CCE LTER Process Cruise- 2012
Science Blog- Student Guided Reading Worksheet
Name: Eric Palmer
Purpose: This blog guided reading worksheet is to help introduce
students to how scientists may go about research collecting samples
and data while out on a cruise at sea. This particular cruise employed a high school science
teacher to go along to help out, learn about the processes and blog about her experiences.
go to: http://cce.lternet.edu/blogs/2012/2012/08/01/day-1/
CCE LTER Cruise: Day 1, I’m on a boat!
1: Why are scientists particularly interested in this specific site? Why is it special? Scientists are interested in this specific site because it has a lot of info. It is special because it tells us all the information we may need to know.
2: What is the name of the research vessel that they are
on? R/V Melville
Which educational institution is the vessel a part of?
Scripps Oceanography Fleet
3: How much does the ship weigh when it is fully
loaded? 3,026,000
4: On day #3, read about how zooplankton are captured by the MOCNESS- summarize the process
below: Zooplankton are captured by MOCNESS by the nets that they lower in the ocean and lure them in to the boat.
5: Explain the "vertical migration" of many zooplankton species. Why do they do this? They do this to eat at night, when they eat they float to the top. During the day they sink to get away from predators.
6: What are phytoplankton? Small algae that sit on the surface of the water.
7: What information is collected by the SeaSoar? What are they
trying to find specifically? SeaSoars try to find the exact location of where the California current meets more denser water.
8: What is CTD stand for? It stands for conductivity, temperature, and depth.
9: What is the “E- Front”? E- Front stands for Eddy Front.
10: Why does the sampling need to be conducted at night? Because the zooplankton come to the surface at night.
11: What is the epipelagic zone? The epipelagic zone is the
12: These samples were taken along the E-Front. Can you tell where the actual front is located? You can not tell where the actual front is located.
13: Explain how the chlorophyll samples are preserved. They are preserved by being put in a case and they would then study and test all the things.
14: Where is the mesopelagic zone? This is the deep part of the ocean. Why are the critters
found here so special? Because they are different than any other aquarium fish.
15: Explain why styrofoam cups that were attached to the CTD shrunk when they were lowered
to the depths. Because the cups will shrink because the pressure at the bottom of the ocean.
16: Why is iron so important to phytoplankton? Because its a nutrient that they need.
17: What kind of precautions are taken by the scientists on board
to make sure that the water samples are not contaminated by
metals on or around the ship? The precautions they take are making sure that every thing is being protected.
17: How can scientists use “poop” to determine the biomass of an ecosystem? Explain. To determine the mass of the biomass.
18: What is “marine snow”? Explain how it is collected. Marine snow is what the scientists call all the scat and other materials.
19: Explain how long-lining is dangerous to marine birds. It is dangerous because the bird will see the fish in the net and get caught on the bait then drown.
20: Describe Fin Whales. What do they look like, what do they eat, why are they not hunted as
much as other whales? Fin Whales are baleen whales that feed off of zooplankton. They also have a unique color. They are not hunted very often because they are so far from land.
21: What are copepods? What are they related to? Copecods are a type of zooplankton that is commonly found in the Pacific Ocean. They are related to crabs and lobsters.
22: Explain the two ways that copepods are studied on this ship. Copecods are studies on the ship by nets and by looking at their reproduction.
23: What is the bow dome? Where is it located? The bow dome are windows in the boat to see marine life. They are located in the bottom front of the boat.
24: Would you be interested in spending a month at sea?
Does a career in oceanography seem interesting? I would be very interested in spending a month at sea because it would be very cool to see the marine life. I would not want a career in oceanography.
25: Which part of this blog was most interesting to you? Why? The part of the blog that was most interesting to me was the whole thing. I say this because i really like learning and seeing marine animals.
Science Blog- Student Guided Reading Worksheet
Name: Eric Palmer
Purpose: This blog guided reading worksheet is to help introduce
students to how scientists may go about research collecting samples
and data while out on a cruise at sea. This particular cruise employed a high school science
teacher to go along to help out, learn about the processes and blog about her experiences.
go to: http://cce.lternet.edu/blogs/2012/2012/08/01/day-1/
CCE LTER Cruise: Day 1, I’m on a boat!
1: Why are scientists particularly interested in this specific site? Why is it special? Scientists are interested in this specific site because it has a lot of info. It is special because it tells us all the information we may need to know.
2: What is the name of the research vessel that they are
on? R/V Melville
Which educational institution is the vessel a part of?
Scripps Oceanography Fleet
3: How much does the ship weigh when it is fully
loaded? 3,026,000
4: On day #3, read about how zooplankton are captured by the MOCNESS- summarize the process
below: Zooplankton are captured by MOCNESS by the nets that they lower in the ocean and lure them in to the boat.
5: Explain the "vertical migration" of many zooplankton species. Why do they do this? They do this to eat at night, when they eat they float to the top. During the day they sink to get away from predators.
6: What are phytoplankton? Small algae that sit on the surface of the water.
7: What information is collected by the SeaSoar? What are they
trying to find specifically? SeaSoars try to find the exact location of where the California current meets more denser water.
8: What is CTD stand for? It stands for conductivity, temperature, and depth.
9: What is the “E- Front”? E- Front stands for Eddy Front.
10: Why does the sampling need to be conducted at night? Because the zooplankton come to the surface at night.
11: What is the epipelagic zone? The epipelagic zone is the
12: These samples were taken along the E-Front. Can you tell where the actual front is located? You can not tell where the actual front is located.
13: Explain how the chlorophyll samples are preserved. They are preserved by being put in a case and they would then study and test all the things.
14: Where is the mesopelagic zone? This is the deep part of the ocean. Why are the critters
found here so special? Because they are different than any other aquarium fish.
15: Explain why styrofoam cups that were attached to the CTD shrunk when they were lowered
to the depths. Because the cups will shrink because the pressure at the bottom of the ocean.
16: Why is iron so important to phytoplankton? Because its a nutrient that they need.
17: What kind of precautions are taken by the scientists on board
to make sure that the water samples are not contaminated by
metals on or around the ship? The precautions they take are making sure that every thing is being protected.
17: How can scientists use “poop” to determine the biomass of an ecosystem? Explain. To determine the mass of the biomass.
18: What is “marine snow”? Explain how it is collected. Marine snow is what the scientists call all the scat and other materials.
19: Explain how long-lining is dangerous to marine birds. It is dangerous because the bird will see the fish in the net and get caught on the bait then drown.
20: Describe Fin Whales. What do they look like, what do they eat, why are they not hunted as
much as other whales? Fin Whales are baleen whales that feed off of zooplankton. They also have a unique color. They are not hunted very often because they are so far from land.
21: What are copepods? What are they related to? Copecods are a type of zooplankton that is commonly found in the Pacific Ocean. They are related to crabs and lobsters.
22: Explain the two ways that copepods are studied on this ship. Copecods are studies on the ship by nets and by looking at their reproduction.
23: What is the bow dome? Where is it located? The bow dome are windows in the boat to see marine life. They are located in the bottom front of the boat.
24: Would you be interested in spending a month at sea?
Does a career in oceanography seem interesting? I would be very interested in spending a month at sea because it would be very cool to see the marine life. I would not want a career in oceanography.
25: Which part of this blog was most interesting to you? Why? The part of the blog that was most interesting to me was the whole thing. I say this because i really like learning and seeing marine animals.