Last Thursday, my bio class went to the Vancouver Aquarium where we learned and saw numerous sea animals and critters. The last time I had visited the aquarium I believe was in grade one, not quite sure but it was a long time ago. Anyway, the bus ride there wasn't so bad but trying to take a nap before we arrived was a struggle, I wanted to gain some energy from waking up late and rushing to get to the school on time. When we got there, we were split into our blocks 3 and 4 to do separate assignments, our class got to go in and explore the different zones while the other class got to do the lab. Not sure what to expect I was getting a bit too excited because they had renovated almost everything in the aquarium and it wasn't what I had remembered except the belugas. I had learned things that I wouldn't have known or came to mind, with the little side notes beside the tanks, and the touch screens that tell about how each sea creature without it being too boring. We also had to do a scavenger hunt, although I don't find scavenger hunts to be exciting or fun I wanted the questions to be in order so we wouldn't have to go all over the place but then again that defeats the purpose of a hunt. When we had finished taking pictures, attempted to do the hunt and look at everything, we wanted to check out the Polar Express 4D movie which started at 12:15 but when Ms.Iannone found us we ended up going to the lab. It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, because when we first got there it felt like being in a classroom with a very perky teacher named Dana, and a helper named Dejan B, not sure if Dejan is his first name or last name.. At first we were experimenting with snails, learning which food item they will eat and must I say was kind of boring watching a snail move to either side for about 5 minutes each but once we entered the wet lab I was very hands on which was amazing for I love to learn new things by being able to touch things. Everyone was able to touch and see all different kinds of anemones, starfish/sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs, seaweed, oysters etc. and it seemed as if 5 minutes wasn't enough! After the lab we went straight to the bus and went home, the bus ride back was awful, the boys from block 4 were or should I say is annoying and ended up giving me a massive headache.. All in all this field trip was the best field trip out of the ones I've been to so far out of my high school years, besides going to the pne (science field trips are reaaaally fun!)
Here is some information we had to find from the scavenger hunt!:
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(My Picture) Japanese Sea Nettle:
This jellyfish is my favourite marine invertebrate because it is able to throw powdered sea nettle on attackers faces, making them sneeze! |
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(My Picture) Moon Jellies:
These Moon Jellies move slowly, and when they feed they kill prey by stinging them. |
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(My Picture) Clown Anemone Fish:
The Clown Fishes eggs depend on sea anemones for protection from predators, and in return the fish cleans the anemone. (symbiotic relationship) |
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(My Picture) Shark:
Sharks don't have bones instead they have a skeleton made up of cartilage. |
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(My Picture) Caiman Crocodile:
This guy comes from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay but mostly from South America. It camouflages with its neutral coloured skin making it easier to ambush prey. |
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(My Picture) Sea Otter:
They spend a lot of time cleaning their coats for it's better for trapping oxygen. In 1900 you could find them near Amchitlea Island, Alaska, California and Monterey, they were reintroduced in Canada from 1969 to 1970.
Sadly I wasn't able to see the Stellar Sea Lions and only saw the one in my picture, but the Sea Lion eats fish and squid, where they would hunt in groups/packs. |
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(My Picture) Beluga Whale:
The Beluga's scientific name is Delphinapterus Leucas, and there are only two of them at the Aquarium. |
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(My Picture) Sea Turtle:
This was another animal found in the shark tank also its name is Chelona Mydas. |
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(My Picture) Sea Cucumber:
The Sea Cucumber really reminds me of an intestine! s:
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(Online Picture)
I didnt take a picture while we were at the tank but this was the Sea Anemone beside the Sea Otter tank. |
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(Online Picture) Piranhas:
Piranhas are only a big threat when taking a fishing hook out of their mouths. |
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(Online Picture) PotBelly Seahorse:
The aquarium took the seahorses out but they did have plenty of pictures of them hanging around. |
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(Online Picture) Archerfish:
I don't remember if I saw these guys at the Aquarium because I didn't take a picture of any of them ): but they feed from water on the surface, leaping for insects! |
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(Online Picture) Starry Flounder:
I must have missed this flounder because I didn't really stop at every single tank plus they're really good at camouflages, they look dead at the bottom of the ocean which is an advantage because they can ambush their prey. |
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(Online Picture) Pacific Octopus:
I never got the chance to see this octopus, must have been too shy to come out! The Pacific Octopus's suction cups grab prey as they swim by, they are also known as natures best predators because they are hard to sport and great at hiding! |
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(Online Picture) Giant Red Sea Urchin:
I saw a lot of urchins but felt I took way too many pictures of them and didn't think to take a picture of these ones. Their scientific name is strongylocentrouts Franciscanus, they have spiky needles that surrounds their body which defends them from predators. |
