PLANKTON

PLANKTON

Students work in groups of four

Today we are starting our Plankton Unit.  The information for this unit came from a book called  "The Seaside Naturalist".  Pages 11 - 22

ISBN # 0-671-76503-5

This is really a nice little book and has some really good information.  It gives a brief description on a variety of marine animals. 




Variety of marine organisms



Students start with  a worksheet and packet then work on classify organisms.  Since the animals are not species specific I explain that this classification is a very simpler version of  a real food web.  The idea  for this activity was developed when I was still tutoring for TAKS.  I had a lot of juniors that needed review on biology concepts such as food webs, food chains, and food pyramids . Also it reinforces the concepts of what is a phytoplankton, zooplankton, nekton and benthic organism.

Diagram for placing marine organisms

Key for coloring the marine organisms

Since these students are going on to college (most of them) I think they need to realize that there are almost always exceptions in nature.  The text books and often lecture  simplify systems so that it is easier to test.  We do that when talking about types of oceanographers.  (Example: Geological and Geophysicist overlap when using tools and areas of study).  So when testing, we narrow the definition.  It is fine to do this but I think that students need to be aware of it.. 

Why study plankton?  First, plankton is the bottom of the food chain and without it the food webs in the oceans would fail.  Second it provides oxygen  for the planet and  third it is a carbon sink. 

Plankton also can have a detrimental affect on marine organisms through harmful algae blooms (HAB)