Though it's hard to believe, round two of Three Seas has already started. After three plane flights and several sleepless nights, we finally made it to Bocas del Toro, Panama. It has been three days since we invaded the Smithsonian's Tropical Research Station on Isla Colón, and I think it's safe to say we all already love it here. Aside from a few unwanted mosquito bites, the Bocas lifestyle is a breath of fresh air. Everyone has been so welcoming and the facilities we get to live and work out of are amazing.
Home for the next 9 weeks.
Student dorms and kitchen.
The lab's waterfront property allows for an easy transition between diving, lecture, lab and food (did I mention how great the food was yet??). We've already seen and learned some incredible things: lionfish are bad, sloths are elusive, ears are precious and should be treated with care.
Boats used for daily dive excursions.
Lauren's friend.
Eagle ray seen while snorkeling.
Corals is our first course here in Panama. After two identification dives and a snorkel adventure we are slowly but surely learning the most common species found in Bocas. Today, we began work on our reciprocal transplant experiment. We took two species of coral, Porites astreoides and Montastrea franksi, from two locations, 3 meters and 10 meters, and transplanted samples to the different depths. The samples will be left in the field for six days, after which we will determine any changes in photosynthetic efficiency. We look forward to seeing the results of this lab as well as our all future escapades in Panama!!
Porites furcata or Branched Finger Coral.
Hard-core science.
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