An image of a fish

Lesson 7 - Biology of Individuals

Introduction

In this lesson you will study defense and feeding. We will emphasize the way marine organisms interact when they eat and when they try not to be eaten.
 
Getting Started Now that you have been introduced to some of the organisms that live in the sea; we will start to study the interactions among them. To begin with, we will study the ways in which marine organisms defend themselves and feed upon each other. In this way, we will learn the particular roles organisms play in the ecology of ocean systems.

Despite their differences all marine organisms have features they share. Since they all have potential predators that would eat them if they could, they must all defend themselves in somewhat the same way and have bodies that allow them to do so. Compare the defense mechanisms of the marine organisms you study in this lesson to one another.

Marine organisms feed in a variety of ways. Some of their feeding mechanisms are unique but many are familiar being like those of terrestrial animals. To become more aware of these mechanisms you might compare them to those of the terrestrial animals you are 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. Describe how organisms interact with their environment as individuals.
  2. Compare and contrast the major ways in which marine organisms eat and keep from being eaten.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Distinguish between mechanical, chemical, and behavioral defense mechanisms and be able to recognize examples of each.
  2. Describe the various types of predators in regards to the types of prey they eat and the ways in which they capture their prey.
  3. Distiguinsh between scavengers and detritivores in regards to their diets and feeding mechanisms.


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:
7.1 Defense: None
7.2 Feeding: Chapter 10
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
7.1 Defense: Plates 63 and 71 and 100 to 104
7.2 Feeding: Plates 105 to 111
   
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 7 Biology of Individuals
 



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 7.1 Defense
Notes 7.2 Feeding
   
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 7 Biology of Individuals
   
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 7.1 Responses to Light
Lab Activity 7.2 Responses to Surfaces
Lab Activity 7.3 Herbivores
Lab Activity 7.4 Carnivores and Saprophages
   
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 7 Predator Avoidance and Feeding



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 7 Biology of Individuals
   
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 7 Biology of Individuals
   
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 7 Predator Avoidance and Feeding



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 7 Biology of Individuals



Related Web Sites

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

Dangerous Creatures of the Sea

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?