From the Marsh to the Lab

By Kristen Simmler

Dr. Roger Wood and Kristen Simmler

The Wetlands Institute is one of South Jersey’s treasures that I never really understood until after my internship experience as a student researcher. I am ashamed to say that while I have been visiting Stone Harbor since I was a toddler. It was not until May 2008 that I stepped foot inside the Wetlands Institute. Looking back on the internship program, I am grateful for everything the Wetlands Institute gave me. While the internship was hard work, I would definitely participate again. Where else can you hold a baby osprey, see behind the scenes of the Philadelphia Zoo, play with newborn diamondback terrapins, or watch mating horseshoe crabs?

While fighting off greenheads, strawberries flies, and angry nesting shorebirds, I had the opportunity to take in all the elements of the outdoors and appreciate wildlife in a whole new perspective. In addition to experiencing nature, we got to share our experiences with members of the community. From helping in the release of “head-start” terrapins, to explaining why I was cutting the plastron off a terrapin with a saw, it was always fulfilling to teach someone about the Wetlands Institute’s research efforts. Also, the Bay Days festival was most definitely the best opportunity to share my knowledge of the surrounding wetlands with the general public. How can I forget being asked if “these things” (referring to urchins and starfish) actually lived in our area?

Apart from all of the amazing events we were able to witness and take part in, I am surprised by how much I was able to learn in ten short weeks at the Wetlands Institute. This had been my first research experience, and in all honesty, research never really interested me. However, I got to put my skills to use by combining field research techniques and what I had learned in my undergraduate biology courses. For instance, after collecting forty-two terrapin blood samples from the caudal septum while sitting on a rocking Carolina skiff and being eaten alive by greenheads. I was able to then analyze my samples using a spectrophotometer. I felt like an accomplished scientist and I am now comfortable with my ability to apply my scientific knowledge. I recently gave a presentation about my research during an Honors Program meeting at McDaniel College. After the presentation, I realized that I just taught 30 people about a topic they never heard about. How lucky am I to have had the opportunity to participate in such an exciting and educational experience?