MARINE BIOLOGY 101

The kids and I went to the Smithsonian Institute here in Bocas a few days ago. When we arrived at 3:30 we were informed that we were "3o minutes early" (even though we had called the night before to confirm they were open from 3-5). They informed us that they weren’t going to let us in for another 30 minutes. It was approximately 34 degrees, and we had just walked for 40 minutes in the blazing sun. (No, I am not complaining). But we were hot and sweaty and just wanted to rest in the shade, which was only available beyond the gate. After trying to explain what we wanted in my now famous "Spanlish" plus a little bit of charades, the security guard finally let us through, only to follow us until we planted ourselves down on some chairs which were in a shaded area below a ceiling fan.

The Institute was actually pretty cool. The tour started out really boring. But then we got to the labs where the scientists were actually working. The kids got to get their hands dirty. (Ahh, my tactile learners!). We met a scientist who is studying shrimp. Syd and Josh got to pull apart sponges and help her find tiny shrimp. The scientist told us that the shrimp aren’t very social. They find a sponge to live in, and don’t like to share their space with anyone other than their mate. She also said that shrimp have the same mate for life. Really! People actually study this stuff! We also met a guy who will be weighing bug brains for the next 2 years. I asked why, and he went on and on and on about it and I honestly think he said, and I am paraphrasing, and perhaps even giving wrong info, and if so, I do apologize, “to see if they devote more of their body space to brains the smaller their body mass is. " We got to look through the microscope to see the wee little basket he had just mounted to weigh the brains. I laughed and said “Ah, a brain basket!” The kids and I thought that was pretty funny, but not Mr. Scientist. Perhaps he had been in his lab a little too long! Oops! We also met a rhinoceros cock roach. It was a very cool looking creature. We were allowed to touch starfish, brittle starfish, and coral of all types of textures, and sea cucumbers who spit out their intestines when they feel threatened. Gross! Near the end of the tour, we walked out on their pier to see all sorts of living thing in the water and some Mangroves. Mangroves are amazing trees, and the only tree that can live and grow in salt water. They have a few “glands” on the leaves, and near the stem, that secrete the salt that they absorbed from the ocean.

We learned lots, but realized how much more we need to learn. That is the thing about these trips. The more you travel, the more you realize how little you really know about the world!

Until I blog again.

Linda