An image of a fish

Lesson 9 - Seashore Communities

Introduction

In this lesson you will be studying sandy and rocky shore communities.
 
Getting Started Now we will examine the general ecology of sandy beaches and rocky coasts. These seashore environments are the marine habitats most widely used by people for recreation. Most people, even Arizona desert dwellers, have taken a trip to a sandy beach during their lifetimes. We will study the margins of the sea where it meets the land and how the gravitational pull of the moon and sun peal back the waters each day exposing a thin strip of the sea bottom for our inspection. Our studies will include an examination of the basic biotic and abiotic characteristics of sandy beaches and rocky intertidal environments. We will study the benthos that dwell permanently in them and some of the nekton that visit them.

The nature of seashore environments are heavily influenced by the land. Both biotic, living, and abiotic, nonliving, factors are effected. Seashore organisms are well adapted for living in an environment that has characteristics that are both terrestrial and marine. They have unique characteristics that allow them to survive in this in between world.


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. Relate the mode of action of tides, waves, and currents to the effects they have on shoreline features.
  2. Describe the relationship between the biotic and abiotic portions of the environment on rocky and sandy shores.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the nature of tides and waves and the impact they have on rocky and sandy shores.
  2. Explain how the exposure gradient is produced in the intertidal and the effect it has on the distribution of organisms.
  3. Distinguish between the major physical features that characterize rocky and sandy shore habitats.
  4. Compare and contrast the flora and fauna of rocky and sandy shore habitats.


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:
9.1 Rocky Shores: Chapter 11
9.2 Sandy Shores: Chapter 11
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
9.1 Rocky Shores: Plates 3 to 6 and 112
9.2 Sandy Shores: Plates 7 to 10
   
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 9 Seashore Communities
 



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 9.1 Rocky Shores
Notes 9.2 Sandy Shores
   
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 9 Seashore Communities
   
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 9.1 Beachrock Seashores
Lab Activity 9.2 Beachrock Microhabitats
Lab Activity 9.3 Tidepool Microhabitats
Lab Activity 9.4 Boulder Microhabitats
   
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 9 Beachrock Seashore Community



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 9 Seashore Communities
   
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 9 Seashore Communities
   
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 9 Beachrock Seashore Community



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 9 Seashore Communities



Related Web Sites

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

Explore the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?