An image of a fish

Lesson 8 - Marine Ecology

Introduction

In this lesson you will study competition, symbiosis, and ecological organization. You will emphasize the way marine organisms interact with each other and with the non-living environment in which they live.
 
Getting Started Now we will examine the general ecology of marine habitats. Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms and their environment. These interactions are many and varied and include interactions among organisms and between organisms and the non-living portion of the environment in which they live. In this lesson we will study the ways in which organisms compete for limited resources and we will examine the special relationships, called symbioses, which have evolved among some marine organisms. In this way, we will learn more about the particular roles organisms play in the ecology of ocean systems.

We will also consider some basic ecological principles that apply to all marine habitats. Our studies will include an examination of the basic organization of marine environments, the factors that govern the distribution of organisms, the structure of marine communities, and the functioning of marine eosystems.

Marine habitats are unique but the basic ecological principles that apply to marine habitats also apply to terrestrial habitats. To become more aware of these principles you might compare them to those of the terrestrial habitats 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. Distinguish between competitive and symbiotic interactions of marine species.
  2. Describe how organisms interact with their environments as individuals, populations, and species.
  3. Identify the processes which occur in successful ecological systems.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the major types of competition and give examples of each.
  2. Distinguish between commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism and be able to recognize examples of each.
  3. Identify and describe the levels of biological organization that are included in the study of ecology.
  4. Explain how individuals and populations respond to environmental factors.
  5. Analyze a marine food web and describe its trophic structure.
  6. Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem while materials are recycled.


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:
8.1 Species Interactions: Chapter 10
8.2 Ecological Organization: Chapter 10
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
8.1 Species Interactions: Plates 91 to 99
8.2 Ecological Organization: None
   
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 8 Marine Ecology
 



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 8.1 Species Interactions
Notes 8.2 Ecological Organization
   
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 8 Marine Ecology
   
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 8.1 Marine Habitats
Lab Activity 8.2 Marine Ecosystems
Lab Activity 8.3 Marine Symbiosis
Lab Activity 8.4 Marine Food Webs
   
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 8 Marine Ecology



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 8 Marine Ecology
   
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 8 Marine Ecology
   
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 8 Marine Ecology



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 8 Marine Ecology



Related Web Sites

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

Marine Fisheries Food Webs

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?