So after 1,273 miles, long sweaty days, and sleepless nights we've made it to the last stop. For our last week we arrived to our typical weather we've experienced the past month, a nice thunderstorm! We would start our week off by checking out the Pensacola water shed and taking copious amounts of water quality samples.
Monday we started off taking water samples in a highly urbanized area throughout different locations of Carpenters Creek. This little creek system ran right behind many of the business that make up the city surrounding UWF. After Carpenters Creek we then headed to Bayou Texar and took samples there which was surrounded by a suburban neighborhood. After the sampling we were able to take a tour of the Gulf Ecology Division of the EPA. I found this to be one of the highlights of the week. We took a tour with Alex and it showed me how many opportunities are really out there as long as you apply yourself. Then to top of this day we finished with a shrimp boil hosted by Dr. Caffrey that was DELICIOUS!
Tuesday the weather struck again and instead of heading out in our kayaks it was another day on foot taking water quality samples. The only difference was instead of taking samples from a highly urbanized area, we took samples from Indian Bayou. This location was a much more rural area. After taking samples at what seemed like every puddle we encountered we headed back to the lab to analyze our findings. This is also when our groups were informed what we would have to give a presentation on. My group was selected to present on micro plastics. So after drying and filtering our samples we spent the next two days looking for microscopic pieces of plastic.
Thursday we went out to the beach and attempted to find some nesting shore birds to which we had no luck in. We then went through different methods of tracking such as telemetry. We had a version of hide and go seek where we had to find the receivers using their equipment. I can tell you it was not as easy as it looked especially when everyone in your group wants to head in completely different directions. After that was wrapped up we had time to work on our presentation before our final day on Friday. Thanks to my amazing group our presentation went rather smooth. I am lucky to have spent the past five weeks with 15 outgoing, caring, and intelligent people. I am very thankful that I was able to learn something from each and every one of them and I hope our paths cross again in our future career and endeavors.
Monday we started off taking water samples in a highly urbanized area throughout different locations of Carpenters Creek. This little creek system ran right behind many of the business that make up the city surrounding UWF. After Carpenters Creek we then headed to Bayou Texar and took samples there which was surrounded by a suburban neighborhood. After the sampling we were able to take a tour of the Gulf Ecology Division of the EPA. I found this to be one of the highlights of the week. We took a tour with Alex and it showed me how many opportunities are really out there as long as you apply yourself. Then to top of this day we finished with a shrimp boil hosted by Dr. Caffrey that was DELICIOUS!
Tuesday the weather struck again and instead of heading out in our kayaks it was another day on foot taking water quality samples. The only difference was instead of taking samples from a highly urbanized area, we took samples from Indian Bayou. This location was a much more rural area. After taking samples at what seemed like every puddle we encountered we headed back to the lab to analyze our findings. This is also when our groups were informed what we would have to give a presentation on. My group was selected to present on micro plastics. So after drying and filtering our samples we spent the next two days looking for microscopic pieces of plastic.
Thursday we went out to the beach and attempted to find some nesting shore birds to which we had no luck in. We then went through different methods of tracking such as telemetry. We had a version of hide and go seek where we had to find the receivers using their equipment. I can tell you it was not as easy as it looked especially when everyone in your group wants to head in completely different directions. After that was wrapped up we had time to work on our presentation before our final day on Friday. Thanks to my amazing group our presentation went rather smooth. I am lucky to have spent the past five weeks with 15 outgoing, caring, and intelligent people. I am very thankful that I was able to learn something from each and every one of them and I hope our paths cross again in our future career and endeavors.
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