An image of a fish

Lesson 3 - Marine Biodiversity

Introduction

In this lesson you will study the variety of marine organisms other than marine animals. This will include the microscopic bacteria, protists, seaweeds and plants. We will emphasize those organisms that are important components of typical marine habitats.
 
Getting Started There is a countless number of living things in the world's oceans. Marine organisms come in a mind boggling variety from microscopic bacteria and protists to plants and animals of many types. Conceptualizing this diversity of species is a daunting task.

Unicellular marine organisms are the least familiar and recognizable. There microscopic size makes them the least accessible. Perhaps you've had the opportunity to observe microrganisms under a microscope in a previous biology class. The freshwater Euglena, Paramecium and Ameoba are often used as unicellular specimens in high school biology labs. If you have experience with any of these freshwater microorganisms, then compare the body parts and behaviors of the marine microorganims to those you've studied in the past.

Of the countless number of living things in the worlds oceans the green, photosynthetic organisms are the most numerous and play a pivotal role in the ecology of ocean systems. They use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to make the organic compounds that are found in the bodies of all living things.

Seaweeds and marine plants are some of the larger, green organisms that inhabit the ocean. They are highly adapted for survival in the marine environment. To become more aware of their adaptations, you might compare their body parts with those of the terrestrial plants you are most familiar with.


Focus on Learning

 

Use the course competencies listed below to focus your learning and use the lesson objectives to sharpen that focus.
 
Competencies

By the end of the lesson , you should be able to:

  1. Identify and describe the general types of microscopic marine organisms.
  2. Categorize the major groups of seaweeds and marine plants using biochemical, structural, and ecological criteria.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the general characteristics of 4 major groups of protista.
  2. Distinguish between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
  3. Describe the structure and function of marine bacteria.
  4. Compare and contrast seaweeds and marine flowering plants.


Reading Assignments

Reading Assignment Reading is a very important component of an internet course. Read the assigned pages from your textbook and coloring book before proceeding to the Instruction section.
   
Textbook Read the Assignments in Castro and Huber's Marine Biology Textbook:
3.1 Unicellular Marine Life: Chapter 5
3.2 Seaweeds and Plants: Chapter 6
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
3.1 Unicellular Marine Life: Plates 19 and 72
3.2 Seaweeds and Plants: Plates 18, 20, 21 and 72
   
Complete the optional Reading Self Test after completing the reading assignments. Have your textbook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the reading quiz that follows.
   
Reading Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Self Test 3 The Marine Biodiversity
 



Instruction

Complete the Lecture Exercise below. The lecture exercise consists of two sets of online notes and a notes self test.
   
Study the online notes. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the notes to your notebook or print them and add them to your notebook. The notes can be opened when completing the self test and quiz. The information you find in these notes is very helpful when completing the graded note quiz when assessing your learning below.
   
Online Notes
Read the Online Notes by Clicking the Links Below:
Notes 3.1 Unicellular Marine Life
Notes 3.2 Seaweeds and Plants
   
Complete the optional Notes Self Test after studying the online notes. Have the online notes, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the notes quiz that follows.
   
Notes Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes: Self Test 3 Marine Biodiversity
   
Complete the Laboratory Exercise below. The laboratory exercise consists of four lab activities and a lab self test.
   
Complete the Lab Activities. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the lab activities to your notebook. The information in these activities is very helpful when completing the graded lab quiz when assesing your learning below.
   
Lab Activities
Complete the Lab Activities by Clicking the Links Below:
Lab Activity 3.1 Types of Seaweeds
Lab Activity 3.2 Photosynthetic Pigment Extraction
Lab Activity 3.3 Phycobilin Absorption Spectrum
Lab Activity 3.4 Chlorophyll Absorption Spectrum
   
Complete the optional Lab Self Test after completing the lab activities. Have the online lab activities, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the lab quiz that follows.
   
Lab Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Self Test 3 Seaweeds and Photosynthetic Pigments



Assess Your Learning

It's time to assess what you have learned from the online notes. The following Reading Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your textbook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Reading Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Quiz 3 Marine Biodiversity
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from the online notes. The following Note Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Notes Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes Quiz 3 Marine Biodiversity
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from your lab activities. The following Lab Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Lab Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Quiz 3 Seaweeds and Photosynthetic Pigments



Express Your Learning

It's time to think about the big picture and express what you have learned in this lesson. The following Essay Quiz is a graded assignment. Feel free to draw upon any of the work you have already done. Be sure to submit your essay quiz when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Essay Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Essay Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Essay Quiz 3 Marine Biodiversity



Related Web Sites

Here is a website that I like in case you'd like to pursue this topic on the internet:

Seaweed Site

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?