Field Tropical Marine Biology (September 2007)

Faculty and friends interested in tropical marine biology enjoyed this eight-day field trip to Roatan Island in Honduras. Classroom presentations were augmented with diving and snorkeling excursions. Daily activities included snorkeling, diving, photographing, and surveying in shallow reefs, sand flats, and seagrass beds.

(Left) Group members enjoy a tropical marine biology class. (Right) The group gathers for a photo at a house in French Harbor.

(Left) Ernie Schwab and Carley Leggitt prepare a hermit crab for research. (Right) A radio tracking device is attached to a hermit crab for monitoring.

(Left) Erik Schwab, Leroy Leggitt, Carley Leggitt, and Ernie Schwab prepare hermit crabs for monitoring. (Right) The group enjoys a meal together at Romeos.

(Left) Rocky shoreline at Roatan. (Right) Taking some time out from diving to do some studying.

(Left) Condylactus gigantea. (Right) Yellowtail damselfish juvenile Microspathodon chrysurus.

(Left) Laura Nyirady. (Right) Steve Nyirady.

(Left) Ken Wright. (Right) Sabine and Steve Dunbar.

(Left) Steve and Laura Nyirady. (Right) Diving near giant sponges.

(Left) Cushion sea star, Oreaster reticulatus. (Right) Banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus

(Left) Branching tube sponge, Pseudoceratina crassa (Right) Sponge brittle stars, Ophiothrix suensonii in Pink vase sponge, Niphates digitalis.

(Left) Pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus. (Right) Diving buddies.

(Left) Exploring the depths. (Right) Al Thunquest practices aquatic levitation.

(Left) Bearded fireworm, Hermodice carunculata. (Right) Jerry Rivinius, Lynette Rivinius, and Javier Elenes.

(Left) Spiny lobster, Panulirus argus. (Right) Gorgonian Coral.

(Left) Caribbean grey reef sharks. (Right) Exploring the earth's inner space.

(Left) Semi-terrestrial hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus. (Right) White-faced monkey.

(Left) Jerry and Lynette Rivinius speak at church. (Right) The group prepares to leave Roatan.