Hello everyone! My name is Nadja and I am currently a junior majoring in Coastal Biology and minoring in Environmental Studies at UNF. When I heard about this course, I definitely wanted to sign up for it, not only because it was a topic I found interesting, but also because it was going to be a hands on experience in the field with local natural environments. It is certainly different from any biology course I've ever taken and I am looking forward to carrying out our restoration project at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR).
The first field day consisted of an overview of the major habitats at the GTMNERR. We had the opportunity to ride in the mules which was very cool, but don't be the last one (unless you like dirt flying at your face). We were able to see some interesting creatures such as a fiddler crab. We visited both the estuary and the beach where we learned about different coastal formations, different types of vegetation, and human impacts. The second day of field consisted of taking water and phytoplankton samples above and below the dam. Proper sampling techniques and water quality analysis was covered. One piece of equipment used was a colorimeter which was used to measure different parameters such as ammonia levels and turbidity of the water samples collected. I've only had limited exposure to field sampling and water quality analysis before this course, so this was a wonderful learning opportunity.
I look forward to learning more and working with everyone as well as to having a great semester ahead!
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| First Day of Field |
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| Fiddler crab |
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| GTMNERR |
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