Today we started our next group project at Dump Reef Beach just a short walk from the GRC. First we mapped out the different regions of the intertidal zone. From the rock wall (white zone) to grey and black zones we chased the outgoing tide down to the yellow zone. We set up 2 transects with our handy dandy tape measure and quickly began laying our meter square quadrats (which is just our fancy science word for a square pvc grid). We proceeded to identify and count all the living things we found within the grid and rapidly found out how difficult it can be. From the plethora of tiny zebra periwinkles to lightning fast hopping amphipods and the uneven rocky epikarst terrain we had our hands full completing this survey. Never the less with spirits high and solid group work we finished our task and returned to the base for lunch. Thanks to the outgoing tide, some of the group took a beautiful walk along the beach back home.After lunch everyone finished preparing for our first exam, and thanks to Dr. Erdman and 
Cross this was no easy task. We all got together for a group study session and compared notes. We quizzed each other numerous times on dates, facts, and definitions. As the quizzes kept coming, our answers got faster and more confident. Once a couple hours passed we were all ready to finally get the test over with and prepare for our group presentations. Following dinner, we presented our group projects that examined four different beaches on the island. 
We made two profiles of each beach and also examined sand grain size as a function of beach location and wave energy. We also presented our “5-minute-minis”, which were presentations on an animal of our choice that we saw in the field but didn’t talk about in class. We all learned some interesting facts about lots of different critters. Tomorrow is the boat trip to Green Cay to see iguanas and snorkeling on the offshore fringing reef…..an exciting event filled day.
- Robb and Bo
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