USA: Noelle Hurst (A New Experience)

Program: UW Marine Biology in the Florida Keys, Winter Intersession

For the second and last week of my program I got the opportunity to complete a field research project. I worked with another classmate to study the contraction rate of Cassiopea Xamachana, better known as the upside-down jellyfish. This was my first time working with someone to develop a research project and complete the research as well.

For this project we had to create an experimental design, graphs, and then present our work to our class. I had no idea what to expect with the field work portion of this project.

Pictured left: Me on one of our night shift data collection periods counting the contractions of our jellyfish.

In order to complete our data collection on the contraction rates of the upside-down jellyfish, we needed to first collect some in the field. Collecting the jellyfish was trickier than what we expected. We had to learn how to collect the jellyfish carefully and how to identify them correctly. To collect our jellyfish we had to snorkel out in the bay and wear gloves to minimize the sting of the jellyfish when we picked them up.

After we collected all of our specimens, we were able to start measuring them and giving them ID names.

Pictured right: My partner and I presenting our project.