How Many Grad Students Does it Take to Dissect a Fish?

photo: E. Loury

by Erin Loury, Ichthyology Lab

For a fish as big as a mahi-mahi, getting the inside scoop can be a team effort.  Students from an MLML Ichthyology class dissected this fine specimen to study everything from the digestive system to the muscles of the fins and head, and even got an up-close look at the eye ball.  We took care to only cut up one side of the fish, leaving the other half presentable for visitors to admire at our Open House.  The “good side” of our then two-faced fish became the basis for some giant-sized fish prints!

The Pelvic Fin Ray is Connected to the What Now?

photo: E. Loury

With another successful Open House behind us (thank you to all of you who joined us!), MLML students will be hitting the books for the next few weeks leading up to final exams and lab practicals.   These ichthyology students are dissecting fish specimens to better learn their bone and muscle structure – and maybe getting a little slimy in the process!

Heave Ho! Haul That Trawl!

(photo: H. Hawk)

MLML graduate Heather Hawk uses her muscles and puts some oomph into bringing in the catch.  Just another day in class at Moss Landing Marine Labs.

But You Only See My Faults

(photo: H. Hawk)

It may be hard to believe, but that concrete canal is broken because the earth here actually moved.  The canal was built on a fault line, which makes it so easy to see the results of tectonic activity.  A student in the Geological Oceanography class takes a look while on a field trip.