Exercise #6: Classifying Marine Life

Goals

The purpose of this exercise is to practice classification of marine life in a variety of ways, including taxonomic classification, classifcation by habitat and mobility, and classificaiton by biozone. Further, you will explore adaptations of specific marine organisms for life in their environment .

The Data

For this exercise, we will be using the MarineBio.org species database, and other online sources, to examine marine life. MarineBio.org is a marine conservation and science education organization with a mission to educate readers about marine life and the marine environment. We will be using the organization's Species Database to research several marine organisms: (Pacific White-sided dolphins)

In the search field , enter the term "Pacific white-sided dolphin". Choose

the first entry for "Pacific white-sided dolphins".

1. What is the taxonomic classification of Pacific white-sided dolphins? You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.

2. Where (generally) are Pacific white-sided dolphins found?

3. What is the feeding behavior of the Pacific white-sided dolphin?

4. Are Pacific white-sided dolphins considered plankton, nekton, or benthos?

5. Are Pacific white-sided dolphins pelagic or benthic organisms?

6. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what biozone(s) would we most likely find Pacific white-sided dolphins? If you answered "benthic" to question 5, choose from the benthic biozones. If you chose "pelagic" for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.

Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following question:

7. What are TWO adaptations of Pacific White-Sided dolphins for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Pacific White-Sided dolphins. Prepare your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.

Exercise #6 - Page 2 of 3

Sea Urchin (Red Sea Urchin)

In the search field , enter the term "Red Sea Urchin". Choose the first entry

for "Red Sea Urchin"

8. What is the taxonomic classification of the Red Sea Urchin?

You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,

Genus and Species.

9. Where (generally) are Red Sea Urchins found? (click the link

under "World Range and Habitat" called OBIS Distribution Map

to see a map of where these organisms are found)

10. What is the feeding behavior of the Red Sea Urchin?

11. Are Red Sea Urchins considered plankton, nekton, or benthos?

12. Are Red Sea Urchins pelagic or benthic organisms?

13. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what biozone(s) would we most likely find Red Sea Urchins? If you answered "benthic" to question 5, choose from the benthic biozones. If you chose "pelagic" for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.

Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following question:

14. What are TWO adaptations of Red Sea Urchins for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Red Sea Urchins. Prepare your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.

Moon Jellyfish

In the search field , enter the term "Moon Jellyfish". Choose the first entry

for "Moon Jellyfish"

15. What is the taxonomic classification of the Moon Jellyfish?

You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,Genus and Species.

16. Where (generally) are Moon Jellyfish found? (click the link under "World Range and Habitat" called OBIS Distribution Map to see a map of where these organisms are found)

17. What is the feeding behavior of the Moon Jellyfish?

18. Are Moon Jellyfish considered plankton, nekton, or benthos?

19. Are Moon Jellyfish pelagic or benthic organisms?

20. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what biozone(s) would we most likely find Moon Jellyfish? If you answered "benthic" to question 5, choose from the benthic biozones. If you chose "pelagic" for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.

Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following questions:

21. What are TWO adaptations of Moon Jellyfish for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Moon Jellyfiss. Prepare your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.

Exercise #6 - Page 3 of 3

EXTRA CREDIT: Emiliania huxeyi

To the right, you see a microscope image of an organism of the genus and species: Emiliania huxleyi. I would like you to try to learn more about this species. Do some research online and answer the following questions about Emiliania huxleyi. (NOTE: The marinebio.org site does NOT have information on this organism - you will have to research quality sources to determine the answer to these questions.

22. What is the common name of Emiliania huxleyi?

23. Is Emiliania huxleyi considered plankton,nekton, or benthos?

24. In what biozone would we most likely find Emiliania huxleyi? (use Figure 12.25 to help you)

25. What is the importance of Emiliania huxleyi in the oceanic ecosystem?Prepare your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.

Submitting your answers You will submit your answers to this exercise in a Quiz called (E6) Exercise #6 Quiz. Here are a few details on the quiz:

You will have 60 minutes to complete the quiz from the time you open it. COMPLETE THE EXERCISE

QUESTIONS BEFORE OPENING THE QUIZ!

The password for this quiz is oceanlife

Work through the quiz by answering the questions with a paragraph response. You will be answering all of the questions in the Quizzes tool.

o You will enter your answers to questions 1-6, 8-13, 15-20, and 22-24 by choosing the answer that most closely matches your own from a list of choices.

o You will enter your answers to questions 7, 14, 21, and 25 as short answer responses.

Your instructor will manually grade parts of this quiz. You may not see a score immediately. Once your instructor finishes grading this exercise you will receive a notification advising you that feedback is ready to view.