"This is not killing the fish, it just knocks them out so we can pick the ones we want, because we have to be very selective on what fish we sample," Gibson said.
The reason the biologists are taking samples from the fish, he said, is to determine the chemistry in the water, and the levels of potentially toxic chemicals collected in the tissue of the fish.
"We take a little plug from the fish, put it in a Ziploc bag, put some Neosporin in the hole, and let it go," he said. "So if you ever catch a fish with a little dent in the shoulder, that means we've been sampling."
It is through this process that the DEQ can issue warnings about high mercury content in rivers and streams, he told the group.
The Co-Lin students, whom biology instructor Leslie Hood said are all biology and chemistry students, took the field trip to the lake in order to see how DEQ works. They didn't just shock the fish, they also got to learn about geology and hazardous materials, as well as learning to sample microorganisms that grow in the bottom of the lake and in the water.
"We're just letting them see several different career opportunities," Hood said. "As science majors, many students don't realize what possibilities are out there for them in the career field."
And the DEQ employees on site were encouraging as well.
"Occasionally in the newspaper or a magazine, you'll see a survey on job satisfaction," said DEQ biologist Mike Beiser. "Biologists are right there at the top."
It's not just working with fascinating life forms that makes his job so enjoyable, Beiser said.
"Where else do you get to wear tennis shoes, T-shirts and shorts to work and still get paid?" he said, laughing.
Meanwhile, at another station, the environmental engineers were loading Co-Lin student Steven Capistran into an airpack and a big blue plastic hazardous materials suit, demonstrating the precautions necessary when dealing with hazmat scenes.
"Why did I let y'all talk me into this?" Capistran said to his friends, later commenting, "It's hot in there."
The environmental engineers told the group about the drawbacks, like the fact that the air bottle only holds a certain amount of air. It has to be monitored closely, said DEQ engineer Richard Harrell.
"Can you imagine trying to get yourself out of that suit when you're out of air and covered in nasty stuff?" he said.
And while learning about groundwater, the students got to look at several pieces of ancient history, including pieces of the spine of a fossilized prehistoric whale that DEQ geologist James Starnes said was found in Mississippi.
"You realize that means that this whole area used to be underwater," he said.
The students passed around a large and heavy bone, and Starnes warned them that though it seemed dense, it was actually very fragile.
"It's basically a big heavy piece of bone with the consistency of a crouton that's a million years old," he said.
Hood said the students seemed to enjoy and to respond to the field trip.
"This is the first time we've done this workshop, but we hope to do it every year," she said. "They've had some really good questions, and they've seemed to enjoy themselves."
But it wasn't just the students who enjoyed themselves. Hood got to ride in the boat with Gibson when they collected the fish.
"I liked the shock boat," Hood said.
|
|
