Abstract:   The experiment was performed on Terminal Island in Long Beach, California. There samples of ocean water were taken on the both the dock and on the boat to test for different water properties. In order to test for these properties a Nansen bottle was used to retrieve the ocean water on the dock. A pH kit, a salinity kit, a density kit, and the SEABIRD was used to collect data off the boat. The type of data collected was temperature, density, dissolved oxygen, pH, and salinity. The tests were observed to see if these water properties changed (increased or decreased) over time or at different depths. The temperature stayed basically the same at 1 meter and 6 meters, as well as in December and April it stayed around 15 degrees Celsius. Density stayed basically the same around 24 sigma-t through both depths and times. The dissolved oxygen stayed between 6 and 7 mg/l in both depths and times. The pH stayed basically the same between both depths, however, it decreased from 8 to 6/7. Salinity basically stayed the same at 33 ppt at both depths and times.

Abstract:   The experiment was performed on Terminal Island in Long Beach, California. There samples of ocean water were taken on the both the dock and on the boat to test for different water properties. In order to test for these properties a Nansen bottle was used to retrieve the ocean water on the dock. A pH kit, a salinity kit, a density kit, and the SEABIRD was used to collect data off the boat. The type of data collected was temperature, density, dissolved oxygen, pH, and salinity. The tests were observed to see if these water properties changed (increased or decreased) over time or at different depths. The temperature stayed basically the same at 1 meter and 6 meters, as well as in December and April it stayed around 15 degrees Celsius. Density stayed basically the same around 24 sigma-t through both depths and times. The dissolved oxygen stayed between 6 and 7 mg/l in both depths and times. The pH stayed basically the same between both depths, however, it decreased from 8 to 6/7. Salinity basically stayed the same at 33 ppt at both depths and times.

Abstract: In an attempt to discover the current pollution conditions in the San Pedro Harbor, we compared the results with those in the open ocean.  We tested the harbor’s and ocean’s water and mud samples for the following pollutants: ammonia nitrogen, pH, Chromium, Copper, Phosphorus, Silica, and Sulfide.

Equipment: mud grabber, chemistry kit to examine pollutants, flasks, filters, mortar and pestle, and distilled water.

Type of Data Collected:  Mud sample: pH          Dock=5.4    Outer Harbor=7.4      Open Ocean=7.8

Abstract: In our MSE investigation, we set out to determine whether or not plankton has an effect on the visibility of water.  We performed the plankton mass experiment using a plankton net, and we also took a secchi disk reading.  We figured out how much plankton per milliliter was present and what the secchi disk reading was both on shore and off shore in spring and winter.  Through analyzing the data we collected, we determined that plankton does effect the visibility of plankton in water.  In the winter, much of the plankton doesn’t appear at the surface due to the cold waters, however, in the spring, much more plankton appeared since the surface waters were a little warmer.

Abstract:  We set out to see if the population of flatfish has a relation to water conditions. However, we changed our original plan and decided to see how the population changed between winter and spring and how water conditions change as well. We collected seabird data, both in the harbor and outside of the harbor in both December and April. We also calculated the percentage of flatfish collected in two different bottom otter trawls. Our data included a fish count and the water conditions in San Pedro Harbor. From December to April,  we found that the population increased, and that all of the water conditions changed, except for temperature, which increased towards the surface, but decreased toward the bottom.

Abstract:  In carrying out this lab, we intended to find a reason or a stimulant for the drastic change in population of the California Spiny Lobsters in the winter and spring months in Southern California.  The methods used to investigate this topic included taking data from water samples and Otter Trawls inside and outside the Long Beach Harbor once in December to collect data for winter and once in APril to collect data for the Spring.  The water quality data we collected was from the Seabird and included: temperature, density, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH of the water at several depths.  The data from the Otter Trawls were simply a tally of what organisms were present and how many.  The results of the entire investigation fed follows:  The Otter Trawl yielded a total of 13 lobsters in the winter season and about 6 lobsters in the spring season.  The number decreased by half.  The changes in water quality between the winter and spring were primarily evident in the higher water temperature for the spring.  Also, the pH had evident changes.  The winter pH was more basic around 8 while the spring pH was around neutral, 7.  So the lobster population most likely prefers the conditions present in the winter.  

Abstract:  Our team set out to discover the amount of plankton present as the seasons change. The equipment we used included plankton nets, a light compound and live sample microscope, wet slides, jars, a pipette, writing utensils, a plankton guide, and a camera. The type of data that we collected was plankton.  On the first MSE cruise in December of 2003, a total of 11 types of plankton were recorded, and on the second MSE cruise in April of 2004, a total of 18 types of plankton were found. Therefore, we can conclude that more diverse types of plankton are present in spring.

Abstract: Contained in this portfolio is a specific analysis of random organisms pulled out of the Pacific Ocean at two different time periods.  In this experiment, our team set out to investigate how certain marine organisms protect themselves against predators in their everyday life.  In order to accomplish this in-depth analysis, certain items were required.  An otter trawl was used to pull the organisms out of the ocean to be analyzed.  A camera was used to photograph the defense mechanisms of each organism for easy comparison.  A computer was also used for further analysis of any particular organism. The data we collected consisted of three sets of organisms, with each set representing a different time the otter trawl was let down.  This allowed us to compare the organisms collected at different times.  Our results were quite interesting and very surprising.  We collected a total of 24 different organisms from the three collections.