In response to the following assignment:
Now, on a strictly academic basis, do a completely independent ranking of the top 5 activities according to what you learned. Explain what you learned from each one and why you ranked it the way you did.
Now, on a strictly academic basis, do a completely independent ranking of the top 5 activities according to what you learned. Explain what you learned from each one and why you ranked it the way you did.
Activities in order of the significance and amount of what I learned:
1. Boiling Lake hike
2. Emerald Pool
3. Checkhall River
4. Cabrits
5. Rosalie River
1. On the hike to Boiling Lake, there were so many new experiences. We went through several different types of forestation including the rain forest, montane forest, and elfin woodland. I finally understood the concept of the elfin woodland, where palm trees that normally tower over us were stunted at about 3 feet. Since the trees are so high up on the mountain away from shelter, the winds would surely knock them down if they grew much taller. The Elfin Woodland had more plants that resembled our own shrubs and small trees in South Carolina than other types of forest, there was more grass, and the shades of green tended to be lighter and have more of a yellow tint. In the rain forest, we saw a hummingbird nest and two Jaco parrots flew over us just above the canopy. Although we had seen vine-like roots hanging down from trees before, we got up-close and personal to some and even found one sturdy enough to swing on. We saw a tree that is used as a natural aphrodisiac and stimulant, and I learned that there are not many plants that are poisonous to the touch like Poison Ivy, but there is a moss-looking growth on some trees that has thousands of cactus-like spikes.
Going down to the Valley of Desolation, I had never before heard of a natural wind tunnel, but I definitely experienced one. Then the actual valley was an educational experience itself. The smell of sulfur was clear and prominent. The square-footage of each mineral deposit of a different color made me feel like I was on a different planet; it wasn't all mixed together, but rather separated into distinct areas. The boiling springs, squishy gray mud, and unstable rocks gave me the realization that a volcano could errupt right there at any moment. There was very little life in the valley for there was no soil, but some low-growing plants were on the steeper slopes. I was amazed that although there were some hot streams eminating heat from the boiling springs, there were also cold-water streams in which we could rinse our hands after lathering mud-masks on our faces.
I learned the most about Dominicans' access to education and media through Elvis, our tour guide. College education is expensive and thus out of reach of the average Dominican. Other than the medical university, one would have to go to another country for higher education. Thus, as talented as Elvis is, getting a degree in his line of work would cost a lot of money. However, I see no need in him obtaining a degree since he already knows so much about his country's natural plant life and wildlife, as well as the ways of the land. He reads many books and PDFs pertaining to his area of expertise and also designs commercial websites. He understood right away when I mentioned my website/blog on Weebly.
Key points learned on this activity:
a) my endurance had improved since the Boeri Lake hike
b) differences in forestation
c) a closer look at wildlife and plants
d) educational advancement must be self-driven
2. Emerald Pool, although not nearly as adventurous, showed exquisite forms of life. Brown ground lizards with three prominent spots on each side scurried along the boulders. River crabs scrambled into their burrows among a hillside of rocks. A spiderweb was set up horizontally between rocks. While the water was so clear, we couldn't see any fish until we put on snorkels. The sheer fact that gobies and freshwater shrimp managed to make their way up smaller waterfalls below astounded me. They stayed near the shelter of the rocks and underneath the nourishment of the waterfall. It makes me wonder what they eat and how the food gets up so far in the river.
On the walk back, the stick bug we found acted sedated. It did not try to get away from us. Initally we thought it had done its part in reproducing and was left there to die. Then Dr. Hains noticed a bit of fungus growing on its antenae and explained how the fungus takes control of the creature's brain to better support its own reproduction and eventually kills the creature.
I was also amazed at the fact that years of eroding moved the waterfall back a good distance and created the pool. The falling water wears down the rocks, taking particles away with it down stream and slowly moving the waterfall closer to the spring. The spray from the waterfall also hallows out the softer rock behind the falls, leaving space to walk among study boulders in a cavelike area. It's curious that none of the other waterfalls we went to had this feature; perhaps the rock is more dense in those areas.
Key points learned on this activity:
a) aquatic life in the mountains
b) parasitic fungus on animals/bugs
c) formation of caves behind waterfalls
3. At the Checkhall River, I not only gathered information about snail migration, but also local practices. After we collected sufficient numbers of our snail species from the fresh/salt water mix, we found out that it takes them a while to become acclimated to pure freshwater. Trying to race these snails, they did decent when we first put them in tubes, but they soon grew weary as they adjusted to the freshwater. We could not finish our snail racing, but we found out that the amphidromous snails needed time to gradually adjust to freshwater; they cannot automatically adjust. When we returned the snails back to the Checkhall River, I learned about the careful placement necessary for mark & recapture studies. We put different color groups at the mouth of the river, 10 meters away, and 20 meters away. Most of the snails moved toward the mouth of the river, with a few exceptions which probably were swept back with the waves. Some snails stayed in relatively the same area, but we found no snails, painted or not, in the river itself. We wonder what caused this phenomenon, since clearly size does not matter as we found smaller snails in the Rosalie River.
Like most of the other beaches we saw, the beach was covered in rocks. There are pretty much all volcanic rocks, with some building scraps as well such as broken tiles and such. There were very few shells, but there was a good amount of fossilized sponge. What little sand that surrounded the rocks was brownish gray like the volcanic rocks.
The reeds at the river created a great habitat for hummingbirds and they also created a screen so locals could bathe in the river water. As we walked past the tall grasses, we heard young goats but could not see them. Kala and I found that some goat-owner had tied up his goats to small trees among the reeds so they could feed on the grasses. Using some empty cola bottles found on the beach, we took fresh water to the goats, or at least the ones which would accept it.
Key points on this activity:
a) amphidromous snails need gradual acclimation to freshwater
b) something was inhibiting the snails from going to the Checkhall River and should be investigated
c) volcanic rocks indicate Dominica is much younger than other Caribbean islands that have more sand beaches
d) goat-herders will tie up their goats practically anywhere that is available
4. Cabrits is the old British fort on the north end of the island. The climate is more arid, and there is a swamp nearby. Plants look more like what we have in South Carolina, but there is one tree on display that is poisonous. Trees and strangler roots cause most of the destruction of the fort, but paintings and writing help builders get an idea of how the fort used to look. The restoration of the fort was begun by Dr. Lennox Honychurch, author of our textbook The Dominica Story, and is now mostly financed by the European Union. Other countries also have interests in giving foreign aid to Dominica, such as Venezuela, China, and Moracco, to gain favor in the UN.
Dr. Honychurch gave us a synopsis of his book with extra information and connected ideas that were separated in the text. In addition, he gave us his theory on how mountainsides of lemongrass catch on fire. The economy depends mostly on eco-tourism and good deals on imports since agricultural exports have been declining for years with each new wave of cash crops.
Key points on this activity:
a) historical setting of British and French claims over the island
b) sources of foreign aid
c) one should cross-reference any theories, regardless of the theorist's education and background, just to make sure
d) eco-t0urism seems like the best bet to keep Dominica's economy strong
5. At the Rosalie River, we observed a lot of our species of snails where the waves of the Altantic Ocean crashed on rocks and into fresh water. For a while it seemed that they preferred darker colored rocks since those were more densely populated, but there were some on lighter colored rocks as well. Where we collected snails a few hundred yards upstream, we found larger snails as long as a large coin and tiny ones the size of fleas. We took some water from their habitat to use in the fish tank, and they raced better than the other group, although most became fatigued after a while and would not move anymore. This may be due to adding local freshwater to the tank. We painted all of those captured snails with pink "snail polish" and released them into the stream by Springfield station. It will be interesting to see how they have survived and where they migrate the next time Dr. Hains returns to Dominica.
We also observed how to open an almond-like fruit without special tools. Using just rocks at the riverbank, some locals were able to crack open the shell with a method that must have been past down for generations. One can only imagine how the Kalinago people and early settlers must have managed to survive.
Key points on this activity:
a) a possible study may be the population density of snails on dark surfaces vs. light surfaces
b) differences between the amply inhabited Rosalie River (with our species of snails) and the virtually barren Checkhall river
c) coloration differences between Rosalie River snails (dots were green-tinted) and Checkhall snails (dots were white)
d)
1. Boiling Lake hike
2. Emerald Pool
3. Checkhall River
4. Cabrits
5. Rosalie River
1. On the hike to Boiling Lake, there were so many new experiences. We went through several different types of forestation including the rain forest, montane forest, and elfin woodland. I finally understood the concept of the elfin woodland, where palm trees that normally tower over us were stunted at about 3 feet. Since the trees are so high up on the mountain away from shelter, the winds would surely knock them down if they grew much taller. The Elfin Woodland had more plants that resembled our own shrubs and small trees in South Carolina than other types of forest, there was more grass, and the shades of green tended to be lighter and have more of a yellow tint. In the rain forest, we saw a hummingbird nest and two Jaco parrots flew over us just above the canopy. Although we had seen vine-like roots hanging down from trees before, we got up-close and personal to some and even found one sturdy enough to swing on. We saw a tree that is used as a natural aphrodisiac and stimulant, and I learned that there are not many plants that are poisonous to the touch like Poison Ivy, but there is a moss-looking growth on some trees that has thousands of cactus-like spikes.
Going down to the Valley of Desolation, I had never before heard of a natural wind tunnel, but I definitely experienced one. Then the actual valley was an educational experience itself. The smell of sulfur was clear and prominent. The square-footage of each mineral deposit of a different color made me feel like I was on a different planet; it wasn't all mixed together, but rather separated into distinct areas. The boiling springs, squishy gray mud, and unstable rocks gave me the realization that a volcano could errupt right there at any moment. There was very little life in the valley for there was no soil, but some low-growing plants were on the steeper slopes. I was amazed that although there were some hot streams eminating heat from the boiling springs, there were also cold-water streams in which we could rinse our hands after lathering mud-masks on our faces.
I learned the most about Dominicans' access to education and media through Elvis, our tour guide. College education is expensive and thus out of reach of the average Dominican. Other than the medical university, one would have to go to another country for higher education. Thus, as talented as Elvis is, getting a degree in his line of work would cost a lot of money. However, I see no need in him obtaining a degree since he already knows so much about his country's natural plant life and wildlife, as well as the ways of the land. He reads many books and PDFs pertaining to his area of expertise and also designs commercial websites. He understood right away when I mentioned my website/blog on Weebly.
Key points learned on this activity:
a) my endurance had improved since the Boeri Lake hike
b) differences in forestation
c) a closer look at wildlife and plants
d) educational advancement must be self-driven
2. Emerald Pool, although not nearly as adventurous, showed exquisite forms of life. Brown ground lizards with three prominent spots on each side scurried along the boulders. River crabs scrambled into their burrows among a hillside of rocks. A spiderweb was set up horizontally between rocks. While the water was so clear, we couldn't see any fish until we put on snorkels. The sheer fact that gobies and freshwater shrimp managed to make their way up smaller waterfalls below astounded me. They stayed near the shelter of the rocks and underneath the nourishment of the waterfall. It makes me wonder what they eat and how the food gets up so far in the river.
On the walk back, the stick bug we found acted sedated. It did not try to get away from us. Initally we thought it had done its part in reproducing and was left there to die. Then Dr. Hains noticed a bit of fungus growing on its antenae and explained how the fungus takes control of the creature's brain to better support its own reproduction and eventually kills the creature.
I was also amazed at the fact that years of eroding moved the waterfall back a good distance and created the pool. The falling water wears down the rocks, taking particles away with it down stream and slowly moving the waterfall closer to the spring. The spray from the waterfall also hallows out the softer rock behind the falls, leaving space to walk among study boulders in a cavelike area. It's curious that none of the other waterfalls we went to had this feature; perhaps the rock is more dense in those areas.
Key points learned on this activity:
a) aquatic life in the mountains
b) parasitic fungus on animals/bugs
c) formation of caves behind waterfalls
3. At the Checkhall River, I not only gathered information about snail migration, but also local practices. After we collected sufficient numbers of our snail species from the fresh/salt water mix, we found out that it takes them a while to become acclimated to pure freshwater. Trying to race these snails, they did decent when we first put them in tubes, but they soon grew weary as they adjusted to the freshwater. We could not finish our snail racing, but we found out that the amphidromous snails needed time to gradually adjust to freshwater; they cannot automatically adjust. When we returned the snails back to the Checkhall River, I learned about the careful placement necessary for mark & recapture studies. We put different color groups at the mouth of the river, 10 meters away, and 20 meters away. Most of the snails moved toward the mouth of the river, with a few exceptions which probably were swept back with the waves. Some snails stayed in relatively the same area, but we found no snails, painted or not, in the river itself. We wonder what caused this phenomenon, since clearly size does not matter as we found smaller snails in the Rosalie River.
Like most of the other beaches we saw, the beach was covered in rocks. There are pretty much all volcanic rocks, with some building scraps as well such as broken tiles and such. There were very few shells, but there was a good amount of fossilized sponge. What little sand that surrounded the rocks was brownish gray like the volcanic rocks.
The reeds at the river created a great habitat for hummingbirds and they also created a screen so locals could bathe in the river water. As we walked past the tall grasses, we heard young goats but could not see them. Kala and I found that some goat-owner had tied up his goats to small trees among the reeds so they could feed on the grasses. Using some empty cola bottles found on the beach, we took fresh water to the goats, or at least the ones which would accept it.
Key points on this activity:
a) amphidromous snails need gradual acclimation to freshwater
b) something was inhibiting the snails from going to the Checkhall River and should be investigated
c) volcanic rocks indicate Dominica is much younger than other Caribbean islands that have more sand beaches
d) goat-herders will tie up their goats practically anywhere that is available
4. Cabrits is the old British fort on the north end of the island. The climate is more arid, and there is a swamp nearby. Plants look more like what we have in South Carolina, but there is one tree on display that is poisonous. Trees and strangler roots cause most of the destruction of the fort, but paintings and writing help builders get an idea of how the fort used to look. The restoration of the fort was begun by Dr. Lennox Honychurch, author of our textbook The Dominica Story, and is now mostly financed by the European Union. Other countries also have interests in giving foreign aid to Dominica, such as Venezuela, China, and Moracco, to gain favor in the UN.
Dr. Honychurch gave us a synopsis of his book with extra information and connected ideas that were separated in the text. In addition, he gave us his theory on how mountainsides of lemongrass catch on fire. The economy depends mostly on eco-tourism and good deals on imports since agricultural exports have been declining for years with each new wave of cash crops.
Key points on this activity:
a) historical setting of British and French claims over the island
b) sources of foreign aid
c) one should cross-reference any theories, regardless of the theorist's education and background, just to make sure
d) eco-t0urism seems like the best bet to keep Dominica's economy strong
5. At the Rosalie River, we observed a lot of our species of snails where the waves of the Altantic Ocean crashed on rocks and into fresh water. For a while it seemed that they preferred darker colored rocks since those were more densely populated, but there were some on lighter colored rocks as well. Where we collected snails a few hundred yards upstream, we found larger snails as long as a large coin and tiny ones the size of fleas. We took some water from their habitat to use in the fish tank, and they raced better than the other group, although most became fatigued after a while and would not move anymore. This may be due to adding local freshwater to the tank. We painted all of those captured snails with pink "snail polish" and released them into the stream by Springfield station. It will be interesting to see how they have survived and where they migrate the next time Dr. Hains returns to Dominica.
We also observed how to open an almond-like fruit without special tools. Using just rocks at the riverbank, some locals were able to crack open the shell with a method that must have been past down for generations. One can only imagine how the Kalinago people and early settlers must have managed to survive.
Key points on this activity:
a) a possible study may be the population density of snails on dark surfaces vs. light surfaces
b) differences between the amply inhabited Rosalie River (with our species of snails) and the virtually barren Checkhall river
c) coloration differences between Rosalie River snails (dots were green-tinted) and Checkhall snails (dots were white)
d)
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