A Real-Time Chat with
…
Richard Murphy
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:05:10 (PDT)
Good Morning Trinity Christian School! Welcome to a Real-Time Chat with Richard Murphy, PhD.! Dr. Murphy is a Marine Biologist with the Ocean Futures Society. He is very happy to be able to chat with you today. You sent great questions for him. Are you ready to begin?
Mrs. Byce - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:10:13 (PDT)
We are ready and recording this historical event.
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:09:44 (PDT)
Good morning, Dr. Murphy! Thank you for chatting with us. The 3rd Grade students at Trinity Christian School are excited to chat with you. Are you ready to begin?
Richard Murphy says: Hello, yes I am ready to begin and I would like to know where you are located geographically?
Danielle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:11:51 (PDT)
We are located in Spring Valley, California. Just 11 miles outside of San Diego.
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:14:39 (PDT)
Thanks for the geography update. I like that area as its warm and not too wet but the ocean is close enough to easily enjoy.
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:11:36 (PDT)
Wonderful! Dr. Murphy, please tell us a little about your summer in the Galapagos, Southern Brazil and the Amazon! What did you do there?
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:13:01 (PDT)
I had a grand adventure last summer. I was in the Galapagos working with teachers to help them appreciate how evolution worked and to learn about the really cool creatures there.
We visited a number of islands and found totally fearless sea lions, frigate birds, boobies, and albatrosses. There were also very large tortoises, also totally unafraid.
We dove with penguins and watched fish remove sea urchins from their gardens of algae. I explained to teachers how these creatures were adapted to their enviornment and the work they did to keep the ecosystem healthy.
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:16:31 (PDT)
In the Amazon we were getting ready for a filming a TV documentary that will focus on the fish (over 2000 species of catfish alone) and how the Amazon is being changed. Now to your next question.
Jessica 12th Grade, Glendora CA - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:17:07 (PDT)
What is your greatest concern for the creatures you study?
Richard Murphy says:
My concern for the creatures of the Galapagos is that they be protected from human activities. Overfishing, development and too many people can harm them.
In general, the problems with the creatures I study are the same - too many people taking too many resources from nature and releasing too much waste back into the environment.
Shea age 8 Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:20:34 (PDT)
What was the coolest reef you have ever seen? What is your favorite shrimp that you have found and do you like to eat shrimp?
Richard Murphy says:
Good questions… Generally I don't eat my friends, plus shrimp are being caught in ways that are bad for the ocean. My favorite reefs are in Fiji and my favorite shrimp was one who crawled onto my hand from the anemone in which it lived to "clean me." Some shrimp on reef pick parasites off fish and maybe I looked or tasted like a fish. Thanks Shea.. .. those were good questions.
Shea and Hannah age 8 - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:25:01 (PDT)
thank you for your response
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:31:53 (PDT)
Shea and Hannah, it was good to get your questions and I hope you continue to study the sea, it is very important and fun.
Sarah age 8 - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:25:02 (PDT)
What is it like to take pictures under water? How long have you been researching the ocean depths?
Richard Murphy says:
Sarah, Taking pictures under water is like being in a dense snow storm with a 100 mile per hour wind changing directions every 10 seconds. Remember clear water is only 100 feet visibility on land 100 feet visibility is a fog. The surge of waves is powerful and if the bottom has sediment then it is like a snowstorm. But usually it is wonderful taking pictures under water flying about like a bird in a forest. I've been studying the sea for 37 years.
Tania Corona CA - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:26:36 (PDT)
How do you keep your camera dry underwater? Is your camera a film camera or digital?
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Tania, Very important question. I use a metal "housing" (box) that keeps the water out of the camera. Now a days I use a digital camera so I can see my pictures underwater and then take another if I want to change the light. It is really fun and very exciting to be able to show people what I see. you may want to check out photos on my web site www.rcmurph.com
Mrs. Byce's 3rd Grade Class Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:28:39 (PDT)
What is it like to study the coral reef?
Richard Murphy says:
Hello Mrs. Byce's 3rd Grade Class, Studying the coral reef is like swimming around in a swimming pool of warm clear water but instead of cement walls it is filled with the most beautiful fish and invertebrates you can imagine... and it is not silent. Some fish make sounds too.
Sydney & Sarrah - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:29:24 (PDT)
Thank you for that response!
Meagan age 8 - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:32:40 (PDT)
Do you like being a marine biologist? What is your favorite sea creature? Have you ridden a dolphin?
Richard Murphy says:
Meagan, I love being a marine biologist because it is a great way to understand how the ocean works and get close to really interesting animals. I made friends with a dolphin in the Amazon and it came up to me to be scratched but generally I leave animals to do their own thing with out bothering them. I believe it is good to treat other animals, and even people, as I would like to be treated.
Meagan age 8 - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:34:55 (PDT)
Thank you for your answer
Drake - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:35:19 (PDT)
What kinds of sounds do the fish make?
Richard Murphy says:
Drake,
Fish make weird sounds... some grunt, some make rasping sounds and some make a funny chirping sound. Usually these sounds are made to warn other fish or attract a mate.
Jessica 12th grade Glendora, CA - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:37:24 (PDT)
Did you have any other interests, before you discovered how much you loved marine biology?
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Jessica, I have always been interested in animals.. ants, birds, butterflies... but then my parents got me an aquarium and I became fascinated with fish. So I got my dad to teach me to snorkel and I was changed forever.
Miles - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:38:55 (PDT)
When you were a small boy, what was your favorite sea creature? I am 8 years old and I like Eels. Have you seen one?
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Miles,
I love eels. They can be really friendly and curious. But my favorite fish is a leafy sea dragon, a type of sea horse that has funny bits of skin hanging off of it that make it look like a piece of algae.
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:39:00 (PDT)
Dear Drake, Here is a web site for some really great fish sounds: http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/blueplanet/sounds/sounds.html
Miles - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:42:33 (PDT)
Thank you for the great response!
Jessica 12th grade Glendora, CA - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:41:23 (PDT)
Do you think if you would have grown up somewhere else you would have gone into a different career?
Richard Murphy says:
Jessica,
Nope! I love the sea and because everything is connected to the sea I would have found a way to study it. Remember everything that goes down the drain ends up in the sea.
Drake and Scarlett - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:45:11 (PDT)
Do you have any special memories from some of the places you have gone?
Richard Murphy says:
One of my favorite memories is getting up very early in the morning in Papua New Guinea and diving a mile beyond the reef and seeing the most weird types of plankton imaginable. The water was dark and eerie and these little space station like critters were floating about. I was suspended in a three dimensional world of aliens... very cool.
Drake & Scarlett - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:48:57 (PDT)
Thank you for the message!
Haven & Issiah - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:46:42 (PDT)
We are 8 years old. What can we do to help animals in the sea?
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Haven and Issiah, I'm glad you want to protect animals in the sea. I suggest you make sure not to pollute, air or water, ask your parents to buy sea food that has been caught responsibly (please do a google search for Seafood Watch by the Monterey Bay Aquarium) and learn all you can about the ocean.
The web site for Seafood Watch is www.seafoodwatch.org.
Issiah & Haven - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:50:42 (PDT)
Thank you very much for your response!
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:49:03 (PDT)
We are nearing the end of our chat. Dr. Murphy is trying to answer all the great questions. If we have to end the chat before we get to yours, we will try to get you an answer later, okay?
Meagan age 8 - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:52:20 (PDT)
That is O.K.
Jessica 12th grade Glendora CA - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:51:56 (PDT)
Pink dolphins are real? What are they like? How was it spending the night on a beach all alone? Do you do that very often?
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Jessica, you have been looking at my web site. Pink dolphins are sort of pink.. mostly beige. Being on the beach alone was great because there were no people around within a few hundred miles and there were howler monkeys that i had never head before. They make a sound like wind in the trees at a great distance but when they get closer it is a really strange aaaoooooooo sound that rises and falls. Kind of scary but a great experience to hear. Night is a wonderful time because your senses are more aware. At night lots of different creatures come out. If you ever get a chance with your parents explore a tide pool or go snorkeling at night. You will discover all sorts of good things.
Amanda, Nathanial, and Jordan - Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:55:39 (PDT)
What kinds of things do you look forward to seeing and researching under the sea? We enjoyed looking at your collection of photographs on your website, thank you.
Richard Murphy says:
Dear Amanda, Nathanial, and Jordan,
I look forward to spending more time on coral reefs. They are getting sick from global warming and I want to take pictures of what is happening to show people what happens when they waste energy. Carbon dioxide that comes out of a car's exhaust goes into the atmosphere and contributes to the warming of the ocean that causes reefs to get sick and die... everything is connected to the ocean.
I also want to see clown triggerfish that are mating in our winter in Fiji. They dig a deep hole in the sand about 3 feet in diameter and defend it fiercely. It is a bit difficult to film them because they will come up and bite you.
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:56:39 (PDT)
Dr. Murphy is answering the last question. This has been a great chat! Wonderful questions!!
Madison and Jared - Age 8 Trinity Christian School - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:57:57 (PDT)
Since we live in San Diego we visit Sea World often. In your opinion, what is the most fascinating exhibit there and why?
Richard Murphy says:
I love sea world but I have not been there in over 20 years. I expect I would like to watch the orcas and fish in aquaria. Watching the local fish would help me know what to look for when I am in the ocean because some fish are well camouflaged and seeing what kind of habitat they live in would help me know where to look.
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:58:44 (PDT)
The time has come to end our chat. Thank you, Dr. Murphy, for taking time out of your very busy schedule to chat with us. Thank you to all the students who participated. Those were terrific questions!
Richard Murphy says: - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 11:59:16 (PDT)
It has been great chatting with all of you and I urge you to continue learning about the ocean and our connections to it. Most of our planet is ocean and the ocean helps keep our planet a nice place to live.
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 12:00:06 (PDT)
This chat will be archived at: http://imagiverse.org/activities/chats/archived/
Third Graders at Trinity - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 12:07:34 (PDT)
We would like to express our thanks for your time in responding to our questions. We learned a lot!!!
Moderator Michelle - Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 12:04:46 (PDT)
Thank you for joining us today. We hope you will chat with us again! This chat room is now closed until next time!
Richard's Interview
- 10 October 2006
|
