Climate Research Center (our next door neighbors) it was marsh time.
We learned how to identify different types of grasses and algae, as well as how to use a quadrat, water quality tester, and how to pull your foot out of knee deep mud! There were lots of crab burrows, small fish, and mussels. It was overall a great learning experience for when we go back out later this week.
Following our excursion, we sat down for a lecture on Pelagic Ocean Ecosystems with one of our professors, Dr. Kayla Gardener. She taught us about the different zones in the ocean, focusing mostly on the Twilight Zone (also called the Disphotic Zone) which is her specialty. We also got the opportunity to see pieces of her thesis presentation, which included information on isotopes in the ocean, gut metabarcoding, and a great analogy of how she was able to trace organisms’ original end member by using a PCA table with skittles. Additionally, groups picked an animal of their choice and did a mini research project. We did the flying fish!
We are ending the day with loaded baked potatoes, as well as a craft and movie after dinner. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Clara Buller and Julia Davis
Quadrat Selfie!
Creature Feature!
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Programs
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- Ocean Exploration
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- Climate and Society
- Climate Change and Coastal Resilience
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- Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
- MBL
- Ocean Exploration: Plastics
- Ocean Policy: Marine Protected Areas
- Oceans and Climate
- Pacific Reef Expedition
- Plastics and Biodiversity in the Sargasso Sea
- The Global Ocean: Hawai'i
- The Global Ocean: New Zealand
- The History of Whaling & Whale Conservation