The Lettered Olive: S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Education News
[ October 22, 2021]
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This time of year is marked by fall colors, cooler temperatures, and pumpkin-spiced everything. As we creep towards the end of the month, a celebration of the ultra weird, ghoulish, and scary begins to manifest in decorations and costumes, and youth prepare to trick or treat themselves to all the sugar they can cart home. Among the decorations frequently used to elicit fear are the often misunderstood and frequently feared group of arachnids we know more commonly as spiders. Although classified together in Phylum Arthropoda, spiders are not considered insects due to the fact that they have two (not three) body segments, eight (not six) pairs of legs, simple rather than compound eyes, and no wings or antennae. Our featured creature this week is the regal jumping spider, Phidippus regius, which is considered to be eastern North America's largest jumping spider, ranging in size from 6 - 18 mm. Commonly found in open fields and woodlands of S.C., this spider can be easily identified by white (male) or orange (female) markings on the abdomen that resemble a smiley face. Like other jumping spiders, they do not spin webs to catch their prey and instead use a process called hemolymph pressure to pounce on unsuspecting prey that includes other insects and spiders. This process constricts muscles in the upper region of the body, forcing blood to the lower part of their body, which causes the legs to rapidly extend. Jumping spiders can launch themselves 10 times their body length to land on their prey -- that's some Olympic feat! As a safety net, jumping spiders can spin a single thread to serve as a dragline to help stabilize their movement in midair.
As we round out the month of October, don't be afraid to check out these exciting -- not scary -- education opportunities from the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and our partners! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Research Soundings
by Dr. Brita Jessen, Interdisciplinary Research and Partnerships Lead, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
A Coastal Ghost Story
As we approach Halloween, let’s talk about coastal ghost forests. Unfortunately, this isn’t a made-up story, but the solutions are as real as the problem so we can be inspired to take action. "Ghost forest" refers to coastal maritime forests that are dying back, leaving ghostly-looking snags and stumps. These transitions can be gradual or acute, and are happening along the Atlantic and Gulf coast. Often a key factor is a change in the salt content (salinity) of the below-ground water due to sea level rise, which can be exacerbated by drought, hydrologic restrictions, elevation changes, and storms.
Maritime forests play a critical role in coastal resilience, protecting human communities and infrastructure by countering the forces of storm surge and wind. The forests also provide critical habitat and provisions for wildlife, and serve as “hot-spots” of carbon and nutrient cycling.
Last month I had the pleasure of getting into the field with U.S. Geological Survey scientists Dr. Ken Krauss and Andy From, and their colleague Dr. Jamie Duberstein from Clemson University. This team has been studying maritime forests in northern S.C. for two decades, including a ghost forest site. Their guidance and data enable S.C. coastal managers to prioritize critical areas for protection and restoration.
What restoration actions can be taken? In some areas, past and current development have enhanced the impact of sea level rise through ditching and dredging. Restoring old ditches and reviewing the environmental impact of dredging can help relieve the salinity stress on coastal forests. Another possible approach is thin layer sediment enhancement, which is currently experimental and to my knowledge has not been tested in coastal ghost forests. But restoration is a scientific process, and we have a lot of tools to test and learn from. So hopefully this spooky story can transform into a hero tale for coastal forests!
Education Link: Take a look at this video of U.S. Geological Survey scientist Dr. Ken Krauss to learn about how changes in elevation of coastal peat are studied compared to bedrock. Ask your students to list the processes that control elevation in different environments. For instance, riverine environments depend on sediment flowing downstream, while upland forests may depend more on the litter fall (leaves and branches). What causes elevation loss? Compaction is a key process, as well as loss of underground root structure. Remember that scientists monitor these gains and losses over the long-term (decadal scale) to build a confident estimate of trends.
Photo caption and credit: Ghost forest transitioning to salt marsh along Turkey Creek near the Waccamaw River. B. Jessen
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Educator Professional Development |
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All Booked Up: Coastal Reading Club
Deadline to Register: October 30, 2021
Calling all educators -- this is not just your average book club! The All Booked Up Coastal Reading Club provides an opportunity for educators to read and discuss influential fiction and nonfiction books related to S.C., the coast, or nature in general!
Our next book selection is hot-off-the-press! Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach was released on September 14th and will hold our next virtual discussion about this book in January 2022. Interested? Visit the All Booked Up Coastal Reading Club webpage to learn more about the club, sign up, and learn more about the latest book selection. New members receive their first book for free, but you must sign up by October 30th. Questions can be emailed to E.V. Bell.
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2021 - 2022 Educator Science Café Series
"Survival: Against the Odds"
November 16 and 17*, 2021
January 25 and 26*, 2022
What does it take to survive? Mark your calendars to join the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum as we delve into the science of survival during the 2021 - 2022 Educator Science Café Series! Participants will engage with science experts about factors impacting survival from the smallest organisms to ocean/global health. Each café will provide an opportunity to join in-person or virtual, will address S.C. State Science Standards in a cross-curricular manner, and offer renewal credits. All cafés (in-person and virtual) will be held from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Registration information about the November café will be available September 1, 2021. Questions can be sent to E.V. Bell or Hannah Giddens.
*denotes virtual session
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Watershed Game Workshop
October 25 - 26, 2021
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM (CST)
K - 12 educators are invited to join Minnesota Sea Grant as you learn how to facilitate the Watershed Game (WSG). Participants in the WSG learn about practices, plans, and policies that improve and protect the quality of a stream, lake, river or coastal region while making management choices about land use in a fun, and low-stress environment. The object of this team-building simulation is for each participant or team to use limited financial resources to reduce excess nonpoint source pollution (e.g., excess sediment, nitrogen and/or phosphorus) to levels that meet a clean water goal. The WSG illustrates that cooperation is an essential part of managing water and land use. Participants learn to consider and involve all land uses within a watershed as they work to achieve their clean water goals. More information about the WSG can be accessed in the Watershed Game Information Guide and the WSG website.
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Project Learning Tree K-8 Activity Guide Trainings
November 2, 2021 (Coward, S.C.)
December 4, 2021 (Aiken, S.C.)
S.C. Project Learning Tree has two upcoming FREE (thanks to an ee360 grant) open-to-the-public PD events. These in-person trainings will be for the new K-8 Activity Guide. PLT’s new flagship curriculum, Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment. Activities include detailed step-by-step instructions, academic correlations, time and material requirements, and corresponding student worksheets with green career connections. This supplementary curriculum is designed to develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Both trainings will be held from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Register for the November 2, 2021 training at Lynches River County Park (Coward, S.C.) or for the December 4, 2021 training at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center (Aiken, S.C.). Questions can be sent to Matt Schnabel or Beth Foley.
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South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA) Annual Conference: "STEAM"ing into a Changing World
November 5 -7, 2021
During the pandemic, educators and researchers alike have had to re-imagine what science and hands-on teaching looks like while still working to conserve our environment and respond to the changes presented by climate change. Come join us for SCMEA's Annual Conference to learn what worked, what changed, and what more we can do to educate and inspire future conservationists. Please visit the SCMEA Conference Page for more details.
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S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
Enviroscape Loaner Program
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium offers use of their Wetlands Enviroscape Model free-of-charge to any S.C. K-12, nonformal, and homeschool educator. The Wetlands Enviroscape Model provides a hands-on demonstration about how watersheds can be affected by development, pollution, and other natural and human-made impacts. Included as part of the demonstration are ways in which potential pollution impacts can be mitigated (e.g., riparian buffers and salt marshes). To find out more information on requesting to borrow the Enviroscape, please visit the Enviroscape Loaner Program page to fill out the request form. Questions can be sent to Emmi Palenbaum.
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Ocean Exploration Education Mini-Grants
Deadline to Apply: November 15, 2021
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Exploration Outreach and Education Division, in cooperation with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Ocean Exploration Education Mini-Grants opportunity. These grants range from $10,000 - $25,000 and are intended to support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEI&A) efforts that advance ocean literacy, stewardship, and workforce development related to ocean exploration. More information can be accessed here. The deadline to submit proposals is November 15, 2021.
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