First Day in the Field

After learning how to complete an underwater transect, we headed out on the Parker (the Keys Marine Lab boat). Each field station contains two experimental sites (one with artificial shelters and one without artificial shelters), and the artificial shelters must be removed from one these sites. Our first task was to shoo out all the inhabitants with a tickle stick (which is commonly used for lobstering in the Keys). Then, we tied a rope to the blocks, swam the heavy blocks to the boat, and lifted them onto the boat. Since the artificial shelters have been underwater for many years, they were fouled with many neat organisms. While we were snorkeling around, we took some pictures of lobsters in their dens. Lobsters often use the artificial shelters, crevice holes, and sponges/corals as homes during the day. Part of this experiment will examine the influence of artificial shelters on denning behavior and dispersal of juvenile lobsters.