Category Archives: Video

Effect of DND Blasting on Bentinck Island on Sea lion Behaviour at Race Rocks

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This video was made on October 7, 2002 in order to document the effect of the Department of National Defence demolition exercises on Bentinck Island on the behaviour of birds and marine mammals at Race Rocks MPA. In previous years we have observed considerable disruption by military exercises involving blasting on nearby Bentinck Island in the fall just after the sea lions have returned to the island. We have requested that blasts be spread out over a longer period of time during an exercise. Traditionally blasts have come in a series of three. The first one would alert the sea lions, the second would send a few in the water and the third would clear the islands. This year on this one occasion, only two blasts were held at five minutes apart. The results are shown in the video.

See the index of the effects of human activities on marine life at Race Rocks

Illegal Fishing In the Ecological Reserve

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Although it is well known locally that there is a fishing closure in the Marine Protected Area, we still get fishers claiming ignorance of the reserve. In this sequence, our boat from the college had to approach fishing boats on two separate incidences in one day in August 2002.

Race Rocks is included in a Rockfish Conservation Area

 

Hydrocoral at Race Rocks and Alberto Lindner

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Alberto Lindner is studying the systematics and evolution of hydrocorals using morphological and molecular biology methods for his Ph.D. thesis. He visited Race Rocks in the summer of 2002. The occurrence of hydrocoral in the low intertidal zone is an unusual occurrence on the Pacific West Coast and Alberto is aiming to help us in the identification of the different colored clones of the animal. His supervisor and advisors are Dr. Stephen Cairns (Smithsonian) , Dr.Cliff Cunningham ( Duke University) and Dr. Dale Calder (Royal Ontario Museum) This is part of a program of training young zoologists in established and new methods of systematics Alberto comes from Brazil, having completed a Master’s degree in the University of São Paulo.

Alberto was introduced to us by Dr. Anita Brinkmann-Voss

See  Hydrocorals in The Race Rock Taxonomy

After returning to his lab and doing further analysis, Alberto reported that “It is pretty safe to say that the purple and pink color morphs of Stylaster corals (Allopora) from Race Rocks are the same species”. He has also noted the same result with deep-sea species from the Aleutians, as the orange and pink forms there do not separate the species.

Link to Alberto’s website.

Westmont Montessori Class Visits Race Rocks as part of our Schools Project

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In June, 2002 the grade six students of Nadine Cruikshank’s class at Westmont Montessori school in Metchosin came out to Race Rocks to participate in a live webcast. Pearson College students Ben, Joe, Kiprop and former student Ryan who were staying at Race Rocks for the Johan Asuvud Race Rocks 2002 Project introduce them to the ecology and the history of Race Rocks. (17 minutes)

Eudistylia vancouveri: feather duster tubeworm –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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The Feather Duster Tube worm is often associated with floating docks on the southern part of Vancouver Island. At Race Rocks, there are no floating docks but Eudistylia inhabits the protected rock crevasses of the lower intertidal zone. It can not withstand drying out too long so being in this tidal level will provide a maximum of an hour exposure at the lowest tides. While exposed in the air, their feather like gills are retracted, and the leathery parchment -like tubes are pinched closed at the opening. Underwater, the gills when released, are often banded a deep red and purple colour.

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Canalipalpata
Suborder Sabellida
Family Sabellidae
Genus Eudistylia
Species vancouveri
Common Name: Northern Feather Duster Wor

GF photo, 2007

Other Members of the Phylum Annelida 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.

 June 2002  Garry Fletcher (PC)

Westmont School visit June 2002

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In June, 2002 the grade six students of Nadine Cruikshank’s class at West-Mont school in Metchosin came out to Race Rocks to participate in a live webcast. Pearson College students Ben,Joe, Kiprop and former student Ryan Murphy introduce them to the ecology and the history of Race Rocks. (17 minutes)

 

Webcasting Crew at Race Rocks for the Johan Ashvud RR’02 Project

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MEET THE CREW:

kiptower

Michael Kiprop Kenya (PC-2003)

joe

Joe Downham UK (PC-2003)

ben

Ben Dougall Australia (PC-2003)

ryan

Ryan Murphy Newfoundland & Labrador (PC-2001)

 —

“We had a great time webcasting live from Race Rocks on Camera 4 during the first two weeks of June for the Johan Ashuvud Race Rocks02 Project”
Three current first year students from Pearson College and Ryan Murphy, who graduated last year stayed at the Marine Science Centre. Ryan is returning to Race Rocks this month to do research for Mt.Allison Univ. on the macroalgal community.

See one video on Pterygophora which was one part of his project here: They conducted daily live and prerecorded webcasts with Garry Fletcher from the intertidal and from underwater using camera 4.

Garry

Garry Fletcher Biology/Diving faculty

For one of the webcasts we were joined by Sean LeRoy, Graduate Researcher, Georgia Basin Futures Project Sustainable Development Research Institute, University of British Columbia and Dr.James Tansey also of UBC. They came to participate in the webcast with Garry and Ryan on Marine Protected Areas in new Zealand and Canada with Tim Langlois, Leigh Marine Laboratory University of Auckland, and Anne Saloman, University of Washington, Zoology Department.

On three days we hosted small groups of students from local elementary schools who served as proxies in webcasts done for their classmates.

Support for the Race Rocks 02 Project came from the Johan Ashuvud Race Rocks Memorial Fund
Below are some of the Videos produced by the crew during the week.

benframes kids octopuss
Ben’s movie put together during the week. June 2002 field trip: for a live webcast with the crew, of the grade six students from West-Mont school . One morning we found the body of an octopus washed up in the intertidal zone. An impromptu dissection led to this video.

A Day in the Life of Student at Race Rocks Johan Ashuvud Project 2004

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Here is a look into a day in the lives of students on the Johann Ashuvud Project 2004. as it was in June of 2004 See as they tour about the island executing everyday errands. Thanks to Jennifer (PC yr31), Emmanuel (PC yr30), Tanyella ( PC yr 31) and Michelle (PC yr30). Camera by Paul (PC yr30)

Environmental Systems First Year Exam at Race Rocks

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For the last 24 years, the first year environmental systems students have had their final term exam at Race Rocks. In May of 2002, Laura Verhegge continued the tradition with her two classes. They endured the west wind and went through the six stations of the exam. In this video the students and Laura provide the commentary about the investigations.

Return to Education video archive index

Albinism in The California Sea Cucumber

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The Sea Cucumber Parastichopus californicus is normally a reddish-orange to brown color, although there is also a beige color phase with dark brown spots.( leucistic).  In the past year, 2 of these white variants have shown up near Race Rocks