Simi Harrison

Three Seas Masters student interested in marine biology and coastal resilience @NUMarSci

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Here's a quick compilation of our past week of #OCP, enjoy! #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Now, in the lab, we're using the image analysis program ImageJ to calculate sponge frustum volumes and velocities of dye expulsion! Stay tuned for an update on the relative efficiencies of sponge filtering rates across species.

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Okay gang let's take a deep-dive into how we quantified pumping rate of the sponge I. compana. We're using the flux formula Q = (x-sectional area)*(velocity of water exiting sponge). So, in the field, we took photos of the osculum to later determine the area of the orifice.

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Finally, we injected fluorescent dye around the base of the sponge and filmed it filtering and expelling the dye through its osculum.

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Did you know corals feed at night when their zooxanthellae aren't photosynthesizing? If you zoom in, you might just be able to see the extended #sweeper tentacles of this M. cavernosa searching for food #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Yesterday we deployed three inverted mesh traps to catch demersal zooplankton overnight for our #OCP lab. Can't wait to see what goodies we pull up today! #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Quick fact: basket stars are the largest ophiuroids and can live up to 35 years in the wild! I was lucky enough to catch this one feeding tonight just off Isla Colón #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Just like other animals, corals exhibit behavioral patterns that we can monitor! Check out these before and after pictures of L. cucullata clearing sediment from its surface (all experimentally added sediment was removed after lab) #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

@Losaviom Millepora complanata! Be careful, it's called fire coral for a reason 🔥

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Can you tell which part of the reef this is based on coral shape? Sturdy, branched corals like the #elkhorn (A. palmata) in the background can withstand the high wave energies characteristic of the reef crest. #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

@kelldooling @NU_ThreeSeas @SaraDWms Cool! How did it clear the sediment?

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

@Losaviom Go women! What kind of inventions?

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Have you ever wondered how turbulence affects the benthic boundary layer? #3Cs37 took to the sea with some fluorescent dye this morning to examine dispersion on reefs!

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

You may know that the coral in this photo is a #calcifying organism, but did you know the algae next to it is, too? #Halimeda species are calcareous macroalgae that can produce much of the sand you see on your reef dives! #3Cs37 @MaggieDJohnson @NU_ThreeSeas

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Thrilled to be back in the field with #3Cs37! Stay updated with our progress as we survey functional groups on coral reefs in beautiful #BocasdelToro @MaggieDJohnson @NU_ThreeSeas

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Article pick of the week! Let's talk food: https://t.co/55pwXanWtK

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Here's to hoping we all feast as heartily as this #rockcrab on Thursday #Thanksgiving #3Cs37

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

As the weather out there worsens, consider taking a page from these Spongilla gemmules and hunkering down until conditions improve #theyrefreezeresistant #hotcocoaworkstoo

[Simi Harrison @HarrisonSimi]

Article pick of the week! Check out what could happen if we increase protection by just 1% in the most biodiverse areas: https://t.co/kmLiR4W5W7