Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.
The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.
Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.
Experts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.
“It’s a connection to nature that allows the kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rain forest, which is important, but rather what’s going on in their own neighborhood,” said Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator at the DEC.
Gelardi led two sessions in South Jamesport on Friday but students from across eastern Suffolk studied the Peconic Estuary at different locations including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.
Julie Hargrave, the policy manager at the Pine Barrens commission, said the program is important because it spreads awareness among young people.
“Once they’re aware,” Hargrave said, “they appreciate the environment around them.”
Led by their teachers and officials from the DEC, the students in South Jamesport measured wind speed, documented currents and tested water temperature, salinity, pH and other water quality benchmarks before pulling on waders to get up close to fish, crabs, snails and other estuary critters.
Science teacher Claire Yannacone led students from her marine science class at Riverhead High School.
“They’re not afraid of anything,” Yannacone said. “Some people don’t like the icky, the slimy, but they want to try things out, they’re giving it a go. It’s really rewarding.”
The information collected will be uploaded to a database containing findings from previous years’ studies and managed by the Brookhaven laboratory. The data can be used to track the health of the waterway or flag anomalies like invasive or nonnative species.
“It really just goes to show the value of community science and how these large groups of participants can provide scientists with these additional important data points,” said Sharon Pepenella, who helps run student research programs and other outreach at the Brookhaven laboratory.
Last month, a group of students in the program from William Floyd High School, analyzing data at Smith Point Marina in Shirley, identified a mangrove snapper, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented previously by students in the program.
The species is usually found in warmer regions, Pepenella said.
While it is possible for the fish to be found in New York waters, it is not well-suited for colder temperatures.
“Its presence could suggest something like warming waters from climate change are affecting when and where the species is found,” Pepenella said.
For students like 17-year-old Renee Marcks of Riverhead, the real-life research is a thrill.
“I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she’s also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track movement and mortality of the ancient species.
“I care about our environment and I want to potentially do sustainability research, go to developing countries … to help other people,” she said.
Jo Anne Kulik, who also teaches marine science in Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of logging data efficiently.
A bonus perk was an October day spent at the beach.
“Just getting them outside is important,” Kulik said. “It’s good to put them in an environment that surrounds where they live.”
Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But the fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.
“It was cool. I kind of got tired pulling the net,” he said, battling a persistent wind. “It was cold, and these are heavy,” he said of his waders.
Gonzalez said he’d urge other students to sign up.
“Go outside … and stop playing on the phones all the time.”
Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.
The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.
Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.
Student Science
- The “Day in the Life of a River” program gives high schoolers an up close look at marine life and Long Island waterways.
- Date the students collect is used to help provide a snapshot of environmental conditions and the health of sea life and the water.
- More than 1,000 students from 37 schools are participating in the fall 2024 program, which began in late September and continues through early November.
Curiosity sparked
Experts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.
Riverhead High School student Ashly Galdamez examines a mole crab she collected from Flanders Bay on Friday. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
“It’s a connection to nature that allows the kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rain forest, which is important, but rather what’s going on in their own neighborhood,” said Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator at the DEC.
Gelardi led two sessions in South Jamesport on Friday but students from across eastern Suffolk studied the Peconic Estuary at different locations including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.
Julie Hargrave, the policy manager at the Pine Barrens commission, said the program is important because it spreads awareness among young people.
“Once they’re aware,” Hargrave said, “they appreciate the environment around them.”
Led by their teachers and officials from the DEC, the students in South Jamesport measured wind speed, documented currents and tested water temperature, salinity, pH and other water quality benchmarks before pulling on waders to get up close to fish, crabs, snails and other estuary critters.
Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator at the state Department of Environmental Conservation, shows Riverhead High School students how to use a net to collect fish during a “Day in the Life of a River” program at South Jamesport Beach.
Bravery rewarded
Science teacher Claire Yannacone led students from her marine science class at Riverhead High School.
“They’re not afraid of anything,” Yannacone said. “Some people don’t like the icky, the slimy, but they want to try things out, they’re giving it a go. It’s really rewarding.”
The information collected will be uploaded to a database containing findings from previous years’ studies and managed by the Brookhaven laboratory. The data can be used to track the health of the waterway or flag anomalies like invasive or nonnative species.
“It really just goes to show the value of community science and how these large groups of participants can provide scientists with these additional important data points,” said Sharon Pepenella, who helps run student research programs and other outreach at the Brookhaven laboratory.
Discovery documented
Last month, a group of students in the program from William Floyd High School, analyzing data at Smith Point Marina in Shirley, identified a mangrove snapper, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented previously by students in the program.
The species is usually found in warmer regions, Pepenella said.
While it is possible for the fish to be found in New York waters, it is not well-suited for colder temperatures.
“Its presence could suggest something like warming waters from climate change are affecting when and where the species is found,” Pepenella said.
For students like 17-year-old Renee Marcks of Riverhead, the real-life research is a thrill.
Riverhead High School student Adrian Gonzalez, who said he signed up for the “Day in the Life of a River” program because of his interest in whales, lugs a fishing net on South Jamesport Beach. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
“I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she’s also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track movement and mortality of the ancient species.
“I care about our environment and I want to potentially do sustainability research, go to developing countries … to help other people,” she said.
Environment up close
Jo Anne Kulik, who also teaches marine science in Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of logging data efficiently.
A bonus perk was an October day spent at the beach.
“Just getting them outside is important,” Kulik said. “It’s good to put them in an environment that surrounds where they live.”
Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But the fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.
“It was cool. I kind of got tired pulling the net,” he said, battling a persistent wind. “It was cold, and these are heavy,” he said of his waders.
Gonzalez said he’d urge other students to sign up.
“Go outside … and stop playing on the phones all the time.”
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