After years of studying and teaching about plankton, our equipment has experienced a lot of wear and tear. Your planktonic valentine’s gift will go toward the replacement of necessary equipment (plankton nets, a new digital microscope camera, monitoring screens, etc.)
Give between Feb 13 and Feb 17, 2025 ($1500 needed in total)!
Plankton is a ‘catch-all’ term for all the organisms that drift with the tides and currents. The word plankton means “wanderer” or “drifter”. Some of these drifters are microscopic algae which photosynthesize and make oxygen that we use to breathe. Other drifters include the larval stage of animals that we enjoy visiting at low tide, and some animals you might never know existed because they remain in their planktonic stage their whole lifespan.
At Feiro, it is such a joy to witness the discovery of all these plankton types as we introduce them to students and visitors. Visitors to Feiro have a chance to witness plankton with their own eyes at our microscope station. Students who attend our Plankton Exploration program have the chance to collect a plankton sample with a specialized net, and then view their sample under a microscope to see the unique individuals that would otherwise be invisible. Students love to share what they are seeing with the class, which is where our digital microscope camera comes in handy displaying the found treasures on a screen for the whole class to see – allowing everyone to be mystified at these amazing organisms. After many years of use, our plankton nets have reached a point beyond repair (we can only glue and stitch so many times), and our digital display equipment is slightly outdated. Thank you for your Plankton Valentine gift – all gift sizes are appreciated and will help our Plankton Program Bloom.
While the equipment mentioned is vital to our education program, it also assists with another plankton-related program. We are proud to be a partner in the Sound Toxins program (a program managed by Washington Sea Grant and the Washington State Dept of Health). As part of this program, our citizen science volunteers regularly monitor the plankton in our waters by taking a sample with a specialized plankton net. This is different then the one used for our education programs, as it is designed specifically to collect phytoplankton – the microscopic algae type. From this sample, the volunteers identify the types of phytoplankton that are drifting in our local waters. Why is this important? Some of these algae, known as Harmful Algae Bloom species, can produce a toxin, and when their numbers increase their toxins build up in the tissues of animals that eat them, such as shellfish. By monitoring these numbers, the Sound Toxins program acts as an early warning system to help the Department of Health with their monitoring and ensure that shellfish collection is closed when it would compromise human health. While the nets are different, the digital camera and display system used for the Sound Toxins program are the same ones used by students. The updated technology will assist the citizen science volunteers’ ability to identify the unique features of the various phytoplankton, ensuring they can spot troublesome plankton accurately while also enjoying the beauty of the many phytoplankton that drift in our waters.
To learn more about Sound Toxins and their mission, visit their website! https://www.soundtoxins.org/about.html
You can donate through the link below or drop by the donation box at the front desk Thursday – Monday from 12pm – 4pm.
