Exercise #6 – Page 1 of 3
(E6) Exercise #6: Classifying Marine Life
Goals
The purpose of this exercise is to practice classification of marine life in a variety of ways, including taxonomic classification, classifcation by habitat and mobility, and classificaiton by biozone. Further, you will explore adaptations of specific marine organisms for life in their environment .
The Data
For this exercise, we will be using the MarineBio.org species database, and other online sources, to examine marine life. MarineBio.org is a marine conservation and science education organization with a mission to educate readers about marine life and the marine environment. We will be using the organization’s Species Database to research several marine organisms: http://marinebio.org/search/ Dolphin (Pacific White-sided dolphins)
In the search field of http://marinebio.org/search, enter the term “Pacific white-sided dolphin”. Choose
the first entry for “Pacific white-sided dolphins”.
1. What is the taxonomic classification of Pacific white-sided dolphins? You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.
2. Where (generally) are Pacific white-sided dolphins found? (click the link under “World Range and Habitat” called OBIS Distribution Map to see a map of where these organisms are found)
3. What is the feeding behavior of the Pacific white-sided dolphin?
4. Are Pacific white-sided dolphins considered plankton, nekton, or benthos?
5. Are Pacific white-sided dolphins pelagic or benthic organisms?
6. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what biozone(s) would we most likely find Pacific white-sided dolphins? If you answered “benthic” to question 5, choose from the benthic biozones. If you chose “pelagic” for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.
Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following question:
7. What are TWO adaptations of Pacific White-Sided dolphins for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Pacific White-Sided dolphins. Prepare your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.
Exercise #6 – Page 2 of 3
Sea Urchin (Red Sea Urchin)
In the search field of http://marinebio.org/search, enter the term “Red Sea Urchin”. Choose the first entry
for “Red Sea Urchin”
8. What is the taxonomic classification of the Red Sea Urchin?
You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus and Species.
9. Where (generally) are Red Sea Urchins found? (click the link
under “World Range and Habitat” called OBIS Distribution Map
to see a map of where these organisms are found)
10. What is the feeding behavior of the Red Sea Urchin?
11. Are Red Sea Urchins considered plankton, nekton, or
benthos?
12. Are Red Sea Urchins pelagic or benthic organisms?
13. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what
biozone(s) would we most likely find Red Sea Urchins? If you answered “benthic” to question 5,
choose from the benthic biozones. If you chose “pelagic” for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.
Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following question:
14. What are TWO adaptations of Red Sea Urchins for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of
your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Red Sea Urchins. Prepare your
answer in complete sentences, in your own words.
Moon Jellyfish
In the search field of http://marinebio.org/search, enter the term “Moon Jellyfish”. Choose the first entry
for “Moon Jellyfish”
15. What is the taxonomic classification of the Moon Jellyfish?
You should report the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus and Species.
16. Where (generally) are Moon Jellyfish found? (click the link
under “World Range and Habitat” called OBIS Distribution Map
to see a map of where these organisms are found)
17. What is the feeding behavior of the Moon Jellyfish?
18. Are Moon Jellyfish considered plankton, nekton, or benthos?
19. Are Moon Jellyfish pelagic or benthic organisms?
20. Based on your answer to the previous question, and Figure 12.25 on page 380 of your text, what
biozone(s) would we most likely find Moon Jellyfish? If you answered “benthic” to question 5, choose
from the benthic biozones. If you chose “pelagic” for number 5, choose from the pelagic zones.
Do some research online (use quality sources) to answer the following questions:
21. What are TWO adaptations of Moon Jellyfish for living in their environment? See Section 12.4 of
your text for help with this, but make sure your answer is specific to Moon Jellyfiss. Prepare your answer
in complete sentences, in your own words.
Exercise #6 – Page 3 of 3
EXTRA CREDIT: Emiliania huxeyi
To the right, you see a microscope image of an organism of the genus and species: Emiliania huxleyi. I
would like you to try to learn more about this species. Do some research online and answer the following
questions about Emiliania huxleyi. (NOTE: The
marinebio.org site does NOT have information on this
organism – you will have to research quality sources
to determine the answer to these questions.
22. What is the common name of Emiliania
huxleyi? (1 point)
23. Is Emiliania huxleyi considered plankton,
nekton, or benthos? (1 point)
24. In what biozone would we most likely find
Emiliania huxleyi? (use Figure 12.25 to help
you)(1 point)
25. What is the importance of Emiliania huxleyi in
the oceanic ecosystem? (2 points) Prepare
your answer in complete sentences, in your own words.
Submitting your answers
You will submit your answers to this exercise in a Quiz called (E6) Exercise #6 Quiz. Here are a few
details on the quiz:
You will have 60 minutes to complete the quiz from the time you open it. COMPLETE THE EXERCISE
QUESTIONS BEFORE OPENING THE QUIZ!
The password for this quiz is oceanlife
Work through the quiz by answering the questions with a paragraph response. You will be answering
all of the questions in the Quizzes tool.
o You will enter your answers to questions 1-6, 8-13, 15-20, and 22-24 by choosing the answer
that most closely matches your own from a list of choices.
o You will enter your answers to questions 7, 14, 21, and 25 as short answer responses.
Your instructor will manually grade parts of this quiz. You may not see a score immediately. Once your
instructor finishes grading this exercise you will receive a notification advising you that feedback is ready
to view.
