Friday, May 18th – Once we were done with our big farewell cleanup of our lab and dorms, we set out to learn a few more things about the lab. One of the courses being taught at OIMB while the Florida Tech Biological Oceanography class was there was a course in Deep-Sea Biology. Dr. Craig Young is the resident deep-sea biologist, also a larval ecologist and the director of the laboratory which hosted us.
Dr. Johnson showing the students around Dr. Young's deep-sea specimen museum.
Dr. Young allowed us to look through his mini-museum with hundreds of deep-sea specimens from around the globe captured and preserved during his lifetime career of conducting deep-sea research.
The giant deep-sea clam Calyptogena harbors a nursery for endosymbiotic bacteria, which use chemosynthesis driven by vent chemistry to supply its host with energy.
There were giant isopods, giant tube worms, giant clams…
This deep-sea fish have disproportionately large, crystalline teeth for capturing elusive prey in the dark depths.
giant fish with giant teeth… (am I sensing a giant theme here?).
The Biological Oceanography students from Florida Tech also stopped by to have a look at the lab’s remotely operated vehicle for deep-sea work. This was of special interest to two of our Florida Tech students, both of whom are actually majors in the world class Ocean Engineering program at Florida Tech.
These deep-sea corals have been in Dr. Young's holding facility for 9 years - must be receiving superior care!
Finally, the Biological Oceanography students at Florida Tech got to visit the deep-sea holding tank room, where there are deep sea corals which have been kept alive here for 9 years (no small feat!).
Dr. Johnson points out the methane bubbling system designed to keep the facility... explosion free.
They also have a system here for bubbling methane to keep deep-sea animals from methane seeps alive. If you are familiar with the explosive properties of methane, you will know that a good ventilation system was essential to maintain a safe facility.
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