Mollusk Discovery

http://www.deepseamonsters.com/component/content/article/63-dumbo-octopus.html

 The scientific name is Grimpoteuthis, and the common name is Dumbo octopus.

Taxonomy!

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Octopoda
Suborder:	Cirrina
Family:	Opisthoteuthidae
Genus:	Grimpoteuthis

 http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/upload/2006/12/Dumbo-octopus.jpg

Video:

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Characteristics:

- Dumbo Octopuses hover above the sea floor searching for bivalves, worms, and crustaceans to eat!

- The Dumbo Octopus swallows it's food whole!!!

- Males and Females are different sizes and have different sucker patterns

- They have no distinct breeding season

- They are named because their ears are similar to Walt Disney's elephant Dumbo!

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01455/dumbo-octopus_1455462i.jpg

Crustaceans and Echinoderms

!Echinoderms!

- Skeleton is on the inside

- The endoskeleton (what you find on the beach) is called a test

- Their spiny skin is made of calcium carbonate

-They have NO body segments

- They have Radial Symmetry

*Crustaceans*

- They have segmented appendages

- They all have five pairs of legs!

- In most, the first pair is claws

- In others, they have walking legs

- They have bilateral symmetry

Pictures of Echinoderms!

http://www.graphicmania.net/wp-content/uploads/sea-star-pair-758303-ga.jpg
K - Animal
P - Echinoderm
C- Asteroidea
O - Forcipulatida
F - Asteriidae
G - Pycnopodia
S - helianthoides

http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/sea-stars-david-wagner.jpg

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/sites/default/files/critter-corner/images/cr-seacucumber.jpg

K - Animal

P - Echinoderm

C - Holothuroidea

O - Aspidochirotida

F - Holothuriidae

G - Holothuria

S - Holothuria pardalis

Pictures of Crustaceans!

http://www.hermitcrabsecrets.com/wp-content/themes/NicheProfitPressV2/images/HermitCrabpic.jpg

K - Animalia
P - Arthropoda
S - Crustacea
C - Malacostraca
O - Decapoda
I - Anomura
F - Coenobitidae
G -  Coenobita
S - C. clypeatus

http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/files/2009/06/lobster.jpg

K - animal
P - arthropoda

C - Malacostraca

O - Decapoda
F - Nephropidae

G - Enoplometopus
S - lobster

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_scientific_classification_for_the_american_lobster#ixzz1HtkU1f6r

http://ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/albums/userpics/10048/normal_Ghost_Crab.jpg

K - Metazoa

P - Arthropoda

C - Malacostraca

O - Decapoda

F- Ocypodidae

G - Ocypode

S - Ocypode quadrata

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/animal-planet/30520-caught-in-the-moment-the-ghost-crab-video.htm

Adventure Number 4!

(Photograph by Brittany Henslee)

The first area we observed was the edge of the pond. We were searching for algae within the pond water, particularly phytoplankton. It was very cold that day. 

(Photograph by Brittany Henslee)

This is a picture of Mrs.Richardson holding what appears to be bark at the second site. It was actually a piece of an old turtle egg shell.

 

(Photograph by Brittany Henslee)

This is some algae discovered on the bottom of the creek. It is a very vibrant green.

Adventure/Site Number Five!

On this adventure our class went bird watching. We went over by the pond and remained quiet for a long time so we could observe and listen to the birds. There were several different kinds of birds, like; vultures, cardinals, and crows. As usual there were buses beeping in the distance and it was chilly!
(no picture for this site)

Photography by Brittany Henslee :)

In the photograph above Mrs.Richardson is holding a salamander discovered by a classmate! The salamander was hiding beneath a tree. It was still chilly and very windy.

Photograph by Brittany Henslee :)

In this photograph, we can see mold. This mold was discovered in the same area as the salamander, it was surrounding the bottom of a fallen down tree.
Sitting on the pine tree was a Warbler. Warblers are known for being vocal. Which is why there is a singing group on Glee called the Warblers :)
(picture was server rejected)

Signs of Spring

Sign # 1

The first location was the perimeter of the field. It wasn't as cold as it had been previously in the week. There was a lot more greenery! There was honeysuckle blooming and several different birds could be heard chirping loudly. In the sunlight it was warmest, and the sun was very prominent on this day.

Sign # 2

Our second area was located by the pond. There were noticeable buds on a lot of the trees and the geese were no longer at the pond. Which was a sure sign of Spring. It was very windy. You could feel the wind blowing, which made it feel colder than it actually was. The water looked more blue because the sky was very clear on this pretty day.

Sign # 3

For sign three we were located at another area by the pond. In this area the sun was particularly prominent and this was the warmest of the four sites. You could not feel the wind in this area. It was a large open area alongside the edge of the pond. There were cat tails and other plants. The only thing you could hear was wind blowing elsewhere and sirens from the bus garage.

Sign # 4

Our final stop was alongside the road. There was grass on both sides that was very green. Green leaves could be seen growing, a sign of Spring! This area had the least amount of sun, but was not cloudy. It was windy again in this section of our adventure, and felt very cold.

Adventure 3!

Site 1

The ground was soggy, maybe because of the water close by. There was a trench of water shown in the photo. It was cold outside, a crisp cold.

 

Site 2

Next, we ventured to the pond. Weeds surrounded the open area, and trees framed the far side. The water was calm, but had visible signs of life along the edges. Such as evidence of tracks or indents in the dying plants left by wildlife.

Site 3

Another area of the pond, the dying plantlife is more abundant. Ducks were spotted along the opposite side of the pond.

Site 4

This area is open with a few trees. Both of the trees pictured had a green-blue moss/growth on them.

Each tree was large, and the second had a hole and its branches were spread.

Plankton Observations

This is an image of zooplankton. It was discovered in the pond adjacent to the bus garage. It is a tiny animal squirming around. Also known as zooplankton.

This is a worm, that is actually very small. Although it appears very large.

It is Zooplankton. It is a worm so it is Meroplankton.

This is phytoplankton. It was found in the same pond near our local bus garage. It reminds me of the shape of the continent; Africa. It is Algae.

This is sand from Star Beach in Japan. It is skeletons of dead zooplankton; forams. It looks like small starfish or small turle shells.

Adventure 1 Site #4

At the fourth site there were many trees that were dying. All of the leaves had fallen off and were scattered on the ground. The ground was still wet and slippery. There was a particular eye catching branch that had snapped off, but had yet to fall because it was being supported by another branch. We also felt slightly warmer. Because of the depth of the area and all the surrounding trees the wind was blocked, raising the temperature slightly, although the sun's warmth was blocked.

Picture 1 by Tyler Johnson



Adventure 1 Site #3

Down the path at the next site we spotted an old, abandoned car. Life was here at some point. You could smell pine in the air. Movements and indents in the grass and muddy areas showed that life had once inhabited this location, but had most likely retreated for now.

Picture by Tyler Johnson

1st Adventure Site #2

There was a patch of paved sidewalk beside the creek. The creek had frozen due to the cold temperatures. The wind seemed more harsh because of how open the area was. The cold made me shiver. The sound of buses beeping intruded upon the scene of nature. The ground was very slick on the pavement, worse than on the grass. On the other side of the patch of sidewalk was a pile of rocks.

Picture 1 & 3 by Tyler Johnson

1st Adventure Site #1

We went outside to make observations. We went down the hill behind the cafeteria and first noticed the cold. The wind hitting me in the face did not help. The ground was frozen and extremely slick. Trees were swaying in the wind, and it seemed like most life had vacated the area.