2022 MCC France marine biology study ablog

  This week we got to go scuba diving, we went to Cimiez, visited Musee Massena and we went to Monaco and went to the oceanographic museum. We went scuba diving in seagrass which is something I have not done before. We got to hold a short-spined sea urchin and I could feel it sticking to my hands. Cimiez and the Massena Museum were beautiful and the gardens looked Nice. Monaco was my favorite part of this week. The ocean view was so pretty. The oceanographic museum was amazing and the moon jellyfish were mesmerizing. I really enjoyed walking around the museum and learning about old fishing patterns. 

  This week was super fun and interesting! A baby seagull landed on our terrace and stayed to hang out for a while. We have been watching a nest on the building next door so this was super awesome. I remember when we visited the fish market there was a fully grown seagull stealing scraps from one of the vendors which was fun to watch.  Seeing the different life stages of the birds has been making me think about life cycles and how species depend on one another. The inter species dependence was also complemented by my parrot fish essay, the fish eat the algae which also benefits the corals and literally produces sand!

  This week I had a lot of fun snorkeling in the ocean which is something I’ve never had the chance to do. I think that it helped me a lot not be as scared of the ocean when I go to the beach by seeing all the types of animals that are swimming around in that area. I was surprised to see how many groups of little fish there were swimming around and the vary of the marine animals there were as well. This week I also learned a lot about Angelfish since I chose them to do my essay on. A fact that I learned about them while researching that I thought it was really cute that they stay loyal to their mates their whole lives.   Pufferfish at Musee Oceanographic in Monaco

 This being our last week in Nice, I had mixed feelings. I am ready to go home but not ready for reality. That being said, this week was probably my favorite week of the 3. Snorkeling in the Mediterranean was an experience I’ll never forget. Even though I hardly was able to see because I couldn’t wear my glasses with the goggles, I was still able to make the most of it. The cute little jellyfish that I was able to see was my personal favorite. Then we got to go to the Océanographique Museum which I was looking forward to the most. I love all aquariums and nautical things and this place was both so win-win for me. I was slightly disappointed that the sea turtle wasn’t moving around too much because that’s my favorite animal but I still got to see it and take a few photos. The other exhibits were really cool and for me the other fishes were extremely active.

  This week in the wonderful French Riviera I learned quite a bit about the area. For instance, I now understand the saying “sweating like a pig” quite well and don’t understand why more places do not have air conditioning. Our homestay called the refrigerator, “frigidaire” which is wonderful to hear them say in frustration as theirs went out. Especially wonderful to hear when the replacement refrigerator does not work and they have been having difficulties getting the replacement fixed as well. Had the wonderful opportunity to snorkel in the ocean for the first time and fully understand that I am not a strong swimmer. Photo from Musee Oceanographic in Monaco

  As we come to the last week, or should I say the final days of our program there are many things that I have learned. Especially about the ocean, before I came I knew nothing about the ocean let alone the different kinds of fish. Other than that the water is cold and very salty don’t drink it. For example, you have the different types of groups, you have the boney fish that of course have bones. Then you have the cartilage fish where instead of bones they have cartilage. Then last but not least you have the jawless fish, as the name implies they lack a jaw. And that some fish can show old they are just by how tilted they are. Not only that they can’t pick which side they want to flop. Let alone flip sides, that really surprised me.  

 Snorkeling was something I have never done out in the ocean, it was a great experience I got to see deeper into the ecosystem of the ocean. This area was no coral reef with tropical fish but, I was able to see a variety of fishes I haven't seen before. Being able to see their habitats and how some swim in little schools with each other was very interesting. Seeing the seagrass at the bottom was new as well, usually, I am used to regular seaweed. My favorite part was being able to see a jellyfish, I had never seen one in person before that wasn't beached. Overall, snorkeling was a great and new experience and I got to see more of the fish ecosystem than ever before. Macie Mattocks 

This week we did many things and new experiences for me. This was my first time scuba diving in the ocean after my certification. It is always so weird to me to breathe underwater and the fact you have to consciously do it is so hard. However, I saw multiple things that I have never seen before, the life under water is so much different and unique, hoping that I will be able to keep doing it and on more occasions. Also, we went to the oceanographic museum in Monaco, a great place to get that feeling of what is going on inside the vast oceans around the world. The place was huge and with a lot of history. I have never been to a place like this before and it was magical to see it. The jellyfish and the moray eel were my favorite so scary and dangerous but thankfully I got to see them with not a high percentage of risk. Furthermore Monaco had a lot of cool cars which I love so that was amazing.  -Andrea Janneth Rodriguez

 This week we did something I have been looking forward to for months, snorkeling! Whale watching, which is soon to come, and snorkeling were two of the most intriguing things about this trip to me. I love boats and being in the ocean, so this couldn’t have been any better. On the way to the snorkeling area I was able to sit on the side of the boat with my legs dangling off into the cool water, and watch the waves as I chatted with some new friends I make on the boat. When we got to our spot we all got our equipment and I had to wait patiently as I was one of the lasts to get into the water.  Once I jumped in I slightly panicked from having to adjust my breathing, but after a few breaths I got the hang of it and went on my way. I headed straight for the rocks hoping to see some starfish, although since I was looking down I did not realizing what I was actually heading towards was a jellyfish! When I finally looked up it was only inches away from my face and I immediately swam ...

 A few pics from our underwater adventures off Villefranche sur Mer, near Nice https://photos.app.goo.gl/XR5GPzMD9FYgLDJg8

  I have had such an amazing time on this trip. All of you have been beyond kind to me and I really appreciate that. I will be honest I didn’t go on this trip expecting to learn a lot about marine biology, however I am pleasantly surprised. The marine biology excursions have been some of my favorites thus far and I have created memories I never dreamed of making. I am so lucky to have met you all. I learned a lot this week. We went snorkeling, which was so fun, it was cool to see the fish in their natural habitat swimming around. I also learned that I don’t know how to not breathe out of my nose or swim correctly, these both came as a big surprise to me haha . Since I probably won’t get the chance to say this elsewhere, thank you all. All of you girls + tony, chris and Alex have made this a summer I will never forget, I’ve had so much fun getting to know you. à bientôt.

  This week I was happy to have gone snorkeling. It was nice to try although I felt a little uneasy because I get a little claustrophobic, especially with things over my face but the instructors were so nice, and I enjoyed seeing all the jellyfish and fish underwater, so I was able to get over it. I also learned quite a bit about salmon which happens to be on most sushi rolls I enjoy and now I understand why they taste so good and have so much nutritional value. I didn’t know salmon were predators or that they spawn up in rivers after living a complete life. As for French culture, I've been seeing the same patterns and habits of the French and I have been able to practice quite a bit of my French which has been very helpful for my fluency.

  **Readers beware, this is going to be the real raw truth** What I learned this week on my scuba trip and through Alex lectures and readings regarding ocean fish, that us humans are actually a lot like sea creatures. Sea Creatures come in beautiful sizes and colors and have defense mechanisms to protect themselves from the prey. I’m going to share some things about myself that other’s don’t know, when I walk with confidence, grace and repose and carry myself with heavy armor. That’s my defense mechanism, just like sea creatures.   What I experienced/encountered on my first ever scuba diving trip, besides getting my scuba certification that I worked “very hard” for because it did not come easy to me and I wouldn’t and didn’t give up. To my point, during the dive trying to go underwater my anxiety got the best of me and when the water started to flood into my googles, I went up to get the water out and gather myself and Alex made sure I was good enough to go down. When we wen...

This week was chalk full of marine biology excursions and learning. The beginning of the week started with diving in Nice which was my first dive other than my training dives! Which was also a boat dive! Diving in the Mediterranean is a much better experience than lake dives, which are the only open water locations we have access to in Arizona. We saw a bunch of different kinds of fish and even some other organisms. We saw a sea urchin, and Alex found an octopus.  Today we visited the Oceanographic museum in Monaco which had multiple levels with an aquarium and other history exhibits. The aquarium is home to many types of fish native to both the Mediterranean and other oceanic locations. The coolest thing I saw today was the cuttlefish! I have seen many documentaries and videos about this animal and I have never seen one in person. The perfect end to the trip!

  As we come to the last week, or should I say the final days of our program there are many things that I have learned. Especially about the ocean, before I came I knew nothing about the ocean let alone the different kinds of fish. Other than that the water is cold and very salty don’t drink it. For example, you have the different types of groups, you have the boney fish that of course have bones. Then you have the cartilage fish where instead of bones they have cartilage. Then last but not least you have the jawless fish, as the name implies they lack a jaw. And that some fish can show old they are just by how tilted they are. Not only that they can’t pick which side they want to flop. Let alone flip sides, that really surprised me.

  This week I learned about Wrasse fish since that is the fish I chose for my fish essay. I chose this fish since I saw it whilst scuba diving. I encountered them nearer to the shore and much farther away from the boat. Although, it was no problem since the fins helped me get there much faster. Apparently, I got yelled at by the angry instructor for zooming around really fast. But I didn’t care nor hear him. I was free under the water with nothing but jelly fish stings and feet cramps to stop me. During my research, I learned that Wrasse fish are all born female and then six years later half of them turn male. They also eat small fish and invertebrates. They are very bright and easily caught my attention.

  Sarah and I took a day to travel to Cannes and visit Île Sainte Marguerite by ferry. It was a relatively private and untouched island filled with interesting biodiversity. When I read about the island I learned that it was protected by the National Forest Office in France. I’m always amazed by seeing pine trees so close to the ocean, I’ve always regarded them as more of an inland forest tree. After a short climb down to a rocky beach, we saw many intertidal areas full of crabs, sea anemones, seagulls, and small fish. It was warm outside and relatively low tide so we saw that all the anemones were not fully opened up to protect themselves just like we learned in our lectures. There was also a lot of seaweed clinging onto the rocks under constant stressors of the waves pulling them back and forth. There were also many plants growing out of all of the crevices in the rocks which helps to protect them from the heat and keep their moisture. Île Sainte Marguerite was a peaceful and se...

  This week I was finally able to learn and memorize all of the 25 fish families. I also picked one fish out of the 25 and wrote an essay about that fish. I chose the parrotfish, and I was able to learn many interesting things about it. Some of the interesting facts that I was able to learn are that t here are about 95 varied species of parrotfish. They can range from 12 – 20 in. in length, but they can be anywhere from 5 inches long to well over 4 feet. Another cool interesting fact is that t heir digestive systems break down the calcium carbonate in coral skeletons and they poop about 2,000 pounds of sand each year, which gives us that fine, white sand on the seafloor.  

 It was super cool to be able to explore fish anatomy with a real fish. I thought it was a great way to learn through doing that is super fun! During the dissection I found the fish’s eye lense which was spherical. I have never seen a lense like that before, it was like a little marble! I have never seen a whole fish this big so up close before so it was a cool experience. I learned that cartilaginous fish have a cloaca like birds and reptiles. Then being able to see and actually feel the lateral line on the fish was totally new. I knew that sharks are able to sense electronegativity in the water but I never thought of other fish having similar abilities. This exercise has made me interested in dissecting other aquatic creatures, I am especially interested in the differences between, ray finned, lobe finned, and cartilaginous fish. 

  The French Riviera has seen the introduction of many foreign plant species over the years. The Greeks and Romans are mostly responsible for the arrival of many fruit trees, including the popular olive trees. The popular palm trees we’ve been seeing during every outing in the French Riviera are also not originally from this area. Palms were introduced from many different places, including the Canary Islands, Asia, and California.  At the end of the 19th century, Nice was even known to be the world capital of flowers. During our time in Nice, I made plans to visit the Jardin Botanique de Nice, or, the Nice Botanical Gardens, which showcases flowers from all over the world. The major areas in the gardens include African, American, Asian, Australian and European plants. For more information, you can visit: https://www.nice.fr/fr/parcs-et-jardins/le-jardin-botanique. Amanda Christianson Blog Post #3

 This week was a really fun week were I got to learn a lot and do something’s that I’ve tried before. I learned a lot about fishes’ anatomy for example, and getting to dissect a fish and identify all its organs is something I never got to do in school before. I also learned how important the fish market is to Nice, which is cool to see because from the place that I’m from I’ve never seen people go out to buy fish from a market that sells all kinds of them. I really liked kayaking as well, I’ve never done it before and I believe that I did a lot better than I thought on the kayak.

 As an excursion we went to see an estuary, where the ocean meets the freshwater. I learned a lot during this week’s lectures as well on the trip. I never realized that so many kinds of species actually live in these places, and I’ve always thought that not very many live there due to the different salinity levels. It’s cool to know that these organisms can actually adapt to all kinds of levels of salinity since those not living in estuaries can’t do the same. Other than that, I thought it was really cool to go see a different part of France that isn’t Nice and compare the difference between both cities.

  There was so much going on this week! The dissection of fish was completely disgusting to me, I didn’t enjoy it at all but it was very interesting finding out the insides of a fish. Also, kayaking was exhausting but so fun! I enjoyed jumping into the water and getting to experience kayaking. I needed this excursion to fulfill my need for exercise since I have only been getting walking or jogging in. I wish we would’ve been able to go faster and on our own a bit but I appreciate the safety precautions taken. I have also been learning so much about French culture that i never knew such as the heavy Italian influence and the differences between the French Riviera and Paris such as the dialect and lifestyle! It’s so different from America and I miss it so much but I am enjoying my time here and feel so blessed to be able to experience this!

  Powered up the coast yesterday in Poseidon Plongee's dive boat to near Cap Ferrat (I think), where we snorkeled (and some scuba'd) in clear tranquil waters about six to fifteen feet deep (noticed interesting underwater currents of warmer then colder water even at the same level. Most numerous fishes seen were schools (12 to 20 or so) of saupe which seemed to be munching on too-small-to-see isopods etc., which were apparently clinging to the sea grass. Also saw what looked to be wrasse, and when someone in the water began writhing and jerking, they were probably trying to get away from a nearby jellyfish. I believe one of the snorkelers on the boat (from another group) was stung by a jellyfishes' tentacles, but he did not seem to be in much agony... (When in Australia 10 years ago, we saw that swimming beaches had fine-mesh screens floating from the surface to about 4 feet down to protect people from box jellyfish, whose venom can definitely be fatal).       ...

  Blog Post 3 - Snorkeling Adventure – Laura   Yesterday was snorkeling in the crystal-clear Mediterranean sea in a protected   area where there was no current with which to contend.   This activity was   something I had looked forward to the entire trip!   We have been studying bony fish, dissecting a bony fish but now we were able to see them in their natural habitat.   I saw   12-15 inches long sea grass for the first time. I have snorkeled in Hawaii   and the Caribbean but in those places,   it is   mainly algae the fish nibbled off the rocks. Dr. Cheroske said the fish are not really nibbling/eating the grass but tiny little organisms attached to the grasses.     We saw  several schools of “saupe” which are about 8-10inches long and have yellow   horizontal stripes along their bodies. We also saw some damsel fish, bream and several small, pinkish jelly fish that I stayed away fr...

  I learned about seals and sealions and about the difference they have with each other despite being of similar species, especially when it comes to the way they move both on land and in the water. I also got to learn about to of my most favorite creatures of the sea, dolphins and sea turtles, and about their amazing biology they possess. I also got to enjoy an amazing afternoon snorkeling on the water and getting to sea some sea creatures close up. I even got to see some small species of jellyfish, which is a creature of the sea that I rarely get to see.

 Today, we went snorkeling in Villefrance-sur-Mer. On the boat ride out to where we snorkeled, we got to hang our feet off the boat. It was the perfect temperature. In the high 70s, low 80s. There was slightly a breeze while the boat was moving. The water was so beautiful and clear. We put on goggles, snorkles, and flippers. It was an interesting outfit. It was scary being in the water knowing that they are jellyfish. It was such a fun day. On Thursday, we are going to an Ocean museum in Monaco and on Saturday, we are going whale watching. I can’t wait! Sierra Griego

 The market we visited this week held many different products and goods, specifically, we looked at the fish. Going through all the fish stands there were many different types of fish along with other ocean creatures such as oysters. Seeing all the different types of fish gave me a broad understanding of how many species lie right off the coast. Following the market, we gathered fish to dissect and take a closer look. My fish specifically held many eggs making it difficult to navigate its anatomy. But, looking inside the fish I was able to see their vast internal organs and the differences from mammals.

  This week I learned a mixture between the French culture and the marine environment around Nice via the fish market. For instance I was able to tell the love for fresh market items (i.e. fruits, flowers, fish). While at the fish market, I was able to see a display of different fish, from different environments all presented on ice. It was my understanding that the more “exotic” types of fish would be bought up fast, and you would need to visit the market in the early morning in order to appreciate these fish. It also pleasantly surprised me the difference between American produce and French produce as well. 

Fish… Well we learned a lot about those I liked the rays and I found it interesting seeing the inside of some of them specially the flat fish which is so complicated in comparison to the other fishes. The market had many fishes to see that allowed us to check them in a little more fresh environment than when we dissected them. Also, we went to one of the most beautiful places, Villa Et Jardins Ephrussi De Rothschild. The place was very pretty and with a bunch of history on each corner. I went to the Musee du Palais Lascaris and same here, a very chimerical and well preserved place, I loved how it has many musical instruments from the past that caught my attention and made me want to hear it back in the day.  -Andrea Janneth Rodriguez

  I have been looking forward to today since I signed up for this program! Kayaking was so much fun. I’ve been kayaking a few times before but never in such beautiful waters, it was crazy to be able to see so far down to the ocean bottom. We also got the opportunity to learn about the anatomy of fishes. I liked dissecting less than I liked kayaking but I did find it interesting seeing the insides and being able to point to the different organs a fish has. I also explored the city more. I have been loving it here. It's crazy how much I truly feel at home in Nice, I will be sad to leave :(

  Yesterday was such a fun and kinda exhausting day at the same time. I’ve  never kayaked but it always so funny to experience things with the group we  always have a good time. It was really interesting how when we got to the  middle of the ocean the waves were huge. Luckily me and sierra didn’t fall  but it was definitely fun. I’ve always wanted to kayak and I’m glad I was  given the chance to. I feel like I’m prepared to kayak again one day I  learn so much about kayaking. It was a great time with the group.

  We went to see where the fresh water meets the ocean. It was super  interesting to see that and learn about it all. It was a really great and  interesting experience probably one of the funniest moment we’ve had since  it was raining and we were all not prepared I will definitely remember that  day forever. It was also the pretty cool seeing how many birds hang by the  fresh water. Over all it was a very cool experience and I’m sure all had  fun and had a laugh out of it because we were all laughing about it. I hope  to see more things like that.

 This week, we learned a lot about fish. On Tuesday, we went to the fish market. It was really interesting seeing how many seagulls were around waiting for some fish. After that, we went to France Langue and dissected the fish. It was equal parts fascinating and disgusting. We saw all of the organs of the fish, such as the heart and the liver. Yesterday, we took a train to Antibes. The stop we got off on was Juan Les Pins. We walked a little bit to the dive shop to grab our kayaks. I learned that I am terrible at kayaking. But the view was so beautiful and worth it.  Sierra Griego

  Before this week I had never attended a fish market. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten fish or shellfish so it was interesting to see what the French caught locally to supply the neighborhood. Walking past each vendor, I was surprised to see that there were a couple of dead cuttlefish on the tables. I am familiar with people eating calamari or squid, but I have to say I was a little dismayed to see that this animal was on the menu. I’ve only ever seen videos of them in the water and they are so beautiful. They have the capability to camouflage not only their colors but the texture of their skin as well. Maybe I am biased because octopus is my favorite sea creature and cuttlefish are so similar, but it was a little heartbreaking for me to see it. Aside from feeling this way, I noticed the vendors were very friendly and interested to know where we came from and even reached out to my partner and I speaking English, so I felt very welcome. I will include the cuttlefish being so...

This week we started to dive deeper into the anatomy of fish and learned how each type of fish can have a different internal organ layout. For example, after going to the fish market my partner and I dissected two different fish. One was a loup fish and the other was a sol fish. The internal organs in the first fish were as expected in terms of where they were found and what they looked like. The second fish however had an interesting layout of organs once we cut into it. The main cavity near the swim bladder did not contain the majority of the organs. Two large gonads were found along that side and the rest of the organs were pushed up towards the head of the fish. This was very surprising and after researching more about that type of fish, we came to learn that it was normal for a sol to look like that.  Loup Internal Anatomy: Sol Internal Anatomy: -Sarah Brandon

 Today we went kayaking in Antibes and although it was tiring, I enjoyed every moment. I loved being out on the water, soaking up the sun, kayaking along the coast. It was not too hot and the water was cool and clear. I was not expecting to be able to see what was under us so clearly. It was awesome being able to see the sea-life beneath us, even though it was mostly just rocks and greenery. Although, I did see a few small fish that were sadly too fast or deep down to identify. Overall, I enjoyed the scenery and the experience of being out on the mediterranean. 

Students were able to observe the intertidal from a different perspective today as the class spent a couple hours kayaking the coastline in Antibes (west of Nice and just east of Cannes). 

 During this week in Nice, France we visited Mussee Massena, which is an old museum dedicated to retelling the history of Nice, the Liberation Market, where we cut up some fish for science, and we went kayaking in Antibes. At the Musee Massena, we walked around through gorgeous gardens and a gorgeous Ville decorated with gold and antique sculptors. At the liberation market, we saw an assortment of fish raging from flounders to squids. Later that day we bought some fish and took them back to the school so we could open them up and identify their internal organs. It was very interesting! Kayaking in Antibes was very fun and the water was exceptionally blue!

It was interesting going to the Liberation Fish Market and seeing all the varieties  of fish that people eat in France.  Growing up in the Midwest,  the only fish our family ate  were freshwater fish like catfish, bass and trout.  As I recall, trout was  the infrequent  delicacy for our family. I did not acquire a taste for crustaceans and open water fish till I was an adult when I moved to the coastal state of Oregon.  Even now, my taste for  those fish is limited. But at the fish market, I saw octopus, cuttlefish, squid, abalone, oysters, shrimp, eel, salmon, daurade, flounder,  bonita.... the list goes on and the fish  were completely intact.   At home,  if I went to my friendly Albertson's,  I would see some of these fish but  they would have already been prepared with the heads cutoff and the bodies gutted.  At the Fish Market,  I could actually see on an intact left-eyed flounder and recogniz...