Educational Activities

E-mail Responses
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8-26-03

James
McKenny, 8th
Mann Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Question 1:
Is the ship diesel or electric? If it is diesel, how do you power the laptop for sending and receiving email?

Answer:
The ship is powered by motors that use diesel fuel; however we have generators onboard that produce the electricity for the ship’s use.

Ify
McKenny, 8th
Mann Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Question 2:
Does Algae grow differently in the ocean than in fresh water due to the salt?

Answer:
Yes, they do because they are different species of algae just like there are fresh water fish and salt water fish.

Cassie
McKenny, 8th
Mann Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Question 3:
Will anyone be researching creatures such as dolphins or types of fish?

Answer:
No, our research deals with macro-invertebrates, phytoplankton such as diatoms, and rhizosolenia. This part of the ocean is considered a desert not because of lack of water but because of lack of nutrients. So because there is not much food available you do not find many large animals like dolphins or fish.

Darius
McKenny, 8th
Mann Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Question 4:
How many people in the ship in total?

Answer:
We have total of 27 people onboard. We have 2 different crews. The research crew consists of 4 educators, 3 scientists, 6 assistants, 1 dive master, and 1 resident tech. The ship crew is made up of the captain, chief mate, 2nd mate, 4 engineers, 2 cooks, and 3 seamen.

Giahna
McKenny, 8th
Mann Middle School, Little Rock, AR
Question 5:
What is rhizosolenia?

Answer:
Rhizosolenia is a type of phytoplankton and a macroscopic diatom able to control their buoyancy through which they sink below the euphotic zone to acquire nitrate, store it in their vacuole, and then return to the surface for photosynthesis.

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