Marine Biology WebQuest

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Assesssment | Conclusion

Introduction

You, as a marine biologist, have been selected to help decipher important scientific data pertaining to life forms which have been found on a new planet, Tetramarina. There was a scientific team, headed by the world renowned Dr. Nemo, sent there to investigate the different ecosystems and inhabitants. Unfortunately the last data transmission received from the search party was incomplete, and there has been no further contact. You will observe that this last transmission also must be scientifically decoded because it is written in Latin and scrambled English! It is your job to help decipher this transmission describing the newly discovered marine species and also help to determine the environmental conditions of this new planet, Tetramarina.

Good luck!

Task

The following is a copy of the last transmission received:

To: Project Headquarters of Tetramarina project

Fr: Dr. Nemo and Crew

Data transmission 12/31/25 time 0915

You wouldn't believe the many wonderful marine specimens we have found in our last twenty-four hours of exploration! I'm sending you a list along with a description of the ecosystems we have seen.

 Specimen number

Scientific name

Common name

 1

 Physalia sp.

 terpoguue anm o awr

 2

 Millepora sp.

 refi rocal

 3

 Cliona celata

 grboni nopegs

 4

 Mytilus edulis

 leub suelms

 5

 Hapolochlaena sp.

 leub nigr ptuscoo

 6

 Mercenaria sp.

 ahouqg mlac

 7

 Riftia pachyptila

 hdohrayrteml netv rowm

 8

 Asterias sp.

 ase rtsa

 9

 Strongylocentrotus sp.

 negre aes cnruhi

 

 10

 Cucumaria sp.

 ase bruccmeu

 11

 Balanus sp.

 lbnacrae

 12

 Limulus sp.

 eerohssho cbra

 13

 Homarus americanus

  tnnroher tolrbes

 14

 Euphausia superba

  raitccant lkilr

 15

 Amblyrhynchus subcristatus

  oplgaaags auigna

 16

 Chelonia mydas

 negre ase etltru

 17

 Pygoscelis adeliae

  eedail egnnpiu

 18

 Pelecanus occidentalis

 rnwbo cpnaile

 19

 Pleuronectes americanus

 nreiwt enlfudor

 

 20

 Hippocampus sp.

 ase reohs

 21

 Rhincodon typus

 ehwla hkars

 22

 Thalarctos maritimus

 orlpa aber

 23

 Balaenoptera musculus

  leub ehwla

 24

 Enhydra lutris

  ase trtoe

 25

 Zalophus californianus

  ase olni

 26

 Trichechus manatus

 aementa

 27

 Tursiops truncatus

 tbolte enods hodlnip

 28

 Gymnothorax sp

 yraom ele

 29

 Negaprion brevlrostris

 oemln hkars

 

 30

 Loligo peali

 lgon dfnien dusiq

31

Uga pugnax

lfeidrd acrb

32

Dermochelys coriacea

recbaklahte reltut

34

Orcinus orca

elrekil ehwla

As you can see we have these same marine organisms on our planet Earth, and according to what I and my crew have observed, they appear to be as successful on Tetramarina because of their many special adaptations. I am looking forward to investigating these adaptations to see if they are indeed really the same as their earthly 'relatives'!

The wonderful environments we explored included: .....

END TRANSMISSION


 

After obtaining a specimen number from your teacher, locate the number in the above chart and begin your project by unscrambling the common name of the organism. Your task is to then research this organism with the major focus being its special adaptations.

While conducting your research (note: check out the Resources section of this webquest to find helpful research sites and sources) you should answer the following questions:

When you have completed your research you will be required to:

Resources

You should use the following areas as sources of information for this assignment:

Helpful Internet sites:

The following internet links are provided for you to utilize. Do not forget to write down the address of a website to place in your bibliography.

Please note that some of the first sites on this list are excellent general sources.


_____________________________________________________________

 

  Use Your "Ben Book" for citing your sources or use the citation information on the library bulletin board.

 

Process

To accomplish this task you should do the following:

1. Obtain a specimen number from your teacher.

2. Carefully read through the Task section of the webquest.

3. Unscramble your given specimen's common name.

4. Note the scientific name of your specimen.

5. Complete the research needed to answer the questions given under the Task section of the webquest. Begin by looking for helpful sites in the list given under the Resources section of this webquest. You must use this word document provided to type your notes!!!!Notes must be turned in with your final project!!!

6. Do not forget to check the school library, the books in the marine biology classroom, and your local public library.

7. Compose a list of resources (magazines, Internet sites, books - your own book!). THIS WILL BE CHECKED ( your teacher will tell you the due date)

8. Prepare on 8x11" copy paper a rough draft of the poster you are going to create. 

9.  Create your poster! You may get color computer copies from the library for a minimal charge. Some work on this project may be required outside of class.

Poster should include:

10. Prepare a brief (3 min.) speech to present the important findings to your peers in the class.

Assessment

This assignment will be evaluated and factored in as a major classwork grade. Your grade will be based on the following:

You must see me prior to the project due date if you encounter any problems. I may separate you from your partner (and you may have to complete the project on your own) if work is not progressing to my satisfaction (too much socializing for example).

Conclusion

GOOD LUCK, MATES, AS YOU RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATE THE ORGANISMS FOUND BY DR. NEMO ON TETRAMARINA!


Please forward any comments or suggestions to Mrs. Ella Reid at ereid2@bcps.org.

This WebQuest was adapted from one created by Rebecca Kauffman Pizzino http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/US/science/mbiowqst/temp.htm and includes my own modifications, April 2007.