Monday, June 23, 2014

Schodack Island

View from Schodack Island 
After doing some blogs, we departed to Schodack Island. Once we arrived, we settled our bags and started our journey. Proffesor Toby explained to us the impact of mercury in the environment. I also did a little bit of research on mercury since the topic seemed to me very complex. The primary source of mercury is rainfall. Once in the water, mercury settles in the bottom and becomes sediments. Mercury is then absorbed by the soil and later by the plants. Bacteria that live in the soil also feed on mercury. As a result, bacteria and plants accumulate mercury in their systems. As fishes and other aquatic animals feed on the bacteria and plants containing mercury, they also accumulate mercury in the bodies.
Proffesor Toby explained that this process is called bioaccumulation and it is pretty much how mercury enters the food chain. Consequently, mercury can disturb an entire ecosystem. Since fishes can be a high source of mercury in the food chain, many people who fish and who eat fish are warned about the danger of mercury. I love fish and if I could I would eat it every day! That was what I thought before. Now I am becoming more aware of the situation. I knew about the danger of high level of mercury. However, I did not know how mercury enters the food chain or the big impact that it causes to the environment. Having small conversations with the professors definitely help me understand small matters that are happening nowadays.Another topic we talked about was the current of the Hudson River. When we were standing in the dock, we saw a piece of trunk floating in the river. Keri and I were so confused when Proffesor toby said that the piece of trunk was going in opposite direction of the current. We saw the waves going to the right and so was doing the piece of trunk. That is why we assumed that the piece of trunk was going with the current not opposite to the current. However, Proffesor Toby told us that the waves that we were seeing were actually a tide, not the current of the river. I found this very fascinating. A tidal fluctuation is caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon. While the earth rotates, a bulge of ocean water is created which then triggers the tidal fluctuations.
Toby sent us to explore the island for half an hour. While exploring I read some of the posters that were around the island. One of the posters said that part of the Schodack Island is the site of a Bird Conversation Area (BCA). This Bird Conversation Area is home of Bald Eagles, Cerulean warbles and Blue Herons. I found this very interesting since I already knew about the Bald Eagles. These eagles were at risk of extinction years ago. However, they are now returning back. It felt nice being in a place that was especially assigned for the reservation of species at risk of extinction. In other poster in the Schodack Island, I read that the Mohicans inhabited the area before the Europeans arrived. Once the Europeans started taking lands over, the Mohicans departed to the north.
When we finished exploring, we walked to a dock which was located across the island. I was ready to go into the water. When I got in, I felt I was sinking because of all the mood at the bottom of the river. It felt really nasty. However, I enjoyed it very much. I always wanted to get all moody and I finally did it. Professor Toby was trying to catch some fishes with his nest. Unfortunately, we got no fish.  When we were about to leave, Keri started a mood fight. Kassaina, Michelle, Keri and I were the main participants in the fight. None of the other girls felt like being in the fight. Even though Krista did not want to be part of the mood fight, she got all moody too. Today was definitely a great day.

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