Julieanna Goad: Marine Biology; Santa Barbara Week 5

This week was flew by. Sadly it was my last week at the REEF, but it was filled with fun and sorrowful goodbyes. Monday we had a busy day. Usually, Monday’s are reserved for husbandry and tasks to prepare for the week but instead, we had three programs come in excited and eager to learn. Tuesday I got an amazing opportunity to work in Erin Dillon’s lab with one of the undergraduates studying dermal denticles. Dermal denticles are basically small teeth that sharks have on their skin for different purposes such as protection and becoming more aerodynamic in the water. I never knew that dermal denticles were a thing or that they could be so helpful in recreating the ecology of past shark environments but since they preserve so well it creates a way to look into the past almost like dinosaur fossils. Wednesday there was another Scholastic Expedition boat trip out to the islands that I, unfortunately, could not attend but instead, I got to hang out with all of the kids going and be a mentor for them before they left for the islands. Thursday I was in the lab again looking for dermal denticles in sand particles. Friday was almost exactly like Thursday but at lunch, I went back down to the REEF to help with one last program and open door. After open door ended at 5 pm a few of the undergraduates and I went surfing as a send-off for me. All in all, this was an amazing trip and I thank Pinhead so much for this amazing opportunity.