An image of a fish

Lesson 6 - Seabirds and Marine Mammals

Introduction

In this lesson you will study the natural history and general biology of seabirds and marine mammals.
 
Getting Started Humans tend to relate to what they know best, and in the living world, what we know best are the animals that are most like humans. We can intuitively understand more about the nature of the marine animals that have backbones like ourselves. Therefore, it is no wonder that marine mammals are the most popular sea creatures. We can directly compare them with ourselves and we can make sense of their behaviors.

Seabirds and marine mammals are highly adapted for survival in the marine environment. To become more aware of their adaptations, you might compare the body parts and behaviors of seabirds and marine mammals with those of terrestrial or freshwater vertebrates. You are a handy terrestrial vertebrate to use in your comparisons.

Despite their differences, all seabirds and marine mammals have features they share. Since they live in the same environment, they must all perform tasks in somewhat the same way, and therefore they must have bodies that allow them to do so. Compare the seabirds and marine mammals you study in this lesson to one another.


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. Compare and contrast the ways of life of major types of seabirds.
  2. Explain how marine mammals have readapted to life in the ocean.
  3. Contrast the adaptations of toothed and baleen whales.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the external anatomy of the major groups of seabirds and marine mammals.
  2. Associate the anatomical structures of seabirds and marine mammals with their functions.
  3. Identify the swimming, feeding, and reproductive behaviors of selected seabirds and marine mammals.
  4. Describe the mechanisms by which seabirds and marine mammals perceive their surroundings and how their perceptions help them interact with their environment.


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:
6.1 Seabirds: Chapter 9
6.2 Marine Mammals: Chapter 9
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
6.1 Seabirds: Plates 55 to 58
6.2 Marine Mammals: 59 to 62, 89 and 90
   
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 6 Seabirds and Marine Mammals
 



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 6.1 Seabirds
Notes 6.2 Marine Mammals
   
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 6 Seabirds and Marine Mammals
   
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 6.1 Baleen Whales
Lab Activity 6.2 Bottlenose Dolphins
Lab Activity 6.3 Killer Whales
Lab Activity 6.4 Beluga Whales
   
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 6 Whales



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 6 Seabirds and Marine Mammals
   
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 6 Seabirds and Marine Mammals
   
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 6 Whales



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 6 Seabirds and Marine Mammals



Related Web Sites

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

Seabirds of Quebec

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?