Category Archives: PC Students at Race Rocks

Tidepool # 6 “Anita’s Pool”

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On the West side of Great Race Rocks is a tidepool that we have been observing for many years. Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss has done research on the seasonality of hydroids in this pool and it is published as:

 Brinckmann-Voss, A. 1996. Seasonality of Hydroids (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria) from an intertidal pool and adjacent subtidal habitats at Race Rocks, off Vancouver Island,Canada,
Scientia Marina Advances in Hydrozoan
Biology , Vol 60 (1):89-97

anitapool

Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss doing research on seasonality of Hydroids in Tidepool #6

Abstract:

An assemblage of 27 hydroid species was reported from a tide pool in the lower rocky intertidal zone, and compared with 42 hydroids of the adjacent subtidal region. Location of hydroids within the pool, seasonal occurence, growth and sexual maturity were tabulated, and some systematic aspects discussed. Possible causes of hydroid species diversity were considered, including location of the tide pool in an area of tidal rapids, and shading by surfgrass and rock cliffs during low tide

tpgf

 

 

The unique feature about this pool is that it is deep enough – ( 1 meter) and it gets swells that refresh it even when the tide level is low. Garry is standing on the lip of the pool as the water from a swell spills out and cascades down to the lower level of the ocean.

 

 

Tidepool 6 at low tide

Tidepool 6 at low tide

Tidepool 6 at high tide

Tidepool 6 at high tide

TIDEPOOL6See this video on Tdepool 6 at High Tide:

see this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/

Blue water Diving — Pearson College Divers

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Henry Steinberg, Julia Clarke and Laura Verhegge do their first tether dive with Chris off the shores of Race Rocks in Race Passage. The apparatus for the dive was constructed by Henry Steinberg, a Pearson College diver, as part of a project in his PADI Divemasters course. This type of diving is useful for research purposes when one wants to sample jellyfish, salps or other macro-planktonic life forms which may otherwise be damaged if collected in a towed plankton net. It is also necessary as a safety measure for drift diving when the bottom is beyond safety limits, and there are currents involved such as here in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Diving on the Underwater Turbine Project

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Thia article appeared in The Link, the college newsletter on  May 6, 2005. Link no. 79

Diving for the Underwater Turbine Project at Race Rocks was amazing. Our task wasn’t simple and the time was limited. To implement the project they need to know what is the best location to install the tidal power generator, so I went diving with Chris and Angie to Race Rocks on a beautiful and sunny Wednesday morning and an ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) was deployed there. The ADCP will collect current regime information for a month.

It was so deep and (Angie said) cold down there but a really interesting experience for both of us. I was filming while Angie and Chris would “drag” the heavy weights (25 kg underwater – that’s 40 kg on surface! – each!!) and position them to secure the device on the sea floor.

It was hard work in very strong current but also very satisfying. It’s awesome to go diving but it’s even nicer when you get to do something important underwater. And on our way back we happened to stop by the boat with the EnCana diver (who was extracting samples of sea floor rocks) and have a long chat with him, who explained to Angie and me many things about being a commercial diver and also about the wetsuit he was wearing. For those that saw the movie “Man of Honor” these pictures may be familiar… Angie and I got really amazed by the huge helmet the diver had and he let us try it. It even has a microphone on it (to communicate with the boat)!!! The benefits of diving….

Rita Santos (year 30)

Canadian Geographic Kids Program

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The CBC TV crew accompanied us on a dive to Race Rocks in order to video a sequence that later was used on the nationally televised Canadian Geographic Kids program.

Deploy and Retrieve ADCP Instrument 2005

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In order to predict the best location for the installation of the tidal power generator, an ADCP ( Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) supplied by ASL Environmental Sciences was deployed. This instrument will collect current regime information for a period of one month. Rita Santos did the video and Angie Karlsen helped Chris Blondeau lift and position the concrete weights used to secure the device on the sea floor..

See other archived video with Pearson College Divers

Mytilus trossulus: The bay mussel

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musselpool4

These Mytilus trossulus were present in Tidepool 4 at Race Rocks in May, 2004.

 

Physical Description: Mytilus trossulus has a shiny blue-black to black or brownish thin, long shell. Its exterior is smooth with fine lines. The interior of the shell is dull blue with a darker edge. They can be up to 6 to 10 cm long, and 3 to 5 cm high.
Geographical Range: Arctic to Alaska and south to Central California. (approximate)
Habitat: Mussels attach themselves to rocks pilings & other objects in the mid-intertidal zone of shorelines where water is relatively calm. The elevation at which they can be found is limited by the sea stars in the lower intertidal zone and the risk of desiccation in the upper intertidal zone.
Feeding: Mussels are filter-feeders. They filter many litres of water by moving a set of cilia (long hair-like filaments) over their gills to produce a current-like movement and another set of cilia move the trapped food particles (plankton) into food grooves.


Reproduction: Many intertidal organisms’ reproductive cycles are adapted to the tide cycles. For Mytilus trossulus, for example, the gonads mature during the spring tides and they spawn after neap tides. The normal cycle of an invertebrate intertidal organism follows the basic pattern of fertilization and larvae. Fertilization can occur within the adult or in the water itself. A larva then develops in the female parent or in the water and it usually doesn’t look very much like the mature adult. The larvae float in the water for a few minutes up to a few months, depending on the species and reproductive cycle. They feed and grow until the end of their planktonic life, when they settle.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Subclass Heterodonta
Order Mytiloida
Family Mytilidae
Genus Mytilus
Species trossulus
Common Name: Bay Mussel
Behaviours: Often found in large aggregations.
Adaptations to environment: To resist to mechanical stress from the wave movement, mussels have developed a strong but not permanent attachment to the rocky substrate: their byssal threads. They anchor the mussel to the rock, but can be broken and remade so it can have limited, slow movement. Mytilus trossulus also naturally has a high tolerance to waves. Most intertidal mollusks have hard shells with simple structures that aren’t likely to break under the pressure from the waves. Mussels such as Mytilus edulis, a closely related species close their valves tightly at low-tide to avoid water loss at low tide. Like all intertidal creatures, mussels must expose their fleshy parts to feed, which also exposes them to the threat of desiccation (drying out) and predators. Almost all diurnal rocky intertidal animals feed only when the tide is high and the water is covering them.

In the early 2000’s the Pearson College students in the Environmental System classes would do a lab on mussel mariculture

References: ( referenced 2005)
Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest, A Field Guide. Rick. M. Harbo, 1997

Biological Bulletin, Vol. 193, No. 2, Oct., 1997 http://www.jstor.org/stable/1542764
Balanced Environmental – Bay Mussel – Mytilus trossulus http://www.balanced.ca/hd/mussel.html

http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Mollusca/Bivalvia/Mytiloida/Mytilidae/Mytilus_trossulus.html

Other Members of the Phylum Mollusca at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Sara Correia, PC year 31

Amber O’Reilly, NWT PC 37

 


Presentation by Allysa Holland to opening of Tidal Current Energy Project

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Text of speech by Alyssa Holland (year 30) 

Tidal Current Energy Demonstration Project: Renewable Energy for Race Rocks

As I am both an Environmental Systems student and a member of the diving activity, Race Rocks has played a central role in the education Pearson has given me. Race Rocks is truly the ultimate living classroom, teaching all those who interact with it about the beauty and wonder of the natural environment, and about the importance of responsible environmental stewardship. It is a very special place that gives so much to the college and its students, and it is very gratifying to think how much the ecosystem will benefit from the Clean Current project.

For Pearson students, Race Rocks is much more than a group of islands. On one level or another, we all interact with it and benefit from it, and consider it part of our home. Whether through poking around in the inter-tidal zone for class, or working with a researcher from the University of Victoria 10 metres underwater, or staying on the island for a weekend to give its 2 full-time residents a break, we have built a connection with this magical place. As such, ensuring its health and protection are very important to me, and to the student body as a whole.

Pearson is by its very nature an innovative place – even the concept of a United World College is radical and still experimental. I can think of no better or more appropriate environment for such an exciting new technology as this to be implemented, as it truly embodies the spirit of innovation and idealism that makes Pearson College unique. This new turbine will stand as much more than a symbol of scientific progress; it will also be a concrete demonstration that even an ideal as difficult to live by as environmentalism can be successfully put into practice when we are innovative. That will be a lesson to guide both students and visitors for years to come.

Journey Middle School Class(2) visits Race Rocks

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On Wednesday 2 June 2004, the grade six students of Journey Middle School in Sooke visited the island and were given an explanation of how the island is maintained. They visited the marine science centre student residence and also ventured into the engine room. They were welcomed by students from Pearson College, Emmanuel, Paul and Michelle, who were staying on the Island for 2 weeks doing the Johann Ashuvud project. While there they participated in a live webcast. 

A school visit by Journey middle school students

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The Johan Ashuvud Project June 2004
On 1st June 2004, during the Johan Ashuvud project, we had Dr Gitai Yahel and Russel Wyeth explain to the students and faculty from Journey Middle School in Sooke their research at Race Rocks . This was during a live webcast by Emmanuel (PC 30) from Ghana and Paul (PC 30) from Nigeria. Later we showed the students various living organisms in the tank room and gave the students a tour of the island.

Journey Middle School students visit Race Rocks

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On 1st June 2004, during the Johan Ashuvud project  we had Dr. Gitai Yahel and Russel Wyeth explain to the students and faculty from Journey Middle School in Sooke their research at Race Rocks . This was during a live webcast by Emmanuel (PC 30) from Ghana and Paul (PC 30) from Nigeria. Later we showed the students various living organisms in the tank room and gave the students a tour of the island. In those years, Pearson College students were part of the Schools Project whereby many schools in the Sooke School District would send their grade seven class on a field trip at the invitation of the Pearson College Diving Service.