Dowling College Marinating MST

Chm 6687

Summer 2010

Adjunct Associate Professor, Lou SiegelNoyce Scholars Program

One of our first trips was to explore the Connetquot River by kayak. Here a student checks for nitrates

Kayaks were anchored at several stations along the river which allowed students to work together without drifting

Atmospheric parameters such as humidity being tested here with a sling psychrometer are important.

Keeping records of data

Next we explored further out into the estuary by boat, repeating the same measurements

Measuring wind speed and temperature

Keeping data records

Seining for organisms on the Fire Island shoreline

Checking the seine for organisms

Identifying specimens collected on the trip

Blowfish, killiefish and pipefish from the seine

The group visited Caumsett State Park on the north shore to see the very different shoreline north of the

glacial moraine

Here the students gather on the sandspit created by wave action on the Long Island Sound shoreline

The luxuriant salt marsh behind the spit

Cactus and other succulents grow on the shoreline

Students gather to identify specimens

Unique cliffs which reveal layering of glacial deposits

Swallows utilize the layered, eroded cliffs for their nests

Caumsett is a former estate. The main house is now used for conferences and environmental programs

The view from the mansion includes a kettle pond left by the glaciers

Oystering and clamming were important fisheries on Long Island. The Priscilla, built in 1888, is a National historic vessel whichhas been restored by the Maritime museum in West Sayville

Students received instructions on the basics of sailing

Dr. John Tanacredi, Chairperson of the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences at Dowling shares his

knowledge of the bay

Professor Siegel and the class onboard the Priscilla

Sixto Portilla guides the class through a tour of Dowling’s Center for Estuarine, Environmental

and Coastal Oceans Monitoring (CEECOM)

Dowling CEECOM. The USGS rainfall monitoring station is visible on the pole at left

Looking for baby horseshoe crabs

The facilities at Dowling CEECOM

The class samples local seafood

After being instructed in the use of the equipment the class receives their sSELF monitoring kits for use

with their classes