Lab Activity 12.1
Deep Environments

  Directions

Study the instructional material below. Be sure to click on each of the photographs for an enlarged view in a separate window. The larger version is necessary to complete the assignment. It opens in a separate window which can be resized by grabbing the bottom right corner and dragging it. It can also be moved by grabbing the top heading bar and dragging it. Be sure to close the extra window by using the X in IBM, or the close box in MAC when you are finished using them.

  Introduction


The environments of the ocean depths are varied and full of life. Strange creatures crawl and burrow on the seafloor and swim or drift in the open waters above it. Animals thrive despite the extreme cold, intense pressure, and constant darkness. In this lab activity you will study the deep environments of Monterey Canyon, California and discover the mysterious nature of life in the deep sea.

Top  Instruction

Answer the following questions about the deep environments of Monterey Bay, California by visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Deep Sea Activities Web Site and searching for answers in the Online Field Guide, Cool Facts, and Life in the Deep Interactive. Prepare an answer for each of the questions listed below. You can print out the charts and fill them in or create similar charts in your notebook.

Be sure to write about what you are learning in the lab section of your notebook. You will be expected to answer questions about the lab activity during the lab self test and lab quiz. It helps to have your text and coloring books open beside you for support.

 
Supporting Information
Refer to the Assigned Readings Below:
Marine Biology Textbook Chapter 16, pages 357 to 361 and 367 to 376
Marine Biology Coloring Book Plates 15 and 16
 

Canyon Walls
Questions Answers
1. Why are the canyon walls so full of life?  
2. How did the aquarium staff get the predatory tunicates of the Canyon to live longer in their tanks?  
3. What is the main difference between the Canyon's Squat Lobsters and regular lobsters?  
4. What types of animals provide a home to the Deep Sea Brittle Star?  
5. Where do feather stars perch?  

 

Midwater
Questions Answers
1. What adaptations help the animals of the twilight zone survive?  
2. How does the Aquarium staff tend to the special needs of Midwater Eelpouts to make them feel at home?  
3. How does a Fangtooth capture its food?  
4. How does the Midwater Shrimp hide from its predators?  
5. Why does the midwater octopus have a transparent body?  

 

Seafloor
Questions Answers
1. What do seafloor animals survive on?  
2. How does the Aquarium staff keep their Pom Pom Anemones looking their best?  
3. How doesw Johnson's Sea Cucumber feed?  
4. What do Filetail Catsharks and cats have in common?  
5. How do Cold Seep Clams get their nutrition?  

Lab Activity 12.2 Deep Creatures