For the last two months I have been planning and executing an experiment testing the feeding behaviors and abilities of Nucella dogwhelk snails from different sites in different pH treatments. To my great satisfaction, everything has been working according to plan. As a result of this experiment, I will witness sunrise outside every day for at least 14 days straight! Hooray!
Thanks sooo much to the volunteers who have helped me every step of the way. You guys are super great!
Enjoy these pictures of the process!
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| Pre-experiment holding tank. |
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| The experimental setup. Snails are in the baskets in bins covered with acrylic sheets weighted with cinder blocks. |
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| Experimental bin. |
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| The marine lab when I get there in the morning. |
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| Snail in a basket. It fell on its back and is trying to right itself. |
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| Snails in baskets. The snail on the right is drilling that mussel! |
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| A snail in a basket drilling a mussel. |
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| Filling bottles with water samples to measure pH. |
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| We even do it all in the rain! |
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| Snail drilling a mussel. |
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| Snails resting on the underside of the lid. |
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| The little mussel was eaten by that snail! |
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| This snail has its proboscis through the hole it drilled in the right valve of this mussel. Since the mussel is open, you can see the snail's proboscis on the inside! |
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| Sunrise during sampling. |
