interactive learning station: the ocean fwd crustaceans sylvia earle
TRANSCRIPT
Sylvia Earle is a famous scuba-diver
who has won international acclaim
as a scientist who has made a number
of important discoveries
regarding the ecology of marine plants as well as a
record-setting diver logging over 6,000
hours under the sea.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Wearing a special suit designed by Nuytten, Sylvia Earle spent two
and a half hours exploring the ocean bottom--a dangerous
proposition, considering the fact
that if her life-support systems had failed, the pressure at that depth is a crushing
600 pounds per square inch. The walk demonstrated to other
scientists that research at such
depths was possible.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
On an interview, Earle was asked…
Q. There were points in your career where being female kept you from doing certain things. Isn't that the case?
A. At various points along the way, the fact that I was a woman was held up to me as a reason why I couldn't do this or that or the other thing. I'm a little girl. So what? That was my first recollection of kind of being rocked back on my heels with that kind of awareness. Although I'm sure that all through school, the role models are pretty well established. You will become one of three or four things. You will become a wife and mother, or you will become a teacher, or a nurse, or maybe a stewardess on an aircraft. Or you could type, you could become a secretary. And there aren't very many other options that are held out. They weren't to me as a child, growing up. But it never occurred to me that was all I could be.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
The world of the crustaceans is a world of bizarre
shapes and adaptations. This
group of animals is probably best-known for their hard outer
shell.
Common Barnacle
Anemone Shrimp
Red Hermit CrabArrow Crab Banded Coral Shrimp
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
As the crustacean grows, the outer
shell must be removed and
discarded. Once this takes place, the new shell takes time
to harden. During this period, the
animal is without its primary means of
protection and vulnerable to attack
from predators.
The Rock CrabRed lobsterRed lobsterRed lobster
Red Lobster
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Crustaceans have an impressive arsenal of
weapons at their disposal. The claw of many crustaceans is capable of exerting hundreds of pounds of pressure. Some
even have the unique ability to produce a deafening miniature
sonic boom with which they stun their
prey.
Spiny Lobster
Slipper Lobster
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Despite of their impressive armor and fierce weaponry, the crustaceans do occasionally meet their match. The
teeth of the triggerfish and the beak of the octopus can crack through the
toughest shells of crabs and lobsters, making an enjoyable meal.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Self-Check
Question # 1: What is Sylvia Earle known for?
a. An animal-rights activistb. A zoologistc. A scuba-diverd. A professional lifeguard
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Self-CheckVery Good! You are now able to go
onto question #2.
Question #2: How many hours has Sylvia Earle logged-in under the sea?
a. 100 hoursb. 6,000 hoursc. 600,000 hoursd. 1,000,000 hours
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Self-CheckExcellent job! Let’s try another, #3
is pretty tricky…
Question #3: What did Sylvia’s dangerous 2 1/2 hour un-tethered walk exploring the ocean bottom prove?
a. That women can do dangerous things, just like men.
b. It demonstrated to other scientists that research at such depths was possible.
c. That she had a lot of courage and bravery.d. That she was determined to discover new things.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Self-CheckAwesome answer! Let’s keep
going…
Question #4: Crustaceans grow out of their hard outer-shell and must grow a new one several times during their life.
TrueFalse
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Self-CheckYou are doing so well…here is the last
question, can you answer it correctly?
Question #5: Who are the two most common sea creatures who enjoy crustaceans as a meal?
a. Seals and alligatorsb. Sharks and whalesc. Octopuses and triggerfishd. Lobsters and sting-rays
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Great Job on completing the interactive self-
check. You now have more knowledge about
the sea!For more information,
continue onto the Student References.
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
References for students…
“About the Author.” http://literati.net/Earle/ (10/21/02).
Earle, Sylvia. “Depth Charger.” People 53 (2000): 159.
Earle, Sylvia with photographs by Wolcott Henry. Sea Critter. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2000.
Glausiusz, Josie. “Earle of the Sea.” Discover 21 (2000): 16.
Ortiz, Edward. “EXPLORER HERO: SYLVIA EARLE.” http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=sylviaearle (10/21/02).
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last
Works Cited
http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2e.html
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ear0pro-1
http://lobster.ls.huji.ac.il/~tamnun/
http://www.aqua.org/animals/species/procto.html
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/animals/clown.htm
http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/collections/crustaceans
http://www.ecuadorpictures.org/galapagos_1.asp?=r=galapagos&c=Crrustaceans
http://fvi.cnn.com/2002/fvi/news/05/01/sylvia.earle/
Back
Fwd
Beg
End
Last