The next day did the same experiment but we added some complexity by putting rocks on one end, a simulated grass bed on the other and leaving the center bare. We expected the urchins to move more at night but to our surprise their movement was a lot greater during the day. We did this for three hours during the day and two hours later on during the night. We gathered five tripneustes and put them in a tank in the wet lab and measured the distance they moved every fifteen minutes. So we modified our plans to focus on the urchin’s rate of movement in different marine environments. Unfortunately our initial idea for tracking the urchins and seeing if they were territorial was a complete failure due to unfavorable weather conditions, strong currents, and limited visibility. My partner Maria and I decided we were both interested in the common sea urchin, the Tripneustes ventricosus. We also got some great field work experience where we could set up our own experiment and learn efficient data collecting techniques. Becoming certified as a SCUBA diver is one of the coolest things I’ve done and now I can spend even more time with my head under the water. In my opinion, it is definitely worth every minute coming here and everyone should experience the beauty of this island!!! If you have the opportunity to take this class, go for it mon! The class is very interesting and the material that you learn here will be beneficial for you no matter what career path you choose to explore.
Jamaica, the beautiful tropical island where everyone wants to go for that perfect getaway vacation.