1. From the Bayous of Louisiana to the Gulf of Alaska: Bringing Real-World Science into the Classroom: Earthwatch Live from the Field and NOAA Teacher at Sea Fellowships

3. The Expedition 0 The team consisted of: 0 7 teachers 0 The principal investigator, Dr. Lee Dyer 0 Our expedition leader, Rebecca Hazen

4. The Research 0 We studied the effect of extreme weather events on “tritrophic relationships 0 Extreme weather events =hurricanes 0 Tritrophic relationship = plants, caterpillars and parasitoids (wasps, and flies that lay their eggs in caterpillars)

5. The Procedure 0 First we sampled plots of land in the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. 0 Every caterpillar possible was collected. 0 Back at the lab the caterpillars were identified, photographed and catalogued. 0 The caterpillars were then cared for until they formed chrysalids and hatched into moths or died.

6. The Importance of this Research 0 Caterpillars are one of our main agricultural pests. 0 The concern is that extreme weather events may decrease the population of the parasitoids. 0 If the population of parasitoids decreases, then the caterpillar population should increase. 0 This could cause increased deforestation and crop damage.

7. The Classroom Connection 0 We kept in touch with our classes through blogs and videoconferencing.

8. Community Connection 0 Students worked with seniors to plan and build a butterfly garden at the Willington Senior community Center

9. NOAA Teacher at Sea: Researching Pollack in the Gulf of Alaska

10. 0 Ecosystem and Fisheries- Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) Late Larval Survey 0 Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Kodiak Island, Alaska 0 May19 – June 2, 2010

12. 0 What - Ichthyoplankton survey and process studies 0 Where – Gulf of Alaska from Shumagin Islands to Shelikoff Straits 0 Why - To estimate the abundance, transport, and factors influencing the survival of young Pollock larvae.

13. 0 Also known as Walleye Pollock 0 Member of Cod family 0 Lives in the North Pacific and Bering Sea 0 Mid-water to bottom dwelling fish 0 Lifespan is up to 17 years. 0 Young feed on plankton and small fish; older Pollock feed mostly on fish 0 Main predator is the Stellar Sea Lion

14. The Importance of this Research 0 Research is part of the management program for a commercially important fishery 0 Researchers are creating a model to show future abundance of adults based on larval survival rates. 0 Will compare to actual population numbers obtained from fisheries researchers who sample the adult harvest 0 Pollock is declining – possible causes are predation by Arrowtooth flounder on juveniles and changes in water temperature

16. Deploying the CTD Sampler

17. The Gulf of Alaska

18. The Classroom Connection: 0 Students accompanied me on my journey through the use of my blog 0 Each day they would read the newest post and then complete their challenge activity and post their questions for my to answer

19. Community Connection How can we help protect LIS? 0 Go to Long Island Sound Study website: http://longislandsoundstudy.net/get-involved/what- you-can-do/ to learn about what students can do to help protect the Sound. http://longislandsoundstudy.net/get-involved/what- you-can-do/ 0 International Coastal Clean-up

20. How to follow along 0 You can access this power point, my blogs and resources at my 7 th or 8 th grade Wikis 0 http://sciencerocks8.wikispaces.com http://sciencerocks8.wikispaces.com 0 http://yeah-science7.wikispaces.com http://yeah-science7.wikispaces.com

21. Earthwatch Live From the Field and NOAA Teacher at Sea Bring the Science Home