Fish out of Water

There are many different ways in which humans and animals interact. It is very popular for people to keep domestic pets. These pets can become part of the family and sometimes they are even treated like humans. Some people choose to keep more exotic, wild pets. These pets are not necessarily part of the family but are more for show. Animals are not just pets though; the majority of species are actually wild. It is very common for people to travel to see animals in their natural environment. Whale watches, safaris, and natural reserves are just a few examples of this. There are many groups that are formed to protect these creatures that we coexist with, while scientists study animals and their behavior for a living. Life would be very different without these organisms that we interact with on a daily basis.

Sometimes animals get into trouble and people come to their aid. One of these situations came about in late July 2002. On July 30, a group of animals got themselves into an unfortunate and life-threatening situation. This occurred in Dennis, a town on the south coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. In Dennis, there is a beach called Chapin Beach. At about 6:30 in the morning, a pod of 56 pilot whales took a turn for the worst and headed in to shallow waters. It is still unknown why this occurred. The whales could have been sick, lost, or just chasing food. However, the whales ran into trouble because the tide was moving out around this time leaving the whales stranded. The whole pod was stuck in the sand as the tide went further and further out. A group of volunteers from all over the Cape came to the aid of these whales. Many people created a bucket line to help keep the whales’ very fragile skin wet and ward off sunburn. By 10 o’clock, the tide was completely out and the whales were beached. Scientists from organization like Woods Hole Oceanography Institute and veterinarians from the area came to assess the whales and their condition so people could help the whales with the best chance of survival. Whales, when beached, actually work against themselves. Due purely to the weight of their bodies and the fact that the water is no longer there to suspend them, their internal organs start to get crushed. On top of that, when whales are out of water for an extended period of time they suffer from dehydration. The volunteers kept the whales as wet as possible with ocean water and wet beach towels. Once the tide began to come back in, the leaders had the volunteers try and maneuver the whales away from the beach and out toward the bay. As the tide rose, the whales left the beach and swam away. After the event, there were only 10 pilot whales that had died. Scientists did not know the exact cause of these deaths, however they think it might have been a mixture of dehydration, shock, and of course Darwin’s theory natural selection. The people who volunteered did not have to help these animals. Pilot Whales are not an endangered species. In fact, the species is thriving, especially around the Cape. This rescue was not out of necessity or saving an entire species but rather out of human kindness. This event was one of human-animal interaction with a positive outcome.

I was on the Cape spending some time with my family during the week of July 30. I was staying in Yarmouth, which is the neighboring town of Dennis. I heard about this unimaginable event and had to see it. I was just a spectator, but it was still an incredible encounter with an animal that is not usually out of the water. I looked out down the beach scattered with enormous, black, and shinny bodies. All of the people were chaotic and loud, shouting directions and running around. The humans were in such contrast to the calmness of the whales. Obviously in distress, the whales were mostly silent with the occasional sigh and breath. I watched as people worked tirelessly to run water back and forth from the wave break. It was amazing to watch the whales swim back out into the bay when high tide hit. They swam out to the bay so fast that it was unbelievable to think that they were out of water, their natural habitat, for about eight hours. I will never forget the two sides of this event. I loved watching the little black dorsal fins of the whales bob in an out of the bay as they swam away. However, the sight of the other ten whales just lying there in the sand and shallow water motionless was very tragic.

Animals and humans often interact whether it is in a domestic setting or in a wild setting. The situation with the beached whales on the Cape is just one example of a human interaction in the wild. Whether it is walking a pet dog or helping to push a whale back into the bay, human interaction and encounters with animals are very important.

Picture Credits:

Whale picture with caption

Whale in water

Nature Strikes

Mountains are often viewed as moneymakers. Many mountains are the home to ski resorts, guided tours, or high-priced housing developments. Mount Everest, the tallest peak on earth, and Mt. Vail, one of the most skied mountains are just a few examples. I live near the Appalachian Mountain Range. These mountains aren’t the tallest or the most skied, but they are mountains. Stretching from Maine to Georgia, these mountains are free. I have often spent weekends hiking the trails and enjoying the nature of New England. The Appalachian Mountain Trail starts in Maine where the trail is lined with tall coniferous trees. In New Hampshire, the trail continues with the Presidential Range. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin all stand tall looming over numerous notches. The combination of wildlife and wildflowers line the trail as it winds its way right into Massachusetts. However, all of these beautiful mountains are plagued with an unfortunate side effect. In the mountains, the weather is very unpredictable. Weather is a huge variable when enjoying the outdoors. John Muir, a very important person in the first nature movement in the US, wrote an essay called “A Wind-Storm in the Forest”. In this essay, Muir describes his experiences in the forest while nature released a windstorm. Often, when people are in nature they forget the dangers involved. I was one of those people until my eyes were opened by an experience. Like Muir, I experienced a storm in nature. Many people view nature as just a beautiful place but it is important to remember the dangers that come along with the beauty.

Hiking is one of my many outdoor hobbies that I enjoy. My favorite area to hike is actually in New Hampshire. The area is called the White Mountains. Mount Washington is at the center of this section of the Appalachian Range, and is flanked by Crawford Notch and Franconia Notch. It is such a beautiful area but a bit secluded. I decided in the summer of my senior year that I was going to climb the presidential range in a week. The range includes about thirteen mountains to summit including Washington the tallest peak east of the Mississippi and north of the Carolinas. I have spent much of my life enjoying the outdoors and I have learned to appreciate and love nature. On this expedition I would not just complete one of my goals but also open my eyes to the dangers that come along with the beauty of nature.

I thought the week started out very well unaware of what was about to happen. I summated Webster, Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin, and Monroe by Wednesday. I was on track to complete my goal. I was hiking with my Uncle and we both were surprised at how the well the weather had held up. We expected some rain and some colder nights, but we were not expecting what Mother Nature was to throw at us. Thursday morning we were to start Washington and end on Mt. Clay. The rain started at about nine, but there was nothing to worry about. The rain was nothing but a light but constant drizzle a simple light rain coat could cure. At the summit of Washington, the rain was still going with the addition of a wind that was blowing through the trees and trail. Acting on the side of caution, my uncle and I did not stay long to appreciate the view and kept hiking. By the time we had reached midway up the side of Mt. Clay, the rain was pouring and the wind was blowing very hard. We started to hike faster to reach a suitable place to set up our tent, and take shelter from this developing storm. Then the thunder and lightning started. There was no time for a tent or anything. We got into a position that supposedly protects people when lightning is striking. In any other instance this position would look pretty funny. Crouched down close to the ground with our heels touching and packs thrown away from us, we looked at each other with a hint of fear in our eyes. The storm blew over trees and threw the leaves from the ground up into the air. Lightning was striking all around while the thunder did not waste a beat.

It seemed like the storm lasted an eternity, probably due to the fact that there was almost no shelter from this very intense natural experience. I was surrounded by nature that under any other circumstance I would be enjoying, but this time it seemed different. The weather had changed the environment for me. It showed a different face, a not-so-beautiful face. Feeling very exposed, I had the chance to think about my situation. I was literally at the mercy of the storm. However, the storm would not stop me. My uncle and I continued up the mountain once the lighting had passed. Soaked and a little shaken, we set up camp. The next day we were off again, nothing was going to stop me from achieving my goal. By the end of the week, I had indeed climbed the Presidential Range through lightning and all.

That evening, I learned a lot about nature. It is indeed beautiful and enjoyable. Walking on a sunny day, one could forget the dangers of nature. That lightning storm reminded me of the dangers nature can throw at a person any second. I will never forget the feeling of being crouched down hoping that I would not get hit by a bolt. From avalanches to tsunamis to tornadoes to simple lightning storms, Mother Nature is very capable of destroying not only material things but people as well. Nature is responsible for many deaths a year. Regardless of this undisputable fact, my feelings about nature and the environment have not changed. I still love being outside, surrounding by nature. I appreciate both what nature is capable of doing as well as its lighter more beautiful side. Once people experience these types of natural occurrences they are exposed to the true nature, whether good or bad.

A Past to Build Upon

The year is 1770 and tensions are running hot. The city is a loaded gun ready to be fired at any given moment. The citizens are having trouble accepting the rule of the mother country. Between the horrible occupation by the lobster-backs and the taxation without representation, it is about time the people of Boston got their fight back. Walking down the streets, one can smell the ocean and see the cityscape. That is some thing that has not changed. Now cars line the streets where once there were horses. Skyscrapers tower over the same commons that once held town meetings. As I walk these streets, a sense of history washes over me. I begin to understand the history upon which the great city of Boston is built. In Margaret Atwood’s “True North”, She states that one’s perspective is relative to their knowledge of the geography. I agree with Atwood, for my perspective of Boston has changed due to my new found understanding of the past and where the future is headed.

I visit Boston frequently. It is a city of the old and a city of the yet to be. The city is about a half an hour away from my town, if I take the train. Often I have spent the weekend in Southie, enjoying the Irish culture and shopping at Faneuil Hall. Maybe I even venture into the North end to taste the best pasta and canolis. Riding on the T, I have experienced Boston end to end. Then how, may I ask, did I miss such a large part of the city? This part is hidden, intertwined with the new. An observer can find a seal here, a monument there, an old ship that bobs with the tides. A trail of bricks links these historical places together. The Freedom Trail is often ignored when someone thinks of Boston. I know that I ignored it at first. Boston is such a tight-knit city. Everything is pushed up against everything else. There the past is a part of where the city is moving.

Boston was one of the first cities in the thirteen colonies. It was not just a port city and the business center of the north but also the home to many essential actions vital to the fight for freedom. The city’s history is not lacking. It is full of controversies, battles, and hot heads. The Freedom Trail goes along the streets and stops at the Boston Common, Paul Revere’s house, Old North Church, the site of the Boston Massacre, Bunker Hill, and the Boston Tea Party, just to name a few. It is amazing how stores and tall business buildings surround the historical sites. The past is truly a part of the new. How the bustling streets of today were once the sites of important historical events that lead up to the independence of America is a large part of what makes Boston so unique.

One important historical event that occurred in Boston is the Boston Massacre. I stood on the star, pressed in stone and woven seamlessly into the cobble stone street. A passer by may step right over it without a second thought. However, over 200 years earlier, people were standing on that spot for a very different reason. In the spring of 1770, there was tension in the air. Everyone was angered by the presence of the British redcoats. The crown was not listening and the colonists were at the end of their rope. Soon enough, a crowd had gathered. Snowballs, rocks, anything accessible were thrown at the despised soldiers. Having no choice, the redcoats shot into the crowd. Only one man died that day, but the incident was printed in the paper as the Boston Massacre, and I stood where it happened. Standing on the very spot where the colonists first stood up for themselves, one really understands the passion, which Boston was built upon. That star marks the spot, where a fight for freedom all began with a simple riot in downtown Boston. In the past, Boston was a city of passion, full of fight, and it continues in that tradition.

One of the most important places in a Colonists life was the church. First and foremost, it was their place of worship and meeting. Old North Church is also important for another reason not related to worship or religon. I traveled down the Freedom Trail to a large white building. I stood there looking up, all the way to its large steeple. This building was crucial to the colonists especially on a very famous night. The British were in tolerable and their latest mission was to confiscate weapons and empty magazines in order to disarm the colonists. The news got out that the British were on the move up north to Concord. There was a magazine up there and the colonists were through with appeasing the intruders. The plan was to set up a militia at Lexington to stop the troops from ever reaching Concord. There were not going to use it if they did not have to. The element of surprise was key and the British had two options. They could travel on foot using back roads to arrive or they could travel by sea using boats. The colonists decided that they needed to know which of the two ways the British were gong to use. Old North Church had a steeple that stood high above the city. From that steeple you could see all of Boston and her harbor. Robert Newman was the man for the job. He signaled using lanterns, one if by land, two if by sea. This church aided in the beginning of the fighting portion of the Revolutionary War. Standing there I listened to the organ music as it drifted out of the opened window. Now in that very church is an Episcopalian church. Still a place of meeting for the people of Boston, Old North stands tall. The building was an integral part of Boston’s history and will continue to be a place of worship in the future.

Boston is a city located on the water. With water running through the city as well as all around it, it has to be a part of the city’s history. My last stop was down along the harbor. A simple boat sat in the water tied to the wharf. The water made a soothing sound as it hit the wooden keel of the boat. I looked out to the horizon. The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky. Never before was anything like this achieved. Using unity, stealth, and intelligence the colonists had come up with a plan, a master plan. Tea had been taxed and the people of Boston were outraged. The crown had no right to tax the colonist whenever they felt like it. England had sent many messages to the Colonists telling them that the tea had to land. However, the Colonists had different ideas. That was the end of the line. The colonists decided that if the crown wanted the tea off the boats and they did not want the tea in the city, both sides could have their way. The colonists boarded the three ships anchored in the harbor dressed as “Indians.” They dragged the tea up out of the holds and threw it into the water. This action was later named the Boston Tea Party. The tea party was a message sent quite clearly and literally to the crown of England. It gave Boston and its people the reputation of being hotheaded liberals. The water was a clear blue with a green tint. I stood there imagining the crates and the massive amounts of tea as they turned the water brown. Today Boston Harbor is at the center of the city’s economy, just like in the days of the Revolution.

As I left Boston this time, I noticed an old steeple peering out between buildings, a boat made of wood docked by the bank. I understood then what this city had been built upon. It had courage, strength, intelligence, anger, and wit. It was built to last and grow and never be controlled. The cobblestone still today still lines the old streets in certain sections. The plaques tell the stories of a city ready to explode. Even the hustle and bustle of business today links back to that old New England city placed on the Ocean to be a port for the Northern colonies. Its foundation holds strong today and will continue to hold for many years to come, for when it was built, it was built right.


Photo Credits:

Paul Revere and the city

Boston Massacre

Boston Tea Party Boat

Boston

Natural Phenomenon - Red Tides

A common natural phenomenon that is not completely understood is red tide. Red tides are also known as toxic algae blooms because that is the cause of the tides. Red tides occur when microscopic algae and phytoplankton become so densely populated that the pigments they release are visible without a microscope. The name Red Tide is misleading for a couple of reasons. First, Red Tide has nothing to do with the tide at all. The growth of these algae is not affected by the tidal cycle. Second, the pigments of the algae and phytoplankton that cause red tides do not always have to be red. In fact they can also be orange, brown and sometimes green. The accurate name for red tides is actually HAB or harmful algal bloom. Another false fact about red tides is that the algae and phytoplankton are toxic, that is not the case. In fact these organisms are essential to the ocean’s food web and are very valuable to the environment. The pigment that the algae or plankton releases is the toxic element. Red tides or HABs can be triggered by nutrient rich water mixed with prime temperatures and conditions for growth and reproduction of these single celled micro -organisms. Red tides are in fact a growing threat to most coastal water. Red tides can be so harmful those scientists have gone as far to call HABs, marine bio-toxins. Red Tides negatively influence both humans and nature alike.

Red Tides have many negative effects on the environment. Red Tides or HABs can harm many marine organisms. They can kill anything from a simple plant to a very large humpback whale. It is true that algae and phytoplankton are at the base of the food web in the marine environment. They are essential to the survival of many marine animals that depend on algae and plankton for nutrients. However, when these toxic blooms occur, these once essential micro-organisms become like poison to their predators and the effects are catastrophic. These HABs are just harmful to marine life if they are ingested, they can also become so dense that they can actually suffocate other organisms. These algae and their pigments do not necessarily kill directly. Everyday organisms compete for dissolved oxygen and other nutrients in the water, when a bloom occurs the increase in organisms is exponential. Not only are resources being used at an increased rate but also decomposition and waste products in the water are also increased. Some species of these algae and phytoplankton actually carry toxins in their pigments. These toxins are neurotoxins that will harm and destroy normal nerve function. The toxins are not found in all red tides but they are often the cause of shellfish and larger organisms perishing. The Red Tides have many negative effects that affect the marine life and their environment.

Red tides do not only affect nature negatively but they also affect humans. These tides can affect humans both directly and indirectly. Humans are directly affected because it is true that some of the toxins released in the pigments of the algae and plankton can be harmful. Especially during a very dense bloom of algae, these toxins would be in high concentration and have the potential to be fatal even to humans. Humans are affected indirectly through our food resources as well as our source of economy. Because the algae invade the habitats of many organisms that are caught and eaten, many companies and restaurants are affected greatly by Red Tides. Shellfish and other fish are often taken off the market when a Red Tide occurs due to that fact that some types of algae are toxic. If the mussel or clam or even bigger fish, like haddock, ate the algae they could carry the toxin and harm the person who ate it. Also beaches are closed in an event of a HAB. Swimming is prohibited and even boating is discouraged. Red Tides have caused millions of dollars in damages. When beaches are closed, shell fishing and fishing halted, along with the closure of ports, Red Tides can prove to be extremely harmful to the economy. Red Tides are harmful to humans in many ways, whether directly or indirectly.

Scientists have been studying red tides all over the world. As of now, it is still impossible to predict or control these HABs. Scientists are trying to understand the cause of these red tides in order to create a solution. Knowledge about this phenomenon and its consequences will help to reduce the effects on humans. In the future, it may be possible to end these destructive tides.


Works Cited
Anderson, Don. "Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides." Toxic Blooms: a seminar. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Collins, Jocelyn, comp. "Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning." Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning. 11 May 2006. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"Harmful Algae and Red Tides." Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .

Picture Credits:
Red Tide

Shellfish affected by Red Tide

Ocean Man

The first thing I always notice is the smell. It is a very distinctive smell, one part sweet and one part salty. The smell is so strong it is almost overpowering yet comforting. As I sit there, it lingers in my nose and my memory is jogged. Now I can hear the sounds of the calming crash and roll of the white caps. I feel the granules underneath my feet and in between my toes. When I turn to look, I see nothing and it is wonderful. Open space is so freeing, so comforting. I close my eyes and I see him. My uncle is a tall lanky man. He has a muscular build all topped off with a light brown, almost blond mop. His eyes are a piercing light green and his voice is soothing and low. He has that smell all the time, everyday. Whenever I see my Uncle Tom, I see the ocean. Whenever I see the ocean, I see my Uncle Tom. Each of them have certain characteristics which remind me of the other. Both Tommy and the ocean are playful, passionate, forces of Nature. They are one, never to be separated.
Uncle Tommy and the ocean love to play. As I sit on the beach, I love to watch the waves crash on the wet sand, playing. The Ocean is pretty boring to someone who is not properly acquainted. True, the ocean is a ton of blue green water all in one spot, but it is also much more. I think of the ocean as trapped between the large masses of land that shape it, trying to make it fit into the mold of conformity. “It Tommy, not Tom or Thomas,” says my uncle constantly. My grandparents always shake their heads at this act of immaturity, but that is my uncle. I think of him as a kid trapped in an adult body. He tends to appear boring on the outside, blending with the businessmen of Boston, but he is far from it. His job is to advertise extreme sporting equipment, like snowboards and surfboards and rock climbing harnesses. What kind of businessman insists his clients address him with a childhood nickname? The same man who convinces his company in order to advertise the equipment he must first try it. Tommy is all about the playing in life. To him life is a huge jungle gym and he is going to take advantage, swinging from all the monkey bars, sliding down all the slides, and climbing everything that can possibly be climbed. Tommy especially loves playing with the ocean. He is an avid surfer and was my teacher. He surfs everyday from late March to late November. He would surf everyday of the entire year but New England weather is a bit chilly. He has a connection with the ocean unlike anyone else. Uncle Tommy and the Ocean are like two best friends playing through life.
Another characteristic both Tommy and the Ocean possess is passion. Uncle Tommy was the first to introduce me to his friend, the ocean. When he talks about the water it is like poetry. He talks as if the ocean were a person, alive and well. He sometimes just sits on the beach and has silent conversations with the water. His passion for the ocean is shown through the dedication and love for it. He could never live in a landlocked place. He would lose his best friend. I am glad Uncle Tommy shared the ocean with me. It started with surfing and now my relationship with the water has only grown. Tommy and I go surfing all the time. He taught me how to appreciate the water, allowing myself to float and trust. Uncle Tommy respects the water and the water respects him. Most surfers try to conquer the ocean, my uncle flows with it. The waves crest and he pops up. Smoothly, he glides along the surface defying gravity. The Ocean shows its passion for Tommy by allowing him to do so. The waves always seem perfect for Tommy, as if the water was saving the best waves for him. Yet, the water is calm and yet full of motion. When a storm awakens the sleeping monster, hell hath no fury. The ocean becomes feisty, almost passionate, as it rises to the challenge. It can destroy a coastline like a snack before the feast. Tommy might be one of the most relaxed and laid back people in the world, however he too can be stirred to frenzy. Tommy uses his passion to crush his opponents like waves crashing against the coast. Tommy and the ocean are full of passion.
There are five forces of nature, earth, wind, fire, water, and Tommy. Both the ocean and Tommy are huge forces of nature. When Tommy walks into a room, he appears to be a shaggy haired, chill, thirty-something beach bum who smells of salt and leaves a trail of sand behind. He looks like he has no ambition, yet he built his own house. It is a small beach house just down the road from me. He built his house in such a way that the ocean is always present and that is the way he likes it. The better story is when he built his house. Tommy had just graduated college with a degree in business. He had no job, he had a bunch of debt, and he was still going back to school for a Masters. Instead of doing what most people would do and just get a job, any job, he instead took out another loan. He bought his supplies and land then got to work. He just started to build, no plans, no help, no nothing. He worked on that house of two years and finally it was done. It is a single floor layout where you can see the ocean from any room. A business major with no money or professional help or any idea how to build a model, no less a house, erected a full, up-to-code house that just happens to have a view of the ocean from every single room. Tommy is a force of nature, tempting any opponents that think themselves worthy to battle him. The ocean is literately a true force of nature. It can do damage as well as be very useful. The water can just as easily create a category four hurricane, as it can allow human to use it to transport valuable resources. The ocean cannot build a house, but it can be used for energy and as a source of food. Tommy did complete his Masters and got a very good job, probably the job of his dreams. He is a force to be reckoned with just like the ocean. Strong and powerful, diligent and stubborn, both Tommy and the ocean are forces of nature. Uncle Tommy and the Ocean are and always will be intertwined. Tommy is a part of the ocean. The ocean is part of Tommy. They could not live without each other there for support. I know if he absolutely had to move to a landlocked place, Tommy would survive, however his soul lies in the water. When my uncle is sad or happy or angry or feeling anything, he goes to the ocean. When he is there, it is like watching two old friends talking. Often my uncle will just sit on the beach and absorb, take in the smells, watch the waves, taste the air. The ocean and Tommy share their playful attitudes, their passion for life, and their ability to do things their own way. Tommy is responsible for my deep relationship with the Ocean. Tommy and I go surfing or swimming or even beach sitting all the time. When I am away from the ocean, I feel as though I am a fish out of water, literally. We understand it because we are a part of it: the ocean.