Silvery glimmers tumbled into a net on a cool October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.
The students put the baitfish in a bucket of saltwater before catching it in a PVC pipe to measure its length and then releasing it back into 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 run 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 participating in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For one day, they trade in their science classes on campus for 13 sites on rivers and bays.
Environmental experts say the program sparks curiosity about real-world science and also collects invaluable data about the health of local waterways.
“It’s a connection to nature that allows kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rainforest, which is important, but what’s going on in their 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 various locations, including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.
Julie Hargrave, 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.”
Guided 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 standards before hauling the waters closer to fish, crabs, snails and others. creatures of the estuary.
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 weird, the slippery, but they want to try things, they’re giving it a shot. It’s really rewarding.”
The information gathered will be uploaded to a database that contains findings from previous years’ studies and is managed by the Brookhaven lab. The data can be used to track waterway health or flag anomalies such as invasive or non-native species.
“It really just shows 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 direct the student research programs and other contacts 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 scrub, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented before 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 suited to colder temperatures.
“Its presence may 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, real-life research is a thrill.
“I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she has also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track the 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 at Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of recording data efficiently.
A bonus benefit was an October day spent at the beach.
“Just getting them out is important,” Kulik said. “It is good to put them in an environment that surrounds the place where they live.”
Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.
“It was good. I got tired pulling the net,” he said, braving a persistent wind. “It was cold and these are heavy,” he said of his wanderlust.
Gonzalez said he would encourage other students to sign up.
“Get outside… and stop playing on your phone all the time.”
Silvery glimmers tumbled into a net on a cool October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.
The students put the baitfish in a bucket of saltwater before catching it in a PVC pipe to measure its length and then releasing it back into 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 run 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 participating in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For one day, they trade in their science classes on campus for 13 sites on rivers and bays.
Student Science
- The “Day in the Life of a River” program gives high school students an up-close look at the marine life and waterways of Long Island.
- The date students collect is used to help provide ea overview of environmental conditions and the health of marine life and water.
- There are more than 1000 students from 37 schools participating in the fall 2024 program, which began in late September and continues through early November.
Curiosity piqued
Environmental experts say the program sparks curiosity about real-world science and also collects invaluable data about 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 kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rainforest, which is important, but what’s going on in their 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 various locations, including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.
Julie Hargrave, 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.”
Guided 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 standards before hauling the waters closer to fish, crabs, snails and others. creatures of the estuary.
Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator with 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 weird, the slippery, but they want to try things, they’re giving it a shot. It’s really rewarding.”
The information gathered will be uploaded to a database that contains findings from previous years’ studies and is managed by the Brookhaven lab. The data can be used to track waterway health or flag anomalies such as invasive or non-native species.
“It really just shows 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 direct the student research programs and other contacts at the Brookhaven laboratory.
Documented discovery
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 scrub, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented before 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 suited to colder temperatures.
“Its presence may 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, 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, holds a fishing net on South Jamesport Beach. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
“I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she has also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track the 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.
The environment up close
Jo Anne Kulik, who also teaches marine science at Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of recording data efficiently.
A bonus benefit was an October day spent at the beach.
“Just getting them out is important,” Kulik said. “It is good to place them in an environment that surrounds the place where they live.”
Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.
“It was good. I got tired pulling the net,” he said, braving a persistent wind. “It was cold and these are heavy,” he said of his wanderlust.
Gonzalez said he would encourage other students to sign up.
“Get outside… and stop playing on your phone all the time.”