Rimbey,+S

__**1/20/11 - Due By January 24th **__
====**How does the diversity of species on sediment covered shores compare with that of the rocky shore? Suggest at least one reason why this occurs. **==== ====There are many differences in the sediment covered shores to the rocky covered shores, including the different species. First of all, the sediment covered shores were created by the glaciers moving through, scraping the sediment, and then depositing it; thus making the shore very soft. This type of shore is found on the East and has a passive margin. The rocky shores, however, can be formed in different ways. One way is from the plates moving or being uplifted. It can also be created by waves and currents carrying away sediment and leaving rocky shores behind. This type of shore is found on the West Coast and has an active margin. ==== ====Some species that live on the East Coast are different than those on the West and sometimes can only be found on that coast and not the other. When some animals on the East Coast are exposed to air they can bury themselves in the sand so they do not dry out. Then when the tide comes back up again they can come out. The animals on the West Coast, however, do not have this luxury. Since they have such a rocky environment, they are not able to dig and bury themselves in the sand. Some of them, such as the bivalves, live on the rocks and use their abyssal threads to stay attached, this is called sessile (good terminology). Other species can move around the rocks as well. Some species live on the substrate and are called epifuana. ====

__**1/31/11 - Due By February 5th **__
====**Observe the chart located below. Pick one organism from each of the four zones indicated in the chart and describe its ability to live in the zone when taking into account the substrate, means of reproduction, feeding method, exposure to the air, defense mechanism, and the rise and lowering of the tide. **==== ====In the low tidal zone there is an organism called the sea anemone which is a terrestrial flower. The sea anemone is found on rocky and sediement shores. On rocky shores they attach themselves to rocks using the a pedal disc or the sea anemone will use it to anchor itself into the sand. The sea anemone can reproduce sexually or asexually. In sexual reproduction the males will release sperm to innitiate the females to release eggs. In asexual reproduction, the organism will use budding. The sea anemone’s mouth is found in the center of the oral disc sorrounded by tentacles armed with many cells that immobilize its prey; called [|cnidocytes]. It is found in the low tidal zone, so it does not get exposed to air often if ever. Its defense mechanisms are the cnidocytes that shoot poison into its prey. Since the sea anemone is a plant it will plant itself into the ground during high tide and will live fine in the low tide. ==== ====The Mussel is found in the Middle intertidal zone. It is found attached onto rocky shores using their byssal threads, but can also be found digging about using its muscular foot. During reproduction, the male will release sperm and the female will release eggs, everything happens outside of the body and the larval state will float around for many weeks. The mussel is a filter feeder. Since it is found in the middle intertidal zone, the mussel can cope with some exposure to air. Its defense mechanism is using its byssal thread to tie up predators that invade mussel beds, immobilizing them and potentially starving them. When there is a low tide the mussel will close up its shell so it doesn’t dry out and when there is a high tide it will use its byssal threads to hold onto rocks. ==== ====The chiton is found in the high intertidal zone. They can be found on rocky shores and use their muscular foot to cling to rocks and move slowly on them. Reproduction is done externally, but sometimes the female will brood the eggs within their mantle cavity. The chiton is an herbivorous deposit feeder. It deals well when exposed to air because that is how they spend most of their time. Some species are predatory and have an enlarged anterior girdle. They will catch small invertebrates by holding up the enlarged girdle above the surface and clamping down on their prey. During a low tide the chiton will hide under rocks and during high tides they roam happily. ==== ====Finally, the periwinkle is found in the splash zone. It is found on both rocky and sediment shores. It has a muscular foot to hold them onto the rocks and dig in the mud. During reproduction, it fertilizes internally using an egg capsule which will hold up to 100,000 eggs. They will then shed the egg capsule into the ocean. The periwinkle is an omnivorous deposit feeder. The periwinkle is almost always exposed to air because of living in the splash zone. Some color differences between the periwinkles is considered a defense mechanism. When the water is at low or high tide the periwinkle acts the same because it is almost always exposed to the air and it will hide in its shell, but needs the splash from the waves from the high tide to live. ====

The American Lobster is an olivey green color, sometimes orange. They are not red in the wild, only when they are cooked.
====**2. How do lobster fishers make sure that the mature egg-laying females do not get caught? How does this improve the future viability of the species? **==== ====Fisherman will put a v cut on a females tail that they know is a good breeder. This way when other fisherman find them they will throw them back. This will help the species move along so we do not kill good females for food and other reasons. ====

**4. What are the two claws of a lobster called and how are they different in design? **
====One of the front claws is called the crusher and it is the largest claw a lobster has. The other is the pincher an it is smaller than the crusher. ====

**5. Internet research: what makes an American lobster different from a Spiny lobster? **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Spiny Lobster is a freshwater lobster that does not have claws. While the American Lobster is a marine, clawed lobster. Also the color of the lobsters are different. The Spiny is more of a yellowy orange color while the American is a green color. The Spiny Lobster also has antennae and the American lobster does not. 5 Points <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Rimbey, S. 2/9/11. 2:01)


 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Assignment 3 __**
 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Posted 2/7/11 Due by February 10th __**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In which intertidal zone of a steeply sloping, coarse sand beach would you find each of the following organisms: clams, beach hoppers, ghost shrimp, sand crabs, and heart urchins? Include a picture of each of the five species and tell what type of adaptation (structural, behavioral, physiological) it shows and explain why it is that type. **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clams are found in the middle intertidal zone. They have a shell, which is a structural adaptation. They have the shell so they can borrow into the sand and also close up to stay from drying out. It is structural because that is the way the clam is constructed. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beach hoppers are found in the high intertidal zone. They are able to dig and hide in the sand, which is a behavioral adaptation. This helps them because they can stay under the sand for long periods of time to hide from predators. It is behavioral because being able to move is a behavior not a structure.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ghost shrimp are found in the middle intertidal zone. They are able to dig in the sand or mud, which is a behavioral adaptation. This helps them to be out of harm’s way. It is behavioral because their behavior is to dig even though they are constructed with the means of digging, the act of the digging is a behavior.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sand crabs are found in the high intertidal zone. They have camouflage, which is a structural adaptation. The camouflage color helps them blend in real well and they stay planted in the ever-moving sand by means of their very hard exoskeleton and pointed legs. It is structural because that is the way the sand crab looks. That is the color of the sand crab.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heart urchins are found in the low intertidal zone. They have spikes all over their body, which is a structural adaptation. The spikes will inflict a very powerful wound on they prey, but are not dangerous. As of what we know they do not have poison in them. It is structural because again that is the way the heart urchin is constructed, the spines were given to the organism they din’t just pick them up and say Oh I want to use these. 20 Points <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Rimbey, S. 2/13/11. 11.59)

**__Assignment 6__**
 * Posted 2/18/11 due 2/22/10**
 * Research the Blue crab. We discussed how one can tell the sex by the color of the claws, however it can also be done by looking at the apron. Provide four pictures of the aprons which identify the male crab, the "sally", the "sook", and the "sponge". Explain the difference function of the apron for the three types of female.**

**“Jake” – male crab** **“Sally” – immature female crab. The “Sally” crab is not able to mate or hold eggs because of the more narrow shape of the apron and the fact that it is not free to open.**

**“Sook” – mature female crab. The “Sook” crab has an apron that is round and able to open, which means it is able to mate and have eggs.**

**“Sponge” – mature female crab carrying eggs – The “Sponge” crab has a wide apron with eggs underneath it. It needs to be wide so there is space for the eggs.**

7 Points **(Rimbey, S. 2/20/11. 1:05)**

__Assignment 5__
 * Posted 2/28/11 ** - **Due by March 1st**
 * Review the pictures posted below of the organisms. As impossible as it seems, all of the species below are found in the same order ( Decapoda). Without doing any research other than viewing the pictures, discuss three possible features which can account for these species being in the same order. **


 * Adult Pea Crab[[image:dimesand.jpg width="399" height="329" caption="dimesand.jpg"]]**


 * North Atlantic Lobster**


 * Japanese Spider Crab**

1) One reason they are in the Order Decapoda is that they all have 10 appendages. Deca means 10. Since they are all in that order they must all have 10 appendages and you can also count them all on the pictures. 2) Another reason they might all be in the same order is that they all have an exoskeleton. Even though they are only pictures, you can see they have one. Also they need to have one to be in the Phylum Arthropoda. 3) A final reason is that they have a cephalothorax, Segmented Bodies that is you can't really tell where the head ends and where the thorax starts. The crab is the hardest one to tell and the shrimp is the easiest to see where the division is, but there isn't a clear cut spot. These are all reasons why these 4 organisms are in the same order, Decapoda. Since they are found on all af them, then they should be determinig factors. 2.5 Point s __Assignment 7__ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Posted 3/4/11 **- Due by March 7th** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">** Pick three of the following members of class Asteroidea: (Pillow star, Cushion star, Cake Sea star, Crown of Thorns, Bat star, Brisingid, Basket star, Shiny sun star). Provide a picture of each of the stars you opt for. In looking at the pictures, discuss some possible reasons for the vast differences in structure, habitat, feeding, reproduction, defense, color scheme and so forth. Research if you must but remember we are looking for possibilities. **
 * Prawn**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Basket Sea Star: The basket star is the most different of the three. Many people who think of a sea star would not picture this and if they saw the basket star they would not say this is a sea star. The branches off of the central disc resemble roots which help it fit in the environment it lives which is the ocean floor. The not as bright colors of the star will help it blend in and keep predators away. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Brisingid: The Brisingid has looks very similar to common sea stars except it has more legs. It looks like it has thin spikes coming off of the legs that could possibly be used to get food or keep predators away. The bright colors will draw in predators but they might also warn them that it is poisonous. If the sea star lives on a coral reef then it should fit in well. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Crown of Thorns: The crown of thorns is a huge sea star. It has large spikes coming off of its legs to keep predators away. The very bright color scheme shows it is poisonous. The spikes can also aide in getting food. WHat does it typically feed off?

9 Points

__ Assignment 8 Menhaden __ **Posted 3/21/11 due 3/22/11** Read the linked article [|Meet menhaden.pdf]. Once you are done reading the article, answer the following questions. **1. Provide a picture of menhaden** ** 2. Menhaden is a simple filter feeder, just like whales and herring. What makes menhaden different than those other filter feeders? ** Menhaden is the only filter feeding herbivore in the ocean. This makes them the main food source for the entire food chain and also the main species keeping the ecosystem healthy. Omega Protein harvests Menhaden for poultry feed and fishmeal for farmed salmon. These two products are cheaper and less devastating food sources. Menhaden means fertilizer. The Native Americans would bury the fish below the corn they planted. Petroleum and soybean substitutes were the substitutes for menhaden oil, animal feed, and fertilizer. They put a net from different boats. When a spotter plane spots a school of fish they move behind the fish until they get all the way around and the net connects. This successful because the fish have no way of knowing what is coming and no was of getting away. Forage fish are overharvested fish that are used for fishmeal and oil and also used in livestock and aquaculture feeds. Basis of the food chain. Menhaden helps keeping the ocean ecosystem healthy. They filter phytoplankton out of the water to allow more sunlight to reach the depths of the ocean. They are low oxygen areas of the ocean. They are usually found near inhibited coastlines. If the Menhaden are eliminated the ocean ecosystem will start to decline. The Menhaden are food for certain fish such as tuna, cod, shark, and swordfish. So they will start to die off. Also since the Menhaden filter out the phytoplankton so the sunlight can get through all the shellfish and plants can live. So they were too be eliminated none of this would happen and the ecosystem would fall apart. 4.5 Points (Rimbey, S. 3/22/11. 10:12)
 * 3. Provide two reasons why Omega Protein is harvesting Menhaden? **
 * 4. What does the name menhaden mean? What was the first use of this fish? **
 * 5. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars keeping the menhaden fishing industry functioning for menhaden oil, animal feed, and fertilizer. This has been wasted money and ecologically damaging because those three items have been replaced with what two substitutes? **
 * 6. Describe the fishing technique used by Omega Protein. Why is this technique successful? **
 * 7. Define "forage" fish. **
 * 8. What is the importance of the role of menhaden in the ocean? **
 * 9. Define Ocean Dead Zone. **
 * 10. What will happen if menhaden are eliminated from the ocean? **

__Assignment 9__ **Posted 3/22/11 due 3/24/11** ** Provide a picture of the Thresher shark, Cookie cutter shark, Chain Catshark, Greenland shark, and the Porbeagle shark. Under each picture, include the name of each shark, an identifiable feature of each shark, one very unique feature of each of the sharks. (Hint: all unique features should somehow be tied to feeding). ** Thresher Shark Identifiable feature - High top of the caudal fin Unique feature - Uses the elongated tail to stun prey before eating it Cookie Cutter Shark Identifiable feature - The mouth and lips Unique feature - The mouth and lips are used as suction cups. When it latches on the it will use a twisting motion so its teeth cut out a perfect "cookie" out of its prey's skin. Chain Catshark Identifiable feature - Pattern on the skin resembles a snake. Unique feature - Has suction dominant food capture Greenland Shark Identifiable feature - Old looking skin Unique feature - They hunt almost everything. A reindeer was found in the stomach of a Greenland Shark Porbeagle Shark Identifiable feature - "Spikes" near the tail Unique feature - The side projections of the teeth help mash their prey 7.5 Points (Rimbey, S. 3/22/11. 10:12)

__Assignment 10__ 1**. Provide a picture of a squid.** Water is taken into the mantle through the siphon and pushed back out, propelling the squid through the water. It moves in a dorsal sirection. The squid can move the siphon rapidly into different positions, allowing the squid to change direction quickly. All three of these animals have some means of locomotion. A snail and a clam use a muscular foot and a squid uses the propulsion meathod. The cephalopods are specialized in locomotion. That is what classify a snail, a clam, and a squid in the same class, cephalopoda. One is the color change of the mantle. The mantle is covered with pigement filled structures called chromatophores. The color change can camoflauge itself from predators. Another mean of defense is the ink sac that can discharge ink into the water through the siphon. This can confuse a predator by giving the squid a chance to escape. Finally, the squid has one eye on each side of its head. This allows the squid to see predators coming from every direction. Living in a shoal is an advantage for the squid. Since the squid has a very short life span, they need to depend on producing many offspring in order to survive. Living in a large group allows for more chances of reproduction and offspring. It is one of eight arms of the male that has smaller and taller suckers than the other arms. It is used to place a packet of sperm into the female's mantle. Females lay their eggs next to other female's because many females die soon after spawning, so they are not able to take care of their young. The reason they lay their eggs near others so they have a larger chance of them surviving since their will be so many of them.
 * Posted 4/4/11 due 4/5/11**
 * 2. Describe the propulsion method of a squid.**
 * 3. Look at a picture of a snail, clam, and a squid. Provide at least one sound reason on why they can possibly be in the same class.**
 * 4. Discuss three means of defense the squid possess and how they can be considered a means of defense.**
 * 5. What advantage if any does traveling in a shoal have for squid?**
 * 6. Discuss the hectocotyl?**
 * 7. What advantage is there to a female squid laying eggs in a packet next to another females?**

(Rimbey, S. 4/4/11. 10:15)

__Assignment 11__ Click on the following [|website] and scroll over the dark black square at the top and locate the hatchet fish and answer questions 1 through 5. Return to the main page and scroll over the black square and locate the gulper eel. Click on it and answer questions 6 through 10. Return the the main page and locate the firefly squid. Click on it and answer questions They are light producing organs that run along the length of the fish. They are used in bioluminescence. They chemical reaction is very similar to the one used in fireflies. One is the counterillumination. This means they can changes the intensity of their underlight so they look lighter from above. The second would be their dark colors. This helps them hide in their dark surroundings. One is being used in counterillumination. The second is possibly used in courtship. It searches for food from above because they have tubular eyes that are pointed upward. There is a photophore on the end of its whip like tail. Since the eel is not built to chase prey, the photophore is used to lore fish in. Then, when it gets close enough the eel lunges and catches its prey in its very large mouth. The Gulper Eel is able to eat fish its size, but it doesn't necessarily mean they eat them because they have small teeth. The eel uses its large mouth as net to catch its wide variety of prey. As the male Gulper Eel matures the olfactory glands, which are the organs responsible for sense of smell, increase in size. Scientists think this is because mates are picked by the female releasing a smell. They use it to communicate with mates or rivals. Also they are used to disguise the shape of the squid to confuse its predators. The Firefy Squid is thought to have color vision. Scientists believe they have this to distinguish between ambient light and bioluminescence, and also to determine light patterns of other members of the species 13 Points (Rimbey, S. 4/10/11. 10:13)
 * Posted 4/8/11 due 4/11/11**
 * 1. Provide a picture of the hatchetfish.**
 * 2. Define photophores.**
 * 3. Provide two defensive adaptations the hatchet fish exhibits to survive in the darkest parts of the ocean.**
 * 4. What two roles do the photophores play for the hatchetfish.**
 * 5. Does the hatchet fish search for food below it or above it? Explain why.**
 * 6. Provide a picture of the gulper eel.**
 * 7. How does the gulper eel use photophores to survive?**
 * 8. Why must it use the photophores?**
 * 9. Due to it's huge mouth, the gulper eel can consume prey the size of itself, which would really slow it down, how is this possibly a advantage to this fish?**
 * 10. Explain one physiological adaptation gulper eels have that help their species continue to survive.**
 * 11. Provide a picture of the firefly squid.**
 * 12. What two reasons firefly squids use their ability to make light?**
 * 13. Provide one physiological adaptation shown by the firefly squid and its believed purpose.**

__Assignment 12__ - Blueworldtv.com Episode 7 - Shark wreck Mystery The male bites into the female to hold on during mating so the teeth sometimes fall out. They are searching for food or for mates possibly. Their activities might be nocturnal. If the sharks knew the divers were there or their cameras they might have not done anything. Also maybe they don't go to the wrecks for any particular reason. The teeth are not used for ripping or shredding. So hey are used to grab and hold onto slippery fish. 5 Points (Rimbey, S. 4/15/11. 1:51)
 * Posted 4/15/11 due 4/15/11**
 * 1. Why do sharks sometimes lose teeth when they mate?**
 * 2. What possible reasons might explain why the sharks seemed to be doing nothing when the divers were filming?**
 * 3. Why might the sharks have still done nothing when the remote cameras were operating? (hint: think about the senses of a shark, particularly the ampullae of Lorenzini)**
 * 4. What might have affected the behavior of the sharks at night?**
 * 5. What makes the Sand Tiger shark teeth special?**

Each group has a different definition of what type of activity is involved with those groups. The difference in the type of activities gives the large difference of amount of attacks. A swimmer is attacked more often than a kayaker because the swimmer is usually flailing more and making more of a commotion than a kayaker would be in a kayak. The only motion the kayak is making in the water is the movement of the paddle and the kayak itself. The swimmers arms and legs will be moving when swimming or body surfing. August, September, and October In these months, the water is the warmest in the ocean, so they are more people in it. Also they are more active because of the temperature of the water. More sharks will be around when thy know there is more people. More attacks are during all daylight hours compared to dark hours because they are more people out during the daylight hours. Most surfers and other water activities happen during the day. The abalone is found at the ocean floor. A diver needs to dive down and detach the suction of the abalone from the rocks. This is a long process where sharks have more of a chance to attack. They live at the edge of drop offs and kelp beds. There is a long process in hunting abalone so there is more time. Also it takes awhile to find ones you wanted. They are one of the most aggressive and the most sensitive to people. They are also very large. 8 POints (Rimbey, S. 4/18/11. 2:08)
 * __Assignment 13__ **
 * Posted**
 * Go to the website provided and read the information provided there. Take special note of the graphs provided as well. Once you are done reading the information, answer the following questions. **
 * 1. What is possible for the large difference in attack between surfers, swimmers, divers, and kayakers?**
 * 2. Why do you think there is such a large difference in attackers between swimmers and kayakers when the both exhibit roughly the same shape?**
 * 3. What three months account for a majority of the shark attacks?**
 * 4. What possible reasons can be given for the high attacks in these three months?**
 * 5. Explain why or why not time of day plays a factor in when sharks attack.**
 * 6. Do some research on abalone and explain how they are hunted and where they live.**
 * 7. Why do most shark attacks on people who are gathering marine organisms usually occur on those who are hunting abalone?**
 * 8. Why do you think that White sharks account for such a large majority of shark attacks?**

__Assignment 14__ - Blueworldtv.com Episode 6 They are getting cleaned by cleaning fish. There is a symbiotic relationship between the fish and the shark. The shark gets the parasites cleaned off of it and the fish gets a meal. This works well because the shark does not eat the fish. It recycles the amount of air he uses by keeping the number of bubbles low. This makes him quieter than using normal scuba gear. No, they do not feed at the seamount. Mantas normally go to the seamount to get cleaned just like the shark. The Mantas are always feeding, so they don't go their to feed specifically. They feed off of microscopic plankton that float in the water, by filter them through their gills. It is underwater mountain that does not quite meet the top of the water. It is an underwater oasis. They think they use their tail as a whip to stun their prey. 7 Points (Rimbey, S. 4/20/11. 1:55)
 * Posted 4/20/11 due 4/20/11**
 * 1. What are Thresher sharks doing at the seamount?**
 * 2. Why would a shark want to allow itself to be cleaned by a fish? What’s in it for the fish?**
 * 3. Why did Jonathan use a rebreather instead of normal scuba gear?**
 * 4. Do the sharks feed at the seamount?**
 * 5. Do manta rays feed at the seamount? How do the mantas feed?**
 * 6. Describe a seamount.**
 * 7. What do biologists think Threshers do with their long tail?**

__Assignment 16__ When the divers jump in they go and investigate what is going on, but they do not attack them. They do not see the divers as a threat if they do not do anything to upset the sharks. The sharks did not attack each other for the food. A "feeding frenzy" is when sharks will fight each other by biting or hitting each other to get to a food source. I do not think the sharks went into a "feeding frenzy" because they didn't attack each other for the food or even start fighting. They would pump into each other and go for the food, but not trying to intentionally hurting each other. Once the food is gone the sharks just start swimming around and patrolling the water, just like they way they were before they put the food down. Shark teeth will naturally fall out. It is not a bad thing for them to fall out. They will corner the fish into the coral reef so they cant get away 6 Points
 * Posted 5/4/11**
 * 1. How do the sharks react to the divers in the water? Do they see them as a threat? A competitor for food?**
 * 2. Do sharks attack each other in competition for food? What is a “feeding frenzy?”**
 * 3. In your opinion, did the sharks exhibit a “feeding frenzy?”**
 * 4. What happened after all the food was gone?**
 * 5. Why do the shark lose teeth? Is it a bad thing?**
 * 6. Internet research: what makes Gray reef sharks somewhat unique in how they hunt?**

__Assignment 17__ Sharks have the same five senses humans do, which are smell, hearing, taste, sight, and touch. They can also sense electrical impulses and vibrations in the water. Sharks have a very keen sense of smell. Since water is continuously flowing through the shark's nostrils, they are always getting sensory information. They can detect one drop of blood in a million drops of water and can smell blood 0.25 mile away. Their sense of smell helps them detect any fish that are in about a mile radius. Sharks are very sensitive to low frequency sounds and have good directional hearing. Since they can hear low frequncies are better it helps if a fish makes a sound because sounds are muffled under the water, this makes it easier for the sharks to hear their prey. Sharks have taste buds in their mouths instead of their tongues like humans. This is will not let the other tastes in the mouth touching the tongue mix with the taste of the prey and the environment around it. They also have very good eyesight. Their vision is in color and they are able to see in very dim light. They are also able to detect very small changes in the intensity of light and change how much of it comes through. This makes it easy for the sharks to see their prey in any kind of environment. Their isn't much when it comes to touch. The sharks use their sense of detecting electrical impulses and vibrations take over for their lack of the ability to touch many things. However I'm sure they can detect chances in temperature by touch, this can help so they can tell what type of area they are in when looking for prey. Sharks can sense electrical impulses and vibrations in the water. They use the amupllae of Lorenzini and the Lateral Line system to detect these. The ampullae of Lorenzini detects change in electricity. This lets the shark know when there is a fish near, by detecting it's electrical impulses. The Lateral Line system can detect changes in water pressure. This is how the shark can find a fish in distress. Both of these are very important when it comes to finding prey. Hammerhead Shark -1) The eyes of the shark jut out of the side of the "hammer" shaped head. This helps to let them see above and below them at all times. It gives them an almost 360 field of view. 2) Since there is a wider range for the ampullae of Lorenzini there are more receptors they can use to search for more prey. 3) The nostrils being farther apart it gives the shark a more stereo smell where they use the timing of the senses for detection instead of intesity to sense prey. 4) The shape of the shark helps with catching prey. They use their heads to pin down stingrays. 5) Finally, its diet is full of large marine organisms such as squid, octopus, crustaceans, other hammerhead sharks, and sting rays. Having the diet like this one of large animals give the shark a wider range of food. 10 Points (Rimbey, S. 5/10/11. 10:04)
 * Posted 5/6/11**
 * 1. What six senses do sharks have?**
 * 2. Discuss how each of the shark’s six senses function in their search for prey.**
 * 3. Different species of sharks have unique attributes that allow them to survive in their specific habitat. Explain the usefulness of some (5) of the adaptations. Characteristics to consider are the shark’s eyes, teeth, diet, body patterns, and tails.**

__Assignment 18 - Blueworldtv.com "Swimming with Jaws"__ The sharks are not interested in the seas or sea lions. They are too large for them to go after because they want chunks of food they can get too. The sharks wouldn't want to go after the larger animals they will use too much energy where they could get easier food instead. The sharks are more interested in the fish than they are in the people and the cage. They also want chunks of food to eat they don't want to go after the divers or the cage. They do not seem aggressive to the people. The shark did not go after the cage at all. It went after the bucket of fish and the tuna, but the people and the cgae. There are 50-70 shark attack worldwide per year on average. There are about 100 million sharks killed by people for recreation each year. Studies say the Tiger Shark is the most dangerous species of sharks. Many times Great Whites will attack sun bathers or body surfers because they think their body looks like a seal or sea lion and will go after them. The researchers use distinct features of the sharks to identify them, such as different markings that are unusual. They use scars, coloration around the gills, and the colors around the tail. They attack their prey from below because they want to have the act if surprise on their prey. It makes it easy for the sharks to get their prey. 7 Points (Rimbey, S. 5/17/11. 2:00)
 * 1. How do Great White sharks attack seals and sea lions?**
 * 2. How do the sharks react to divers?**
 * 3. Do Great White sharks seem aggressive towards people?**
 * 4. How many shark attacks are there in an average year? (Check the internet for some stats). How many sharks are killed by people? Which species is more dangerous?**
 * 5. What is one of the common theories on why Great Whites sometimes accidentally bite humans? (involves outside research).**
 * 6. How do researchers tell Great White sharks apart at Guadalupe Island?**
 * 7. Do Great Whites attack their prey from below or from the same level? Why?**

Gyre is known as a circle. A synonym for that is embrace, spiral, around. However, in the marine world it is known as a spiral current in the water with high winds included creating a giant whirlpool. Plastics are light and get their way into the ocean. They float for hundreds of miles and then get caught in the high winds and swirling waters. There is no way for them to get out, so they just stay there forever and float with the current. This makes me think they are just formulating a thought. The scientists are not sure if this accusation is correct or not. They are just finding research now that gives them this idea. I think they are just throwing it out there that this is happening so people can start thinking about it now and maybe cut down on the plastic usage and start recycling more. They use biological magnification to find this true. They study the water, the organisms in it, and the people consuming the marine products. The scientists see the water has chemicals in it. Then, they see the organisms in the water react to this and see how they die and get very sick. Finally, they study the way people react to it and get sick as well. Scientists need to follow the chemicals and toxins from the source and see if this is really happening. The chemicals and toxins dissolve into the water and then the plastics absorb it. Next, the fish feed on the plankton that ingested the tiny plastic pieces with the toxins. Then a larger predator will eat the smaller fish and it will just work its way up the food chain until it reaches the humans. The garbage needs to be stopped from the beginning. If we can stop the plastics and trash from getting into the water, then we can clean up the garbage patch. However, we cannot clean it up if we do not stop it, it will just continue to come back. 10 Points
 * __Assignment 19 - A Float in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash__**
 * __Posted 5/23/11__**
 * 1. What are some synonyms for the word gyre? How does plastic and trash accumulate in gyres?**
 * 2. According to the article, “scientists speculate that toxic chemicals are leaching into fish tissue from the plastic they eat.” What does the word speculate tell you about this claim?**
 * 3. Why do scientists think this is true and what further studies need to be conducted?**
 * 4. How do PCBs, DDT and other toxic chemicals accumulate in the tissues of organisms and predators in a food chain?**
 * 5. What, if anything, should be done about the garbage patch? Why?**

(Rimbey, S. 5/26/11. 2:08)

__**Assignment 20 - Mearns Rock**__ __**Posted 5/31/11**__ In m opinion, I so not think the Sound has fully recovered. A lot of the fucus is back, but it is not very healthy. Also there are not a lot of barnacles back from what was originally there. The fisherman might say the ecosystem has recovered because many of the fish species have come back and new ones have also come. The fishing industry has grown since the spill. The villager has mostly the same opinion as the fisherman. Many of the animals and plants have grown back and they are able to make a living. Many of the areas in Valdez have recovered and they can make it through. The engineer from Exxon is going to say everything is recovered and they saved everything. They want everyone to think everything is fine. The NOAA biologist is going to say it has not recovered at all. They know that many of the species have not come back. The amount of fucus dropped dramatically at one point and came back up within a few years. The mussels took over when the fucus died off and then went back down in the past few years. Finally, the barnacles stayed kind of normal. They took over a few years, but they went down by the end. Also a fungus grew on the rock in the middle of the time and they are not sure where it came from. However, it went away as time went by. 20 Points (Rimbey, S. 6/2/11. 1:33)
 * 1. Create a graph showing how the barnacles, mussels, and fucus were affected by the exxon valdez oil spill.**
 * **Year** || //**Fucus gardneri**// || **Mussles** || **Barnacles** ||
 * 1989 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 1990 || 50 || 5 || 5 ||
 * 1991 || 40 || 20 || 10 ||
 * 1992 || 3 || 30 || 20 ||
 * 1993 || 3 || 40 || 30 ||
 * 1994 || 0 || 50 || 1 ||
 * 1995 || 10 || 10 || 1 ||
 * 1996 || 20 || 1 || 20 ||
 * 1997 || 50 || 20 || 0 ||
 * 1998 || 40 || 10 || 0 ||
 * 1999 || 30 || 30 || 0 ||
 * 2000 || 40 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 2001 || 30 || 1 || 20 ||
 * 2002 || 20 || 0 || 40 ||
 * 2003 || 10 || 0 || 20 ||
 * 2004 || 40 || 0 || 3 ||
 * 2. Create a data table showing your estimated data.**
 * 2. Create a data table showing your estimated data.**
 * 3. Has Prince William Sound recovered from the oil spill? Your opinion, that of a fisherman from Kodiak, a villager from valdez, an engineer from exxon, and a NOAA biologist.**
 * 4. How did the Exxon Valdez Oil spill affect the abundance of life on Mearns Rock?**