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Sporing and growth of sugar kelp in our classroom!
Sporing and growth of sugar kelp in our classroom!
In 2017-18 we partnered with SeaGrant and UMaine to start our Signs of the Season study on Ascophyllum (Rockweed). In our research, we looked at phenophases, water quality, and growth rate.
In 2017-18 we partnered with SeaGrant and UMaine to start our Signs of the Season study on Ascophyllum (Rockweed). In our research, we looked at phenophases, water quality, and growth rate.
High School Shellfish Nursery Staff shared their knowledge of tidal ecosystems, invasive species, and the importance of Maine fisheries to their town at their local K-1 William Rowe School.
High School Shellfish Nursery Staff shared their knowledge of tidal ecosystems, invasive species, and the importance of Maine fisheries to their town at their local K-1 William Rowe School.
The Yarmouth Shellfish Nursery has become and embedded part of our 7th-grade science curriculum.
Some of the topics we cover that are connected to the nursery are:
Systems approach to science Tidal ecosystems
Aquaculture Lifecycles
Ocean acidification Water runoff
Humans Impact to the environment Invasive species
Classification of organisms Predator/prey relationships
Competition Trophic levels
Diversity of species
The following slideshow shows our students conducting a transect study on the diversity of species at Sandy Point Beach in Yarmouth, ME. With the collection of data, the students will decide if the tidal flats at Sandy Point are in need of assistance or if they are currently adequate and producing well.
The following slideshow shows our students field trip to the upweller. They are learning why the upweller is a model of a tidal ecosystem and what advantages aquaculture supplies. Further, they were a part of the sieving, sorting and cleaning of the clams and silos. They learned the need to complete these acts to allow for the greatest growth and survival of the clams.
A nice article was written by YEF Board Member Allison Flowerdew on our students trip to the Upweller.
I don't know how Morgan does it, but he always picks a beautiful day to introduce his new 7th graders to the shellfish nursery at the Town Landing. The students got right to work cleaning the upweller& the silos using sponges and brushes to ensure the oysters have a clean environment in which to grow. The kids worked hard and were wet and slimy after the cleaning session (hands-on learning at its best!). It's very exciting to see a new batch of students learning about local aquaculture.
After ten thousands oysters were delivered in August, Morgan & Thomas Henninger divided them into 2 groups. Seven thousand of them currently live in the upweller and three thousand of them live in oyster gros in Casco Bay. Next week, the oysters in the upweller will be transferred to the oyster gros, which can be found in three spots: Broad Cove, Little John, and off the Cousins Island Bridge.
Remember the students who started this endeavor with Morgan several years ago? Well, those students are now Seniors! If you get up early enough, you can find those students on the dock at 5:30am, boarding Thomas's boat to check on the oysters. Using the equipment they purchased from the latest YEF grant, they review the water quality and conduct productivity studies. They are researching the best places to grow oysters in Casco Bay. Thomas shared the pictures below of their early morning adventures.
The next step is to bring in the drones (which was also part of the latest grant)! The students will use the drones to survey local areas, checking on the best location to grow clams and mussels. They will search the locations where the clams and mussels are growing in abundance.
It usually takes 2 1/2 years for oysters to grow, but Morgan and Thomas are discovering that the oysters grow very well in our waters and may be ready earlier than expected. When the time comes, the oysters will be sold to local chefs.
From clams to oysters, Morgan has provided his students with an education about aquaculture in our own backyard.
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