M Is for Marine Lab

an alphabet bookby Mindy Stephenson

mindystephenson@gmail.com

M Is for Marine LabEach year, my sixth

grade students travel to Marine Lab in Key

Largo. There, the students spend three days snorkeling and learning about the

coral reef, sea grass, and mangrove habitats. This

presentation highlights topics covered at

Marine Lab.

M Is for Marine LabSunshine State

StandardsSC.6.L.15.1  Benchmark Description:Analyze and describe how and why organisms are classified according to shared characteristics with emphasis on the Linnaean system combined with the concept of Domains.SC.6.E.6.1  Benchmark Description:Describe and give examples of ways in which Earth's surface is built up and torn down by physical and chemical weathering, erosion, and deposition.SC.6.E.6.2  Benchmark Description:Recognize that there are a variety of different landforms on Earth's surface such as coastlines, dunes, rivers, mountains, glaciers, deltas, and lakes and relate these landforms as they apply to Florida. SC.6.L.14.3  Benchmark Description:Recognize and explore how cells of all organisms undergo similar processes to maintain homeostasis, including extracting energy from food, getting rid of waste, and reproducing.

A is for

algaeAlgae cements dead

pieces of coral together; in this way, it enables new coral to form on top of dead coral. In addition,

algae protects vulnerable larvae by attracting it with

luring chemicals.

B is for

biodiversity

Biodiversity is the diversity of plants and

animals within a habitat; a high level of biodiversity usually translates to a healthy habitat. Of all

underwater ecosystems, coral reefs have the highest biodiversity.

C is for

coralCoral comes in many

different shapes, sizes, and colors. Many people are

surprised to learn that it is classified as an animal, not a plant. Interestingly, coral is made of small polyps, and

coral reefs are formed when many polyps connect to

make colonies.

D is for

dollarsMore than one million

visitors pass through the gates of John Pennekamp State Park each year, and with these visitors come

revenue. Visitors are charged to enter the Park, and camping, boat ramp,

and pavilion fees also apply.

E is for

echinoderm

Echinoderms, or spiny-skinned invertebrates, are prevalent on the shores of

Key Largo. Examples of echinoderms include sea cucumbers, starfish, sand dollars, and sea urchins.

F is for

filter feeder

A filter feeder lazily nourishes itself by straining

food out of surrounding water.

Filter feeders can be small, such as sponges and

sardines,or remarkably large, such as

sharks and even whales.

G is forglobal

epidemic

Nearly half of coral reefs in the U.S. are in poor or fair

condition, and the rest of the world’s reefs are in the same boat. Threats to coral reefs

include coastal development, fishing, recreational

activities, sedimentation, and global warming.

H is for

hurricane

Although hurricanes can be devastating to life on land,

life underwater is remarkably sturdy against this natural disaster. Many

animals, such as manatees, move into the mangroves

for protection during strong storms. Other animals

instinctively move to deeper water.

I is forinvertebrate

Invertebrates are defined as animals without a backbone,and thousands of species of

invertebrates exist in acoral reef. Examples includetube worms, starfish, crabs,sea cucumbers, sponges,

and coral itself.

J is forJohn

Pennekamp

John Pennekamp State Park opened in 1963 and was the first underwater park in the

United States. Included in the park grounds are 178 square miles of coral reefs, seagrass

beds, and mangrove swamps. John Pennekamp was a conservationist and

news editor instrumental in preserving the Key Largo

area.

K is for

Key Largo

Key Largo is the uppermost key of the Florida Keys and is

thirty-three miles long. Because of its outlying coral

reefs, it is often referred to as the diving capital of the

world.

L is for

limestone

Limestone is created by a buildup of coral, algae, shells, and debri. The

plethora of limestone on Key Largo is actually remnants of

coral that existed many years ago, when Key Largo was underwater. Limestone

creates hard corals that provide fragile polyps with

protection.

M is for

mangrove

Mangroves thrive in conditions in which no other plant could

survive: off the chart salt levels, thick mud, and

extreme heat. They protect the shoreline from erosion and storms and serve as a nursery for fish. Red, black, and white

mangroves are all found in John Pennekamp State Park.

N is for

nutrition

Coral reefs need nutrition, too! The small polyps of coral

use algae to get energy through photosynthesis. The algae cells get much more

energy than they need from the sun, so they release their leftovers to the coral polyps.

O is for

oxygenOxygen is needed for

underwater organisms, and much of this needed

oxygen is produced by sea grass. Sea grasses play a

major role in the underwater ecosystems surrounding Key Largo.

P is for

plankton

Plankton are tiny plants and animals that float in water.

If an animal grows or changes so that it can

propel itself in water, it is no longer considered

plankton. Plankton are vital because they are the base of the aquatic food chain.

Q is for

question

Questions are important!At Marine Lab, be sure to pay attention closely and ask questions about what

you see.

R is for

reef

There are a variety of different reefs in Key Largo; in

fact, all but one type, the atoll reef, can be found. The

coast of Key Largo boasts barrier reefs, fringing reefs, bank reefs, and patch reefs.

S is forsea grass

Sea grasses are like land plants except they do not possess the strength to

support themselves without the natural buoyancy of water. Just one acre of sea grass can support up to 40,000 fish and

50 million invertebrates; therefore, they are an

important indicator of the overall health of a coastal

area.

T is for

tentacle

Tentacles are used by many filter feeders, including

coral, to trap food. Many tentacles release a sticky mucus that helps speed

along this process. Jellyfish, squid, octopi, and snails are

other examples of filter feeders that utilize

tentacles.

U is for upwelling

Remarkably, strong storms are actually healthy for an

underwater ecosystem. Every spring, storms and

strong winds stir up nutrients from the deep sea, and these nutrients benefit systems such as

the coral reef. This process is called upwelling.

V is for

volcanoCharles Darwin theorized that some reefs, especially barrier

and fringing reefs, were formed from volcanoes.

These reefs grow around and on top of sunken volcanoes in

the ocean.

W is for

warmthCoral reef ecosystems are incredibly fragile. Water

temperature must remain between 68 and 86 degrees

F, or the symbiotic relationship between

zooxanthellae and the coral will fail. In this case,

bleaching will occur and the coral colony will die.

X is for

exoskeleton

Hard corals, such as brain, star, and pillar, have firm exoskeletons that protect their fragile bodies. On

the other hand, soft corals such as sea fans lack an exoskeleton; these corals sway to and fro with the

ocean currents.

Z is for Zooxanthell

aeZooxanthellae are tiny algae

cells that live inside most coral polyps. Zooxanthellae and coral have a mutualistic

relationship; the coral provides a safe home for

the cells, and the cells give oxygen and help take away

wastes. Surprisingly, zooxanthellae give coral its

color, since coral itself is colorless.