Download Florida Trip Coral Reef Lesson 2016 PPT

Key Largo is a beautiful town known for its diving and
snorkeling industry. It's the topmost of the Florida Keys
and home to some of the world's most beautiful coral
reefs. Key Largo is actually known as the "diving capital of
the world."
John Pennekamp Park, the nation's first
underwater state park. The park
encompasses more than 100 square
miles of beautiful water where you will
find a vast array of coral, over 600
species of tropical fish, and other
marine life such as dolphins, eagle rays,
and sea turtles.
Coral Reef Ecology
Coral reefs are one of the most beautiful and fascinating
natural environments. The variety of life in a coral reef
surpasses anything else the sea has to offer:
Hundreds of different fishes and invertebrates
http://www.msc.ucla.edu/sswims/links_files/FrankLessonPlan.pdf
Multi-hued coral colonies branch in all
directions.
Sponges, sea fans, and other strange
animals adorn the reef surface,
providing even greater color and
variety.
Outlandishly colored fishes drift and
dart through the surrounding
turquoise waters.
Our group will study marine invertebrates at Island
Dolphin Care during one of our evenings on Key Largo.
You will be able to
observe these
creature in the
touch tank.
Coral animals belong to
the Phylum Cnidaria,
which consists of many
invertebrate animals
with dazzling colors and
strange shapes.
A coral polyp is one of the
simplest animals lacking many
features that other animals
need to survive. It’s round
with many stinging tentacles
around the mouth. The
mouth opens into a simple
stomach cavity. It has no
intestines or anus, so waste is
pushed back out through the
mouth. A coral polyp has no
brain, nervous system or eyes.
There is no heart or blood
supply.
http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/coralbasics.html
Polyps grow in groups called colonies
Each succeeding generation builds its home upon the
limestone foundation of skeletons of previous corals.
Colonies attach to other colonies.
Reef-building corals are
limited to growing no
deeper than 164 feet
because they need
sunlight.
Corals need sunlight
because within the living
tissue of the
polyp are the tiny algae
cells called zooxanthellae.
Distribution
Coral reefs are found in tropical seas throughout the world.
Coral reefs are the largest structures on Earth built by an
living organism.
The reefs off the coast
of Florida are visible in
this image
photographed from
the International
Space Station by an
Expedition 18 crew
member.
(One of the station's solar panels obstructs the view in
the top left of the image. This is NASA image ID: ISS018E-02522)
Last year’s group went to John Pennekamp State Park
to review the proper way to snorkel.
You will need to
carefully enter the
water. Washed up
sea grass creates a
barrier along the
edge of the water.
This is followed by
sharp limestone
outcroppings.
Water shoes are a
necessity here!
Once in the water,
our guide will talk
about the proper
way to snorkel.
Coral reefs are limestone structures formed by the
skeletons of these tiny coral polyp animals The state of
Florida sits on a limestone base that is hundreds of feet
thick. That’s why the beaches are hard to walk on – coral
limestone is sharp and why Florida has problems with salt
water moving inland. Limestone is very porous.
http://www.ausmepa.org.au/effects-of-climate-change-on-coral-bleaching/structure-of-a-coral-polyp.htm
At Curry Hammock State Park you will
collect and classified marine organisms.
Last year our guide found a venomous lion fish in a nearby
canal! It’s a dangerous invasive species and had to be
destroyed by the park ranger.
Leanne and Lia
returned a horseshoe
crab to the water after
studying it.
Another invasive
species, green iguanas,
are everywhere!
After learning about coral
reef organisms, you will
board Sundiver III for the
trip to a coral reef about 3
miles off the coast of Key
Largo. After getting your
snorkel gear, you’ll jump
over board and explore!
The captain of Sundiver will tell you to swim toward the
dark areas of the water. “That’s the reef!” He will warn us
to check out the location of the boat from time to time.
There is nothing else out there to mark our location. Gulp!
Global Threats to Coral Reefs
All around the world, much of the
world’s marine biodiversity face
threats from activities and events
such as
•Coastal development
•Overfishing
•Inland pollution
•Global climate change
•Ocean acidification caused by some
of the excess carbon dioxide
emissions being absorbed by the
world’s oceans.
Coral bleaching results in
white, dead-looking, coral
(top image). Healthy coral,
by contrast, is very colorful
and rich with marine life.
Global Threats to Coral Reefs
All around the world, much of the
world’s marine biodiversity face
threats from activities and events
such as
•Coastal development
•Overfishing
•Inland pollution
•Global climate change
•Ocean acidification caused by some
of the excess carbon dioxide
emissions being absorbed by the
world’s oceans.
Coral bleaching results in
white, dead-looking, coral
(top image). Healthy coral,
by contrast, is very colorful
and rich with marine life.
Supplemental Resources
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/co
ral_reefs_and_climate_change/what_is_a_coral/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef#media
viewer/File:Coral_reef_diagram.jpg
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/coral10
1/polypcolony/
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/o
ceans/coral_reefs.cfm
http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/coral
basics.html
http://www.msc.ucla.edu/sswims/links_files/F
rankLessonPlan.pdf