By: Noe Castañeda

Summer, thus far, has been an exciting one during Wrigley’s Coastal Ocean Processes REU program funded by the National Science Foundation. Time has flown by as the program is near an end, with only a couple weeks remaining. All of the REU’s are hard at work, but still finding time to enjoy the summer. My project has been full steam ahead the last couple of weeks, and I am excited to see what I will uncover. Being able to see a project that I postulated, come together over the following weeks has been overwhelming, and I could not be happier with the experience.

Photo credit: Brenna Chang

The focus of my study is on the influence of algal diversity on the feeding of giant kelpfish. The giant kelpfish is capable of color shifts that allow it to camouflage to different algae and ambush prey, such as shrimp and small fish. I would like to understand the interaction between giant kelpfish and algae to learn more about how changes to the algal community affects cryptic fish like the kelpfish.

A typical day begins with two early dives followed by work in the lab. When out on dives, it is an adventure searching for the giant kelpfish, running into tons of other wildlife such as moray eels, leopard, school and horn sharks, bat rays, barracudas and so many more amazing creatures. This has been a diving experience like no other. Upon capturing a kelpfish, we return to the surface and use a method called the gastric lavage that allows us to look at stomach contents without harming the fish. I have come across a diverse range of stomach items from small fish and crabs to tons of shrimp and other microinvertebrates. I will typically use a microscope in lab to analyze the diet samples.

Photo credit: Hunter Ramo

A day’s work usually ends with the REU’s hanging out together. A few days ago, after a long day working on projects, we all went for a night snorkel where we enjoyed the oceans night life. The lobsters came out, octopi and eels wandered the sea floor, and phytoplankton fluoresced the cove. Always up to something, we are making the most with our time on Catalina island. I have become closer to this group of young scientists, and have made many connections that will hopefully carry on after the program.

Spending the morning SCUBA diving in the beautiful kelp forest of Catalina Island, to the lab where I look at the fascinating diet of the kelpfish, followed by an activity worked up by the other REU’s, the Wrigley REU summer program has exceeded my expectations. The Wrigley community has given me a great experience to grow and has better prepared me for my future endeavors. I could not have done this without the help of my mentor Dr. Rita Mehta, who has assisted me through the entire process. This also would not be possible without the funding from the NSF and the support of the Wrigley community. I am thankful for such an amazing experience!