“Maeve,” a group of 13, became known as “Western Skunk Cabbage.” We subdivided into 3 smaller groups to study different things around our field sight at Rock Point. One Group studied Zebra Mussels and water quality, another studied the history of the Thrust Fault, and our last group of boys studied poisonous plants. A slight mix-up of words established our new name “Poisonous Pants.” Each sub-group was led by an expert in their field to help us understand the different natural features of Rock Point. ~Maeve, Heather, Mike, Britney, Sydney, Brianna, Sylvia, Sawyer, Ben, Rose, Ellen, Peter and Alan

Geologic HistoryGeologic History

• 600-500 million years ago 600-500 million years ago Sediment was deposited.Sediment was deposited.

• 500-400 million years ago 500-400 million years ago mountains form, Thrust mountains form, Thrust Fault pushes older rock on Fault pushes older rock on top of younger rock. top of younger rock.

• Glacial period, carved out Glacial period, carved out Lake Champlain. Ice Lake Champlain. Ice shaped the outcrops of shaped the outcrops of sedimentary rocks seen sedimentary rocks seen today.today.

• The Champlain Thrust is The Champlain Thrust is preserved along the lake preserved along the lake shore.shore.

GeologyGeologyThrust Fault

Hydrochloric acid test

Tree Core -82 years old

Algae Line

Dolostone Erosion

Iberville Shale

Dunham Dolostone

Dolostone Pieces

Lone Rock

Originally deposited as limestone, but through a chemical exchange of calcium to magnesium became Dolostone.

Shale is a gray thinly layered class of fine grained sedimentary rock deposited as mud.

Iberville Shale

SEM-Iberville SEM-Iberville ShaleShale

Shows significant amounts of

Calcium

Poisonous PlantsPoisonous PlantsPoison Ivy White Baneberry

Red BaneberryBlack Nightshade

Stinging Nettles

Poisonous to eat- slows the muscles in your heart

Doll’s eyes is a fruit which contains toxins that will cause cardiac arrest and death

Many symptoms when consuming toxins. Makes a person very sick, stomach pain, dry mouth, headache, attacks central nervous system etc..

Urishiol the main poison in the plant, reacts with your body’s immune system as it tries to defend itself from the Urishiol oil on your skin.

Barbs that stick into your skin and release a chemical that reacts with the oils of your skin causing a “stinging, itching and numbing” feeling.

Zebra Mussels in Lake Zebra Mussels in Lake ChamplainChamplain

Zebra Mussels are invasive species to Lake Champlain. -Clog water lines-Destroy Habitats-Very Sharp, Bad for tourism

Zebra Mussels on Melosira

Found In 1993- brought over on bottom of large ships

Able to live and reproduce almost anywhere

Because the zebra mussels filter out so much plankton, there are now 14 endangered species in Lake Champlain

Zebra Mussels absorb pollution in the lake. Each is able to filter up to 2 liters of water a day

Testing Water QualityTesting Water Quality Brianna and Ellen at Lone rock

point taking water samples

Conductivity at Eagle’s Bay and Lone Rock

Water quality was tested in areas where zebra mussels were found and compared to the water quality in areas where there were no zebra mussels.