SERVICE LEARNING DAY 4
Today we set the first of our marine traps. These traps were set at docks, because the conditions
were too dangerous to go diving. One of the sets of traps was set on the docks adjacent to Cole
Callin’s house on the Balboa Peninsula (33° 36' 24.4692'' N 117° 54' 53.676'' W). The group
placed their traps on two different pylons in the Newport Bay. The traps were placed 3-4 feet
below the surface of the water by Andrew Smith and Adam Watson. Also, because the water was
at low tide during the time when we attached the traps to the pylons, the traps will be submerged
below the surface at all times. The traps were made from a thin PVC pipe that was about two and
a half feet long. On the pipe, green rope threads were attached at the bottom, top, and middle of
pipe.
While setting traps one group placed traps in Huntington Harbor and Alamitos Bay. At both
locations two PVC traps were placed vertically in the water column by tying them off from a
cleat at the top of the dock. At Huntington (33° 43' 38.5896'' N 118° 3' 29.5776'' W) the two traps
sat 2’6” and 3’8” from the surface of the water. The Alamitos Bay location (33° 45' 35.0424'' N 118° 7' 45.3324'' W)
was a bit deeper so the traps sat 4’11” and 5’8” from the surface of the water. It is important to
remember that, because the traps are tied from the dock, their distance relative to the bottom of
the bay will change with the tides. Regardless, our depths are placed in such a way that even
during low tide, the traps will not touch the bottom. We plan on retrieving the traps next meeting
day for service learning, on february 14 (Valentine’s Day). Using the DNA barcoding, we will identify
the organisms we collect from the traps, which is very exciting to see what our traps are capable
of catching.
were too dangerous to go diving. One of the sets of traps was set on the docks adjacent to Cole
Callin’s house on the Balboa Peninsula (33° 36' 24.4692'' N 117° 54' 53.676'' W). The group
placed their traps on two different pylons in the Newport Bay. The traps were placed 3-4 feet
below the surface of the water by Andrew Smith and Adam Watson. Also, because the water was
at low tide during the time when we attached the traps to the pylons, the traps will be submerged
below the surface at all times. The traps were made from a thin PVC pipe that was about two and
a half feet long. On the pipe, green rope threads were attached at the bottom, top, and middle of
pipe.
While setting traps one group placed traps in Huntington Harbor and Alamitos Bay. At both
locations two PVC traps were placed vertically in the water column by tying them off from a
cleat at the top of the dock. At Huntington (33° 43' 38.5896'' N 118° 3' 29.5776'' W) the two traps
sat 2’6” and 3’8” from the surface of the water. The Alamitos Bay location (33° 45' 35.0424'' N 118° 7' 45.3324'' W)
was a bit deeper so the traps sat 4’11” and 5’8” from the surface of the water. It is important to
remember that, because the traps are tied from the dock, their distance relative to the bottom of
the bay will change with the tides. Regardless, our depths are placed in such a way that even
during low tide, the traps will not touch the bottom. We plan on retrieving the traps next meeting
day for service learning, on february 14 (Valentine’s Day). Using the DNA barcoding, we will identify
the organisms we collect from the traps, which is very exciting to see what our traps are capable
of catching.
The last group, which consisted of all seniors, went out to set traps in Newport Beach. We first went to a hardware store to get rope and large zip ties that would fit around a pillar on the dock. We then went to CVS to get a lighter to scorch the ends of the ropes, and some weights for the traps. Our weights in this case were “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments. They had a good amount of weight to them so that they would not move around as much under water. We then as a group, went back to the docks at Ryan Spataro’s grandparents house. To start off, we made sure that as a group we knew what our plan was. We wanted to attach one trap to the cleat by Ryan’s grandparents boat, and then we wanted to attach the other one directly to the pillar in the water on the dock. This one would require someone to get in the water. Anna, was so brave enough as to volunteer to be the one in our group to go into the cold water. First, we tackled the trap attached to the cleat. We pulled a rope to it, and then slowly lowered it into the water, making sure to measure how deep we were sending it. Which in this case, was about two and a half feet in the water at low tide. Ryan then tied the rope off on the cleat on the dock. The next trap we set, Anna had to get in the water. We chose to attach our last one to the pillar attached to the dock. However it was only reachable by diving in. Anna swam to it from shore. She then was handed the trap. After a few trial and errors. We decided to pull some rope through the trap and then tied it together. We then pulled the zip tie through the rope, so that it was extra secure to the pillar. All and all, it was pretty successful.
While the other groups went out to set up traps, Ryan Langevin stayed on campus to work
with the specimens acquired from Long Beach on the last Service Learning Day. He photographed
them under a microscope, then prepared them for DNA barcoding for identification. The DNA
barcoding process requires that DNA be extracted from the organism, then amplified through PCR.
The data from this process will then be compared with the global barcoding database. If the data
is missing, then we will submit our findings to the database for future identification. In preparation,
for this, Ryan mixed the specimens with a buffer and an enzyme, and let them soak in a water bath
to extract the DNA from their cells.
with the specimens acquired from Long Beach on the last Service Learning Day. He photographed
them under a microscope, then prepared them for DNA barcoding for identification. The DNA
barcoding process requires that DNA be extracted from the organism, then amplified through PCR.
The data from this process will then be compared with the global barcoding database. If the data
is missing, then we will submit our findings to the database for future identification. In preparation,
for this, Ryan mixed the specimens with a buffer and an enzyme, and let them soak in a water bath
to extract the DNA from their cells.
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