FIO Field Studies in Marine Science 2013: The Beginning of the End: Day 1 & 2 at UNF

The first day back at UNF began like any other, too early. However I got over my Monday morning blues as we made our way to the Mayport Marina for a river cruise of the majestic St. John's River. Once we arrived at the Marina, we were given the choice between two vessels, a catamaran affectionately named for UNF's mascot, The Osprey, or a schooner by the name of the Genetic Drift. I chose to spend my day aboard the faster, but bumpier, Genetic Drift with Dr. Hackney as the Captain. We the proceeded to make our way about 20 miles upriver which, unlike most rivers in the world, meant we were headed south. The journey south was a little bit time consuming, however having grown up in Northeast Florida I was able to point out various landmarks to the rest of my classmates and professor, which definitely helped prove to pass the time. Once we arrived at the first station we began taking water quality parameters and a water sample from both the surface and at the bottom, which ranged from 4m to 13m. The parameters that we measured on site included temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. We also took a Secchi Disk reading at each site as a way to measure turbidity, and as no surprise to anyone the St. John's river proved to be fairly turbid the further upstream we traveled. We collected water samples using a Van Doren device to test color, chlorophyll content and turbidity using federal turbidity units once we arrived back in the lab. As well we performed a plankton tow with a small nueston net. We performed all of these tests at each of four stations so as to analyze the differences in such parameters as we traveled closer and closer to the mouth of the river. We also made sure to take note of the sources of human impact up and down the river, which were quite extensive- shipyards, cruise terminals, JaxPort, The Landing, restaurants, various businesses and industries, and of course houses with fertilized yards.

Ken and I collecting Plankton from the Nueston Net

Ken taking Water Quality Parameters

Mike using the Secchi Disk

Arien and Paige viewing Plankton in the Lab

The Genetic Drift

The next day was a little more low key filled with exploring the dynamic coastline of Northeast Florida. We traveled to 5 different beaches in order to see for ourselves the differences between a beach that was part of a preserve, an inlet with jetties, and a natural inlet. We also were afforded the chance to see vast amounts of coquina outcroppings that formed a sort of rocky intertidal zone. The first site we visited was the North Beach Access of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve aka GTM NERR. This high energy barrier island beach is part of a protected habitat with only a few points for beach access so as to protect the dunes and the various plants and animals that inhabit it. The next site we visited was the St. Augustine Inlet. This inlet is maintained by man through the placement of jetties and occasional dredging. This beach is also one of a select few that allow beach-goers to drive on it, which I don't think should be allowed anywhere as it really proves to degrade the beach. No more are the dune habitats we saw at GTM NERR for instead all we see are houses and hotels. The next site we visited was a more protected beach than the last and also a natural inlet. We were able to see the sloping dunes and hear from Dr. Matt Kimball about how dynamic this inlet is. Though we saw the inlet as it was now, it is constantly changing in the formation of deltas and small islands as well as the shifting location of the inlet itself. After visiting this natural inlet we proceeded to visit a beach community known as Summerhaven that has been greatly effected by the actions of a natural inlet. There are many houses who were once waterfront locations with access to the ocean from their backyards who have seen the river that once connected them to the Atlantic Ocean disappear as a reslut of the moving inlet. Though they wish for the river to be dredged so as to allow for access once more, that would disturb the natural course of events as well as the mangroves who have begun to take root in this habitat. Finally we made our way to Marineland to view the coquina outcroppings present. Never before had I seen such a vast amount of coquina rock, and frankly it was beautiful to see the habitat they presented. These outcroppings were filled with holes and basins that were swarming with life-gastropods, juvenile Sargent Majors and blennies, and even some crabs. We spent a lot of time here; catching fish, observing tidal flow and finding small springs bubbling up.