SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS

SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL, LINCOLN HEIGHTS, CA, 2002
GROUP 1 Camille Lopez Jessica Alarcon Tayra Aparicio	Group #1 is interested if excessive nutrients are coming into Long Beach via the L.A. River and if so does this have an effect on dinoflagellate (Gonyaulax polyedra) populations thus causing excessive blooms (red tides). Samples of plankton will be collected at the mouth of the river, in L.A. Harbor, and in White Point. Water samples will also be tested for nitrates, phosphates, and iron at all locations.
GROUP 2 Arlene Garcia Elizabeth Montes Karla Monreal Danielle Salazar	Group #2 intends to determine why the shovelnose guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) prefers to inhabit shallow waters. Why does it only feed in the harbor? Are population numbers of preferred food items such as crustaceans, worms and clams low in deeper water? But what about the competition for these food items in the harbor? Are there predators in the deep?
GROUP 3 Victoria Martinez Elisa Reynaga	Scientific literature suggests that the decline in heart urchins living in British waters may be due to slight changes in oxygen levels and temperature. Victoria and Elisa question whether the heart urchins off of the California coast could be in the same type of trouble. They ask- Why do the heart urchins live in only certain areas and why don’t they move to areas of higher oxygen concentration? On the Vantuna expedition they will attempt to take urchin counts, test for oxygen levels and take temperature readings in the harbor and in deeper water. They hope to see a correlation between urchin numbers and the variables that they are testing for. If not why are they living where they are?
GROUP 4 Natasha Ricard Rosa Torres Maricela Miranda	In Washington, D.C. white clams were in serious trouble because of predation by moon snails. The problem was so intense that the clams had to be covered with nets to protect them from disappearing. Group #4 believes that perhaps the introduction of bubble snails to the White Point area, off of the coast of San Pedro, Ca., has served to control moon snail populations, and therefore clam populations. This is the second year that this group will be taking moon snail, bubble snail, and white clam counts to determine if any of these populations are in trouble. Last years counts supported their hypothesis--we are hoping for the same in 2002!
GROUP 5 Judy Encerrado Adriana Hernandez	This is year number 2 that these researchers are searching and hoping that they do not find any “killer algae” (Caulerpa taxifolia) off of the L.A. coast. Since last year they have read that the University of Florida has found a type of snail that eats killer algae and is resistant to its poison. This concerns Group #5 because what happens when all of the killer algae is killed off- would there be a massive death of snails? What would this explosive decomposition of snails do to the oceans? They are hoping to mimic this biological control in the laboratory.
GROUP 6 Celina McHugh Soraya Piche	Group #6 wants to first confirm if the reproductive period of the siphonophore (Muggiaea) is seasonal. They also question if the gonozooids of this particular species of Cnidaria actually break off from the colony, or are gametes just released for fertilization to occur. They intend to conduct two zooplankton hauls to gather their data and follow-up with microscopic examination of their samples.
GROUP 7 Regina Pereyra Diane Orozco Valerie Arredondo Cristy Gutierrez	Recent literature states that brittle stars are turning to predation when ordinary food sources are low. It has been reported that they will prey on small animals such as shrimp. Group #7 will attempt to prove if this is true in San Pedro Harbor by investigating if shrimp are even in the vicinity of brittle stars.
GROUP 8 Alma Rangel Karla Serrano	Field biologists suspect that the ingestion of the crustacean Vargula allows the midshipman to bioluminess. Last year this group was unsuccessful in finding Vargula in the deep waters. Their hypothesis is that Vargula is in the shallow waters of the harbor and that the midshipman eat Vargula when they are young and before they go out to sea. Group #8 believes that the amount they eat when they are youngsters will allow them to bioluminess for their entire short lifetime. They also feel that the ability to bioluminess offers the midshipman the ability to be a successful predator of organisms such as anchovy- that might be hanging out below the midshipman in the water column. Another question that Karla and Alma have is: Does the midshipman “lights” scare away those who might want to eat him? This year they will attempt to find Vargula in the Harbor- hopefully this little crustacean will show his luciferin when Alma and Karla take him into the dark. Follow-up microscopic investigation will also take place back at the lab.
GROUP 9 Carmela Brito Nicole Berru Sara Alegria	Little is known about the lizard fish. Although the lizard fish has been known to catch its prey quite easily, it is still a mystery as to what they catch. It has also been stated that the lizard fish, as small as it may be, is able to “hold its ground” in rough water. Group #9 hopes to gain some insight into what exactly this fish might be preying upon, and also hopes to notice some features that might help this fish stay so focused despite turbulent conditions.
GROUP 10 Veronica Rodriguez Gwendolyn Rodriguez Angela Ayala Nadia Leyva	Group # 10 is interested if moon snail slime has any medicinal value. They plan on collecting the slime, bringing it back to the laboratory, autoclaving it, and then conducting tests to determine if it has any anti-ultraviolet ray properties or antibacterial properties.
GROUP 11 Sara Corleto Venessa Lizarde	Scientific literature suggests that hermit crabs sometimes allow strawberry sea anemones to attach themselves to their shells for protection. Sara and Venessa plan to find out what is the ratio of hermit crabs (or any crabs) to strawberry sea anemones within the same vicinity. Of course, they are also interested in how many if any are attached. This group hopes to answer such questions as: What type of symbiotic relationship do these creatures have? Do they only attach during a certain period of their lives? What is the purpose of attaching? What would happen if the hermit crabs or the anemones became endangered? Would it hurt the other species?
GROUP 12 Lourdes Ponce Luz Aguado Jennifer Cruz Eliana Velasco	Zooplankton with tumors were discovered in the Great Lakes approximately two years ago. At that time the only scientists that were studying the health of ocean zooplankton were those at Sacred Heart. Group #12 feels that it is important for this study to be continued. Their plan is to collect zooplankton samples and bring them back to the laboratory for microscopic examination.
Cruise Directors
GROUP 13 Karla Serrano Alma Rangel	While Karla and Alma are not busy collecting their samples they will assist in all facets of this cruise to ensure that all activities on the itinerary are performed and that things run smoothly. Aside from their own project they are here to help you and to make sure that everyone gets the info that they need.

Group # 10 is interested if moon snail slime has any medicinal value. They plan on collecting the slime, bringing it back to the laboratory, autoclaving it, and then conducting tests to determine if it has any anti-ultraviolet ray properties or antibacterial properties.