Day+2

=__**Journal Entry #2**__ = 26 Convict Tangs -- average: 43 7 Orange Spine Unicorn Fish 7 Humuhumunukunukuapuaa 1 Cornet Fish -- average: 1 5 Puffer Fish 3 Unicorn Fish
 * Fish Count 2:**

For this fish count, we all took turns swimming out and collecting fish data. The data I collected for the team and the averages are above. For the full data, check out some of my partner's pages: Christine's Page / Mitch's Page

Today the tide felt higher and the clouds had decided on a gathering of the deep gray. The water was colder than last time, but that is to be expected without sunlight. Since I will be going into various marine niches in our area with relevance to marine life, I have come up with some questions that refer specifically to niches. First, why are there less fish in areas with less coral? Is it for food, shelter or both? And why are certain coral formations different from others? Does the temperature of the water affect the amount of fish more than human interference? How does human contact affect the coral’s formation? All these questions will have to be pondered until I can either find this information or make inferences myself.  I noticed that there are many fish feeding on the same kind of food. Besides the manybar goatfish I recorded last time, all these fish seem to feed upon the rocks in either a nibbling or chomping manner. I assume that they are consuming some kind of algae, but I can't identify anything for certain. This is obviously a form of competition between all the fish, seeing as they all consume the same form of food. Going back, besides the obvious competition between various fish there is also noticeable relationships such as predators and prey. This is among fish such as the manybar goatfish, eels, barricudas, and even various fish are predators of smaller and weaker creatures. This does change these species overtime, most likely the reason for the "sensing whiskers" on the manybar goatfish or the size of various predator fish. There are also symbioses formed by creatures such as coral and sea urchins found within the bay. The term for their relationship is mutual symbiosis because the coral is basically uneffected by the urchins (perhaps protection?) while the urchins receive shelter and a free area to catch prey lured in by the algae on the coral. This happens all around the bay and basically forms a unique bond between all the different life found in the water.
 * Observations:**
 * Assigned Journal:**

Convict Tang [picture taken by journalist has yet to be processed] This was one of the most common fish found in Hanauma bay. It was practically everywhere, always on the move. Around 7 to 13 inches long, they would either be in small families or alone. I saw a lot of them alone like the picture above, but there were some groups of around ten to twelve. The have four to five stripes on their sides and stick close to the coral. They are fairly friendly, and by this I mean get in your face. But it's still cool to see them so close.

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa [picture taken by journalist has yet to be processed] Our state fish, it is known for its "pig nose" and therefore gets its name: //triggerfish with a snout like a pig//. This fish is commonly seen in Hanauma bay and is around 8 to 13 inches long. When swimming around, I noticed this fish in a lot of different places and at times following me. It doesn't seem afraid of humans and I always seem to bump into one nibbling at the coral. It has a signature black stripe that crosses over its eye and down like a strap. There are a fair amount of these in the bay.

Cornetfish [picture taken by journalist has yet to be processed] This thin fish is fairly rare in the bay and I was lucky to find one at all. It looked around one to two feet long but so thin I thought it was a stick. It seems to dart around the place and when it eats it has a fairly small bite. I wonder how much it eats in one day? It doesn't look like it needs too much food.

Missed the Original Journal? Go here:  Day 1 Go here:   ** **Day 3** Want to skip to Journal 4? Go here: Day 4
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