Post by: Gavin Nelson
Today we went on an all day boat trip out in the Gulf of Mexico. Our first stop was at a place called Undercut Island. It is called Undercut, because the tides and currents have eroded the bottom of the mangroves causing an undercut to form (the island is shaped like a mushroom). We were able to tie up to the Island, and walk through the mangroves, cleaning up marine debris. After we were done collecting trash on the island, we suited up for snorkeling. I checked the water temperature and found out that it was a balmy 59 degrees F (cold water was not mentioned in the course description!). Amazingly at the location that had the coldest water the whole trip, everyone went snorkeling! When we got in the water, we had to be extra careful not to kick down and mix up all the sediment. There was not a whole lot to see unless you dove under to look at the undercut. John Booker (the resident scientist) told us th
at if we were lucky, we would see some fish swimming upside down in the undercut. They would do this because they wanted to light and the only light under there would be bouncing off the bottom: Being upside sown would make them closer to the light. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone saw an upside down fish. One thing we did find however was a sea star stuck to the wall of the undercut. After a while the sediment on the bottom got kicked up (as everyone was in at once), making it harder for us to see so we got on the boat for a picnic lunch in the sun (and no wind!).Post by: Louis Caiola
Today, I was ready to embark on an all day boat trip. Our first destination was Undercut Island. This island was very interesting, because of its mangroves forming almost of its foliage. Not only does this make an interesting effect on the top of the island, but the root systems of the red mangrove formed an island once they trapped the sediment. This island is a perfect example of what mangroves do over time. These forces hold and trap sediment from the currents pushing sediment particles in the roots. This high power tide created a groove going around the island which cuts out some of the exterior, under part of the island. The wind plays another role in the development as not only does it restrict the propagules from dropping further (red mangroves do not like deep water), but also it brings in marine debris which binds the aerial roots.
I spent a good portion of the morning collecting the marine debris. Walking on the island was like entering a jungle. Fine silt and mangrove roots peppered the bottom of the island. Orb weaver spiders and other spiders and their branches infiltrated the branches all over the island. Fire sponge grew on the perimeter of the island and green spiny caterpillars (these are poisonous) inhabit the trees along with the spiders. The marine debris we recovered included buoys, trap rope, plastic bags and bottles which were strewn all over the roots of the mangroves. Birds also inhabit the island. The aerial roots hung over the branches and reached down into the waters of undercut island, making it an incredibly wild island!
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