Florida Keys 2010: Day 8-Stephanie

Today was quite the interesting day here in the Florida Keys. Both lizard groups and the fish group were hard at work for most of the day interpreting their data and learning what writing scientific papers is all about. All I can say is, as interesting as it is, it can be quite the frustrating process. In the end though, after a long night tonight of paper and presentation writing, all groups are confident that they will prevail (FINALLY!!!). The lizard groups did get to have a bit of fun today, traveling to Key West Botanical Gardens to release their 56 lizard subjects back into the wild. On the way home, we all decided on official nicknames for each other to put on the shirts we're designing to commemorate this incredible experience. Everyone got to fish print t-shirts with Dr. Londraville using dead Needle Fish and Silver Jenny's caught in the fish group's sein. It's quite the interesting process, covering dead fish in fabric paint and pressing them into t-shirts to make designs. It's especially interesting when imprints don't work out and people use needle fish noses as paint brushes to complete their designs. All in all, despite the painful process of writing scientific papers, everyone had a good time. Tomorrow, beginning at 9 a.m., all groups will present the results of their experimental studies, then it's off to Key West for a day of fun and festivities!!! As excited as we all are about completing our research, I think that I speak for everyone when I say that it's sad that tomorrow is our last day here. It's been a great time and everyone has made a lot of friends, so we'll all be sorry to leave. (To say nothing of how much prettier it is here than back in Ohio). I do know, however, that I personally will not be missing the termites living in the walls by my bed, or the constant overhanging smell of sun tan lotion.