Bio Blitz 2017 was definitely an interesting experience. It is always exciting to explore new things, and it was great to get to do so with new friends! Our mentor for the day was a man who loved fish and fishing more than I have seen anyone care about something in a long time. Hearing about the different fish at Alley Pond Park was eye-opening to understanding the diverse amount of species present, even though we were only able to catch blue gills when we started fishing. It was sad to hear about the eutrophication occurring due to the phosphate in the water and excessive algae growth in the lake that is toxic to both humans and certain species that live in the lake. I think more emphasis was put on this disheartening situation because it was being explained to us by a man who really cared about the ecosystem that was being affected due to the changes in the lake. We were also joined by people from fish associations in the state and they entertained us with some life size fish models and fun facts, as well as let us take some funky photos with their array of fish! Ultimately, it was fun to relax and spend some time fishing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but it was also interesting to learn about the different species and issues in a little unsuspecting lake such as the one we spent time at in Alley Pond Park.
