Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why? I'm proud of how much knowledge I have on the subject and have just realized it when it was so easy to talk about actual information when I treated the presentation more informally. I am also proud of the decorations in my room and how well it went with the activities and the activities themselves also seemed to be fun for the class. (2) Questions to Consider a. What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? P+ b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? AP+ (3) What worked for you in your senior project? The fact that I learned something that was completely applicable to real life was very helpful in keeping me motivated to finish things like the science project. (4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time? Start with reintroduction as my original topic and also find the AZA reintroduction guidelines sooner. (5) Finding Value How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors? Be specific and use examples. This project has forced me to think formally in science and has forced me to do well in future science classes. This has also helped me to engage in the marine biology field and find many opportunities like my college of choice going into a JC then transferring into CSULB. I am also impressed with how well I was able to converse on reintroduction with an expert on reintroduction (Mike Schaadt).

Mentorship

Literal · Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aij2AloMrD2tdG9pcVBjTXRPNHRMSFJWVFVCcWVNZ0E#gid=0 · Contact Name & Number Andres Carrillo (714)390-0305 Interpretive What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why? The most important thing I gained from this experience is the experience of working in a lab setting where being scientifically correct and critical thiinking is encouraged. I have also learned many things about all kinds of marine life as well as a lot more on the type of habitats they live in. Applied How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ? Please explain. As I explain in my ISearch, the first couple of times I went to the aquarium to volunteer I went to go reintroduce a small pipefish and more after that. That moment helped me reflect on my research and why that sort of thing would be important. Also just being in the environment with scientists I can ask questions at anytime about my topic and they would be answered with no problem and some proof as to what they answered.

Exit Interview Quetions

(1) What is your essential question? What is the best answer to your question and why? My essential question is what is the best way to reintroduce a marine animal? My best answer is my third answer which is to release them in a region formerly occupied by the same species. The reason why this is my best answer is because what my research has shown me is that the process that makes them learn their environment is not nearly as important as the pre-reintroduction screening.I say that this method is more effective just because it is more cost effective and less time consuming than the first, it is safer for the animal because of the lack of environmental hazards prereintroduction, and it is the best because the animals were made to survive in the environment that you are reintroducing them to and with this form of reintroduction you can focus on a whole population rather than one animal at a time,in the words of Mike Schaadt from the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, "It doesn't matter if the individual survives, it depends on the population, that is where the success lies." (2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer? The process I took to answer this was doing much research not on just the reintroduction of marine animals, but the reintroduction of any animals and i took that information and applied it to marine life as many scientists have before. I also had research on previous reintroduction efforts of various sources such as our very own NAVY who was using a part of the AZA's guide to reintroduction with their own twist to reintroduce dolphins. I also had very useful interviews with various scientists, but especially helpful was Mike Schaadt whom I had a 45 min long interview with where his experience with reintroduction really came to light. (3) What problems did you face? How did you resolve them? In my project the biggest problems were that I couldn't find any mentors to do hours with and the fact that my science fair project died. Finding a mentor was one of the hardest things I have had to do. To find this mentor I had tried many places and people all of which denied me studying under them. Countless aquaria, programs, mission programs, rescues, and even professors had turned me down through Emails and phone calls. It seemed everyone was on edge for one reason or another mainly that the fall semester had started and school somehow affected everything I could ever try. Then one day tired of trying and very hopeless, I tried a very unprofessional approach and asked the 'Ask A Marine Biologist' section if I could have a mentorship opportunity and Mike Schaadt answered this call saving my entire senior project. My science fair project was probably the most frustrating thing i will ever do in my life. My supervisor and mentor Andres Carrillo had told me that their were ways which could induce strobilation in polyps of jellyfish. With my research still being for marine biology in general and not coming up wit my present EQ I was going to test what the effects of ocean acidification were on Aurelia aurita from the stage of polyp to ephyra. I should start by saying I started this project in late December. I had created different pH waters using 4M HCl (hydrochloric acid) and actual ocean water on a Monday of my winter break. I had cared for these jellyfish for months, feeding them and cleaning them and every couple of weeks they would show signs of strobilation but then regress. I would come to my mentorship with hope expecting them to be ephyra but instead they stood polyps. One week they showed a dark purple coloration which was a sure fire way of telling that their about to strobilate. When I came back I had been informed that a man came to change the handles on all of the doors and knocked the water out to let the polyps die. I solved this by informing Pittman and getting a recommendation. Another problem that I had which was more of an ongoing struggle was finding research. Since reintroduction as a field is still in its infancy stage there was little to no research on it, but the fact that it was still an emerging field was a privilege I will always feel. I dealt with this by researching deeper. (4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why? My two most significant sources are the AZA Guidelines to Reintroduction and Mike Schaddt, director of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The AZA guide showed me the specific needs to be met by all animals whether marine or not, with good reasoning behind their rules I decided to apply these to all of my answers to see if they all fit the correct rules. My second biggest source was Mike Schaadt who answered all of the questions I had after research with in depth answers that gave me a huge insight to reintroducing animals. (5) What is your product and why? My product is that as of now I can engage in a scientific conversation with people about the affects of habitats on animals or just in general with my experience in mentorship. Another product I now have is the lasting knowledge of doing an experiment submittal where I had to come up with research,equipment lists, why you wan to try the experiment, the sciencebehind your project, a detailed instruction of how to perform the experiment, and I also learned how to speak professionally in a scientific environment especially when the jargon is absolutely necessary.

Final 3-Column Chart

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Byj2AloMrD2tMjZhcFo0c3R4V3c/edit?usp=sharing

Science Fair PROBLEM!

I now have a major problem with my science experiment. THEY JUST DIED! I believe it had something to do with a problem that I had with them the week before. I left the jellies alone in a drawer to induce strobilation, the problem started on a Tuesday when I wasn't there. The drawer handles were being replaced so that the aquarium looked more aesthetitically pleasing and were actually operational. The drawer was known to get stuck and the man got it stuck then decided to yank it out with force forcing the tray to fall and the water to empty. The man left all three of them empty for the rest of the week where the jellies were suffocating. However the jellies survived but weren't responding to food anymore and thats jellies died.

Independent Component 2

Literal a) I Elijah Armendariz, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work. b)The man that helped was Jeremy Meadows a PADI divemaster who works in affiliation with Sport Chalet. c) d) I completed my Open Water Diver's certification course. Interpretive I know for a fact that I completed well over 30 hours of work because the course consisted of an online course which I spent 2 hours a day for 2 weeks on, 2 in class lessons which were 3 hours each, two confined water dives which were 2 hours each, then 4 open water dives which were each 45 mins- an hour off of Casino Point on Catalina's coast. Applied This component helps me and my project because as Mike Schaadt director of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium said one of the most important parts of the process of reintroduction is to watch the population after the reintroduction is done to make sure it was successful or if there are any ways to solve the issue of their failure. This is often the step that dictates whether the process was a success or failure.

Senior Project and ESLR's

1. I believe the ESLR that I am doing the best on currently in my science project is the effective learner.

2. I know I have excelled in this because just to even get the opportunity to conduct this experiment I have had to do some extensive research to find out what the polyps eat, how much they eat, how to get them to strobilate, what kind of acid I should use to correctly balance the sea water's pH along with how much I should use, I have had to look up strobilation strategies, as well as an entire guide on the life-cycle of the Aurelia aurita. In addition to this I have fed these every week and written instructions on cleaning and feeding for the rest of the staff. Just to create a proper university level hypotheses took critical thinking to word it in the right terminology as well as format. Everyday I am there I also take notes on them and record the changes that are taking place in the polyps.

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Independent Component 2 *Proof*

Science Fair Proposal

1. My topic is marine biology.

2. "Within 50 to 100 years the ocean's acidity can more than double..." -Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

3. When exposed to 7.5 pH ocean water, as opposed  to 8.04 pH water, an Aurelia aurita will be smaller in size in the ephyra stage when grown from the polyp stage.

4. I will perform my experiment by getting 3 different pH waters (7.5, 7.8, and 8.04) into a total of 60 wells (20 wells per acidity,) in which the polyps are placed. When the polyps have strobilated I will  measure all of the ephyra and get the average of each acidity and compare them afterwards. I will need 2M HCl and ocean water as well as polyps of Aurelia aurita.

5. Animal Biology

2-Hour Meeting Answer #3

1. What is the best way to reintroduce a marine animal back to its natural habitat?

2. The best way to reintroduce an animal would be to just throw it back into its natural habitat.

3. In the case of reintroducing grunion we just release them to the ocean very easily. In my own experience in reintroducing pipefish we had just released them down at the boat docks into  seaweed and they were fine. This is in fact the way that we introduce many of the animals in the aquatic nursery.

4. The sources that helped me come to this answer was a textbook chapter about the physiology of fish and microorganisms and my third interview in which my interviewee (Chris Bautista) said that this was in fact a feasible way of reintroducing animals.

5. I plan to study behavior and hunting patterns to see how much of an impact being in captivity has on their instincts.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1. What is the best way to reintroduce an animal that has been taken into captivity?
2. How long should it take for an animal to be reintroduced to its habitat?
3. What is the biggest problem in introducing an animal?
4. What factors must be considered when determining if the animal is ready for reintroduction?
5. What in your opinion is the best way to reintroduce an animal?
6. Is there such a thing as an animal that can not be reintroduced?
7. Would you say that just placing animals into their natural habitat is enough for it to survive?
8. Is there a stage of life in which organism tend to do better in being reintroduced?
9. Is an animal that has been in the wild previously, more succeptible to reintroduction?
10. How does a stressful event affect the animals reintroduction?
11. Are there differences with reintroduction in fish versus shellfish or crustaceans?
12. If an animals environment changed with something like an oil spill would you recommend it be reintroduced there after the clean up?
13. Are there any known processes which have shown promising results for marine reintroduction?
14. Do you think raising animals in an enclosure in their natural environment is a feasible method of reintroduction?
15. Have there been any success stories about a certain species return from endangerment? Why or why not?
16. Do microorganisms require any sort of reintroduction and if so what?
17. How can you simulate the social skills an animal must develop in the wild?
18. How can you ensure an animals success after its been released?
19. In what way could you deelop the captivated animal's hunting skills?
20. How long would an animal retain its sense of the wild after it is captured?

Blog 16

1.) My EQ is "What Is The Best Method To Reintroduce A Marine Animal Back Into Its Natural Habitat?"

2.) My second answer to my EQ is to build an enclosure in the habitat that theey already live in to get them to get a real feel for it.

3.) One example of how this works would be like current aquaculture farms. Right now there are salmon farms built right on the mouth of rivers where salmon still inhabit. When you use this strategy its like living in a certain country and being able to speak the language, perform the customs, and live as a citizen. However, when going to a different country most people are disoriented and can't learn the customs and language and will have a hard time being a citizen. There are already small enclosed nets for open ocean bait fish where they thrive although they are being used for bait.

4.) Kirsten Dowell a PhD at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro helped me verify this.

5.) I plan to continue my study on answer 2 by finding hard facts and numbers instead of using examples and theories.

Blog 15

Independent Component 2
 As I have discussed with Pittman, I have already started my independent component 2. My independent component 2 is going to be getting SCUBA certified. I believe it is 30 hours of work easily because there is a long and complicated online course followed by a couple of physical classes as well as 4 pool dives and 2 ocean dives which is I would say is more than 30 hours easily. SCUBA is very important when it comes to understanding underwater life by letting people collect things as well as observe animals in their natural habitat.

Blog 5a

1. My topic is now on the reintroduction of marine animals used for research or endangerment.

2. The problem with my science fair project is that the ocean's acidity is rising and it is unprojected how some animals will do during that time therefore I am testing Aurelia aurita also known as the moon jellyfish in these conditions.

3. If the acidity of ocean water is lower, then the size of the Aurelia aurita ephyra and polyps will be smaller.

4. I have gotten three trays with twenty wells each and filled them with 7.5 pH, 7.8 pH, and 8.1 pH(the ocean's acidity,) respectively. I then took the Aurelia aurita from the polyp stage and measure the average growth per tray of the ephyra they produce. It will require 2M HCl, a beaker of seawater, pH measuring probe, wells, Aurelia aurita polyps, and pH strips, along with rotifers to feed them.

5. Animal Biology

Blog 14

Literal
a) I, Elijah Armendariz, affirm that I have completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

b)My source is Andres Carrillo at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium because he helped me get the hours and supervises me.

c) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aij2AloMrD2tdG9pcVBjTXRPNHRMSFJWVFVCcWVNZ0E&usp=sharing

d) I got to work with all of the animals in the aquatic nursery cleaning, feeding, setting up new tanks, and even reintroducing a couple of animals.

Interpretive

Applied
 This helped me learn about my topic by literally submersing me in it. We deal with marine life at all times and I do in fact get the chance to do what I am studying to answer my EQ which is reintroducing animals that we have kept on display and for research. These hours have also helped me gain a lot better understanding by talking to the people who try and figure this out everyday PhD's who just have spewed knowledge at me.

30 Min Presentation

CLICK HERE FOR TEMPLATE

Blog 11

1. I am completing my mentorship at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

2. My original contact was Mike Schaddt, the director at the aquarium, taught me a lot, but later handed me over to my current Supervisor Andres Carillo who is in the process of getting his doctorates.

3. I have completed 65 hours so far, but plan to complete more for the first independent component.

4. To summarize what I do at the aquarium, I feed various types of marine life, clean up after the feedings, set up tanks sometimes a specialized habitats where Ipoly project ideas come in handy, I collect plankton, crabs, and shrimp from the shores of the nearby beaches, I help teach kids from middle school kids from East LA about different terms and habitats in marine biology, play with new instruments such as a salinometer, talk to the public about the animals, research in the library, observe animal behavior, learn new things everyday, I perform experiments currently on jellyfish, and have a lot of fun while doing it.

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