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Day 8 4.27.06
Habitat ground-truthing
Art Gleason, University of Miami, provided habitat data that he interpreted from single-beam bathymetry and backscatter data. His data was collected on previous Navassa research expeditions using a Quester Tangent Corporation instrument.
We have been surveying selected locations with a drop camera connected to a high-accuracy GPS to provide additional information on the type of habitat at a given location. This video footage will help:
- assess the accuracy of habitat maps
- provide supplemental habitat information for our multibeam charts.
Conch update
Today’s objective was to examine sizes of conch shells discarded by Haitian fishermen in Lulu Bay. In previous conversations with fishermen, Jean Weiner learned that fishermen typically return to Haiti with their conch catch whole. When fishermen catch smaller conch, they knock a hole near the tip of the spire to release the muscle attachment and remove the animal from its shell. They eat these juvenile conch while fishing around Navassa. We expected to find a majority of juvenile shells. Much to our surprise, we found almost exclusively adult shells. Many of the shells were heavily encrusted, providing substrate for a variety of algae and habitat for numerous juvenile fish species. This leads us to wonder:
- Where are the juvenile conch?
- What is the population of juvenile conch around Navassa Island?
- With increased fishing pressure, what are the effects of low juvenile
densities on the longer term survival of conch populations?
Photo of seafloor in Lulu Bay, by Christine Addison
BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR DIVE ACTIVITIES
Many planning activities must take place prior to divers completing any underwater science.
Diver and photographer, Abby Poray, prepares her camera and lights prior to a dive. Before and after each dive, cameras are soaked in fresh water and checked carefully for leaks. After every immersion in seawater, dried salt must be thoroughly removed in order to to prevent leaks. A series of small rubber rings, or O-rings, keep the water from entering the camera housing. Divers must use extreme care in camera maintenance and preparation. Photo by J. Vander Pluym
Divers are responsible for loading and unloading dive equipment on small boats. Preparing for her morning dive, Ruth Kelty carries the hang tank up a deck to the small boat, NF1. Throughout the day, over 20 sets of dive gear are loaded and unloaded into the small boats. Photo by C. Addison.
Deploying small boats requires coordinated efforts by the crew. These vessels are deployed and recovered multiple times each day. Photo by C. Addison.
Once on site, divers must carefully put on their dive gear. On days with wind and sea swell, donning a tank requires the assistance of fellow divers. Here, Amy Uhrin steadies John Marr’s tank. Photo by P. Whitfield.
Shelby Moneysmith takes habitat photos. Photo by C. Addison.
Paula Whitfield makes notes from her fish transect. Photo by A. Uhrin.
Another successful dive. Divers' pictures (L to R): Brian Degan, Amy Uhrin, Jean Weiner, Ruth Kelty, Abby Poray, and John Marr. Photo by P. Whitfield.
Scientist in the Spotlight
Mike Stetcher, Multibeam Team Member
Mike
Stecher is the lead hydrographer on this research cruise. He
will produce high resolution bathymetry data to be used by NOS,
CCFHR, and resource managers. Mike is responsible for:
- multibeam data quality acquisition
- data management
- survey planning and execution
- data post-processing.
Data will be submitted to NOS to be reviewed for possible revisions to navigational charts of the Navassa area. Navassa Island was last surveyed in 1899.
Mike is the founder and owner of Solmar Hydro, a hydrographic firm based in Portland, Oregon that specializes in high resolution bathymetric surveys. Mike has a BS in Geology from the University of Oregon, He began his career in hydrographic work on the NOAA Ship Rainier in 1997. Mike has been aboard the Nancy Foster for 6 of the last 8 weeks making valuable contributions to not only the Navassa research cruise, but also to the NOAA CCMA Biogeography team’s research cruise surveying Buck Island Reef National Monument near St. Croix, USVI. He is an avid windsurfer and mountain biker, anxiously waiting to enjoy the summer weather and arrival of his first child in August. Photo by D. Boles.
NOAA Ship Nancy Foster: Crew in the Spotlight
Dan Boles, Multibeam Team Member
Dan Boles has been the Survey Technician for the Nancy Foster since December
2005. After graduating from College of Charleston with a B.S. in Geology
and a B.A. in French, he worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources. He started with NOAA as a survey technician on the Rainier and
conducted hydrographic surveys from Washington state to Alaska. On
the Nancy Foster's previous research cruise off of Puerto Rico, he had a
memorable encounter with Moises the Manatee. He has enjoyed the
variety of the Nancy Foster's mission with:
- diving operations
- small boat operation
- hydrographic surveying.
Dan’s duties include:
- casting the Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) probe
- small vessel operation (certified coxswain)
- multibeam data processing
- general multibeam trouble-shooting.
Photo by J. Vander Pluym.
Dennis Moore, Second Cook
Dennis Moore truly earns the title “Man of the Sea.” At a spry 61, he has been sailing (as he calls it) for over 44 years. After graduating high school in Omaha, Nebraska, Dennis went straight into the Navy where he served on three aircraft carriers as a Ship Serviceman, Steward, Barber, Master at Arms, and Mess Management. Dennis also attended the Defense Race Relations Institute located at Patrick Air Force base where he sat side by side with Army Commanders to learn how to ease integration in the armed forces. He led and taught various workshops focused on equal opportunity within the armed services as well as how to work and live together as a diverse military. He retired after 20 years of service in November 1982. He started working with NOAA a few months later, in March of 1983.
Dennis has sailed on nearly all the ships in the Atlantic fleet working as Second Cook and Chief Steward. He has been on the Nancy Foster since she set sail in May 2004. He plans on retiring next March after 25 years with NOAA. He plans to return to Hopewell, VA to his very patient and understanding wife of 40 years. Although he has traveled all over the world and witnessed many changes in our nation's history, Dennis is a humble man who likes to ride his motor scooter to the post office to see if he has won any of the sweepstakes he has entered. Photo by J. Vander Pluym.