Assigments

Home

Directions: Copy and paste the date and question into your wikispace and answer. Following your answer, make sure your name and time is behind the answer (Green, S - 8:30pm 2/1/10)

__**Assignment 1**__
 * Posted 1/28/15 - Due By January 30th**

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.

Observe the chart located below. Pick one organism from each of the four zones indicated in the chart and describe it's 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.
 * __Assignment 2__**
 * Posted 2/11/15 - Due by February 13th End of Day**



In which intertidal zone of a steeply sloping, coarse sand beach would you find each of the following organisms: Littleneck 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.
 * __Assignment 3__**
 * __Posted 2/19/15 due 2/20/15__**

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 females.
 * __Assignment 4__**
 * Posted 2/24/14 due 2/25/14**

__**Assignment 5**__ __**Posted 3/31/15 due**__

1. Provide a picture of a squid.

2. Describe the propulsion method of a squid.

3. Look 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 four 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. What is the hectocotyl? Discuss the function of this appendage?

7. What advantage is there to a female squid laying eggs in a packet next to another females?


 * __Assignment 6__ **
 * Posted 4/15/15 due 4/16/15 **
 * 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). **

__**Assignment 7**__ Posted 4/17/15 due 4/20/15 Current Event [|Shark Conservation Rule]

__**Assignment 8**__
 * Posted 5/1/15 due 5/4/15**

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 9**__
 * Posted 5/26/15 due 5/28/15**

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 4 Blueworldtv The King of Crustaceans__ Posted 2/9/11 **Due by February 9th**


 * 1. What color is an American lobster? Is it red in the wild? **


 * 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? **

3. What do most lobsters do when they approach a lobster trap underwater?

4. What are the two claws of a lobster called and how are they different in design?

5. Internet research: what makes an American lobster different from a Spiny lobster?

__Assignment 7__ Posted 3/4/11 **- Due by March 7th**
 * 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. **


 * __Assignment 3__ **
 * Posted 3/4/14 ** - **Due by March 5th**
 * 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. **
 * Pea Crab**


 * North Atlantic Lobster**


 * Japanese Spider Crab**


 * Prawn**

__** Assignment 8 **__ 1. Name some ways in which sharks are highly evolved--not primitive. theyre aerodynamic through the water 2. What are some distinguishing characteristics of all sharks? heterocerial caudal fin 3. How are sharks different from “bony” fish? cartilagious skeletons 4. Why does a shark sink? What does a shark do to stay off the bottom? their liver 5. Sharks have a special sense that people lack. What does it detect? vibrations in the water 6. Why do sharks often like to hunt in low light? because they're a predator and have good eye sight 7. How are sharks important in the ecosystem? they control the population of other species in the ocesan 8. What is the largest shark in the world and what does it eat? whale and its a filter feeder 9. Internet research: Sharks have “cones” in their retinas. Cones are used to detect color, so why is it that sharks don’t see in color?
 * Posted 3/26/11 due 3/26/11**

__Assignment 8 Menhaden__ Read the linked article. 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? 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 substitiutes? 6. Describe the fishing technique used by OMega Protein. Why is this techniques 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?
 * Posted 3/21/11 due 3/22/11**


 * __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). **

__Assignment 10__ 1. Provide a picture of a squid. 2. Describe the propulsion method of a squid. 3. Look 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 four 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?
 * Posted 4/4/11 due 4/5/11**

__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 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.
 * Posted 4/8/11 due 4/11/11**

__Assignment 12__ - Blueworldtv.com Episode 7 - Shark wreck Mystery
 * Posted 4/15/11 due 4/15/11**

1. Why do sharks sometimes lose teeth when they mate? 2. What possible reasons might explain whythe sharks seemed to be doing nothing whenthe divers were filming? 3. Why might the sharks have still donenothing when the remote cameras wereoperating? (hint: think about the sensesof a shark, particularly the ampullae ofLorenzini) 4. What might have affected the behavior ofthe sharks at night? 5. What makes the Sand Tiger shark teeth special?


 * __Assignment 13__ **
 * Posted 4/18/11 due 4/18/11**
 * 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
 * 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 insteadof 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 withtheir long tail?

__Assignment 15__ - Coral Reefs - Blueworldtv.com Webisode 41 1. How can coral (an animal) get much of its energy from the sun like a plant? Where does it get the rest of its energy? 2. How do reefs provide an important resource for fish in shallow tropical oceans? 3. What is a coral polyp? How do polyps form reefs? 4. Coral is often as hard as rock. Can anything eat coral? 5. Why is coral so hard? 6. What is bleaching? What are some things that are believed to cause it? 7. How do parrotfish make sand from coral? 8. What two factors are the reason coral reefs only grow in the tropics? 9. Internet research: Once corals are bleached, will they die or can they get their color back and survive to become healthy again?
 * Posted 4/16/12 due 4/16/12**

__Assignment 15__ - Shark Vocabulary =Head= 1. Rostrtum 2. Nares 3. Jaws 4. Eyes 5. Spiracles 6. Gill Slits 7. Endolymphatic Pores
 * Posted 4/20/11 Due - Upon completion of the shark dissection. This is an ongoing assignment as there will be close to 70 words to identify.**

=Fins= 8. Dorsal Fins 9. Caudal Fin 10. Pectoral Fins 11. Pelvic Fins 12. Cloaca 13. Claspers

__Assignment 16 - Blueworldtv.com "Shark feeding frenzies"__ 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?
 * Posted 5/4/11**

__Assignment 17__ Posted 5/6/11 due 5/15/11 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"__

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?

[|Ted Talks Video - Captain Charles Moore] 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?
 * __Assignment 19 - A Float in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash__**
 * __Posted 5/23/11__**

Assignment 20 - Mearns Rock [|Time Line Series] Posted 5/31/11 1. Create a [|graph] showing how the barnacles, mussels, and fucus were affected by the exxon valdez oil spill. 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?