Day 2: We start our projects...and have a little fun too!

We arrived on Hurricane Island yesterday and were lucky to be welcomed by such friendly staff and beautiful weather. After settling into our rooms, we embarked on a perimeter hike allowing us to become more familiar with the island’s geography. By stopping at various points along the hike we were able to learn about some of the history of Hurricane Island as well as the surrounding islands. We went to one of the only sandy beaches on the island, and discussed how the slope, construction of rocks on the shore line, and sand provided a more optimal area for native people dock their boats on the island. We also discussed how a nearby island, called Little Hurricane, was used to exile people who had either acted violently, or become too intoxicated, and it provided a form of punishment for them since they had extremely minimal resources. Later that evening we went on another hike to sunset rock. We were able to journal, relax, and enjoy the amazing view. We also learned how the island gets fresh water, from multiple reservoirs on the islands as well as water tank at the highest point of the island. That night after dinner, everyone staying in the bunk house went outside and to do a workout lead by Bella and Anna. While we were exercising, we took in the incredible view of the ocean nearby despite the animal feces, large bugs, and rough slanted rocks.

Today was our first full day on the island, and we were all eager to get out in the field and start collecting data. For our project, we are studying smooth periwinkle snail camouflage. We are hypothesizing that snails with lighter shells prefer Ascophyllum (a type of seaweed with large yellow pods) and snails with darker shells prefer Fucus (a darker type of seaweed with blades and narrow green pods). We started out by exploring Two Bush Island, the area we will conduct our data. Before starting our experiment, we enjoyed discovering interesting organisms living in the rocky intertidal zone. We found an abundance of snails including smooth periwinkles, pointed periwinkles, and dog whelks. We also found dog whelk eggs hidden underneath a barnacle covered rock shielded by seaweed. They were white and looked like little grains of rice clustered together in a line, attached to the rock.

After we thoroughly explored the island we chose a section almost completely covered with seaweed to collect our data from. After laying down the transect line in the designated area we measured four meters and layed the quadrat on the first meter mark. The first quadrat was entirely Fucus, we searched and collected all of the snails within that area. Using a color gradient of snail shells that we made, we identified each snail we found, recorded where it fell on the color scale and what type of seaweed it was found on. We repeated this three more times alternating the side of the transect line we placed our quadrat to randomize our findings. It was a strong start for our first day out in the field, and we look forward to continuing our field work at Two Bush Island.

So far being off the grid has been a unique experience, and it has allowed us to be more aware of our incredible surroundings. During a free time, the three of us went on a hike to sunset rock again. Today we had a clearer view of the ocean, and we sat down on the rock to read our lobster books for an hour. So far some of the highlights have been the amazing food, the lovely people, the beautiful hikes, and of course the snails.