Chapter 3: Estuaries

Where freshwater meets the sea!

Assignment #1: What are estuaries?

Step 1: Watch the video on estuaries (Take notes)

Step 2: Complete the What are estuaries web quest.

Provide answers in the boxes on the document provided.

Assignment #2: Science Journal #4

Step 1: Answer the following questions:

1. Why is learning about estuaries important? (One paragraph)
2. What is an ecosystem? Use an estuary as an example (One paragraph)
3. What are biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem? Provide your own definitions and examples (One paragraph)

*You may use the image to the right to help you.

*Work cited if outside sources are used.

Assignment #3: Exploring a NERR Brochure

Step 1: In pairs (Groups of 2), complete the procedure for Exploring a NERR

NOTE: This assignment is to create a brochure about a NERR (you may need to find information about this) to persuade your classmates to visit.

Assignment #4: Science Journal #5

Answer the following question:

1. Do marine or terrestrial (land) ecosystems contribute more to the biosphere? Why? (one to two paragraphs, 5 to 8 sentences per paragraph)
2. How much does an estuary contribute to the biosphere? How does this relate to the importance of estuaries? (One paragraph)

Biosphere: "the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms." - Websters Dictionary

*Work cited if outside sources are used.

Assignment #5: How do organisms survive in an estuary?

Step 1: Read and take notes on the Survival in an Estuary Reading (right)

NOTE: Italicized sentences are new information

Step 2: Complete the Survival in an Estuary worksheet

Provide answers in the boxes on the document provided.

Assignment #6: Estuary Organism Biography

Step 1: In pairs or individually, choose one organism from list below [NO REPEATS IN CLASS]

• Blue Crab, Green Crab, Horseshoe Crab, Barnacles, American Eel, River Herring, Stripped Bass, Atlantic Sturgeon, Atlantic Salmon, Dogfish, Blue Mussel, American Oyster, Periwinkle Snail, Eelgrass, Glasswort, Mangrove, Dog Whelk, Hermit Crab (Pagurus sp.), Brown Sea Kelp, Sea Lettuce, Sea Celery

Step 2: Research information on your organism (Suggested topics for research below)

• Preferred habitat (water quality parameters)
• Life cycle
• Primary and secondary food sources
• Invasive or endangered species or none?
• Adaptations to changes in conditions in the estuary and living in an aquatic environment (2 adaptations)
• Influence on estuary food web

Step 3: Create a species biography with a Google Doc (newspaper formatting)

Requirements:

• One image of your organism in their natural habitat
• Written information on species (use rubric and suggested research to guide you)
• Work cited (in text citations and work cited) with two resources

Assignment #7: Stewardship and NEERs worksheet

Step 1: Complete the Stewardship and NERRs worksheet

Provide answers in the boxes on the document provided.

Step 2: Science Journal #6

In one to two paragraphs (5 to 8 sentences each) addressing the following questions:

1. How are estuaries affected by humans?
2. How do you affect estuaries?
3. What can you do to help estuaries around you? (We live in an estuary!!!)

NOTE: The score from the Stewardship and NERRs will be added to SJ #6