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Team 9, Angela and Madison. |
Pine View Weevil Watchers:
Class of 2003-2004 The Pine View Weevil Watchers are back! Denise Maughen's third grade class of 2003-2004 have returned to Myakka River State Park to continue a scientific field study that began in January 2001. |
Team 3, Marc and Brandon.
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A cocoon was found by Team 10 at the base of the big old oak tree they are monitoring. The cocoon was in a fallen bromeliad, whose core had been chewed up by the weevil. The photograph to the right  shows Miss Maughen holding the fallen bromeliad.
Unfortunately, I missed the opening of the cocoon. I do not know what they found. Did they find an adult weevil? 
Or perhaps a weevil larva? 
Or maybe, nothing more than cast off exoskeleton. I await with anticipation for the class to contact me and let me know what was in the cocoon! Follow up note: The cocoon was empty; apparently, the weevil had already left before the class found it. TC - Feb 2004. |
Miss Maughen holding the fallen bromeliad .
Me, holding the cocoon.
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Myakka River State Park, from the tower.
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Team 10's tree from afar.
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Team 11's tree, nicely posing.
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Team 2, Ben and Remy.
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Paula Benshoff demonstrates GPS to Sneha, Anna, and a parent.
Me, Victoria, Denise Maughen, and Sydney.
The Canopy Walk Way is discovered!
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Field Trip: 5-December-2003 The young scientists arrived Friday morning, 5-December-2003, at 10:30 am. They selected their trees, then noted their location and tagged the tree. They spotted the bromeliads growing on their tree, drew a picture to show each bromeliad's position, and made an assessment of the health of each bromeliad. Yunit Armengol and I arrived around 11:30 am. The day was beautiful, moderately cool, overcast, a slight hint of rain in the air and occasional cool breezes. Mid-70 F. We met with Park Biologist, Paula Benshoff, and Denise Maughen, the Pine View Weevil Watcher's teacher. Paula Benshoff took GPS readings with each team, and taught them how a GPS unit can locate an object on earth by using big satellites in space. As I was introduced to each team, each team in turn introduced me to their tree and their bromeliads. As well, they showed me their data sheets, asked questions, and chatted about the bromeliads and the weevil. Yunit Armengol documented these interactions on digital camera. The students discovered the Canopy Walk Way and explored it fully. They went up and down, and up and down many times. Finally, we did a final data check, group shot, then they were on their way. The class will make about four trips over the school year to monitor these bromeliads, and to look for fallen bromeliads on the ground. The data they collect will be forwarded to me and stored on this site. I look forward to working with the class of 2003-2004! tmc
10-XII-2003 |
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The Walk Way is explored.
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And explored.
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A farewell data check.
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hp690, gone to seed.
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PVWW, 2003-2004. |
Many thanks to Myakka River State Park, Denise Maughen, Paula Benshoff, the young scientists of Pine View Elementary School, and to Yunit Armengol, photographer.
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Yunit Armengol. |