Coral Curiosity

🎓 Audience

Education: Grade(s) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Teacher(s)/Educator(s), Parent, Adult Learners, Homeschool/Family , Learning Pod; Public Library: Library Patrons, Library Staff

 🐾 Topics

Career & Technical Education (CTE), Economics/Business, Health & Physical Education, Industrial Technology, Professional Development, Science, STEM, Technology/Information Science

🗂️ Format

• Introduction and Prior Knowledge: Introduction to corals, discussing their importance in marine ecosystems and inviting participants to share any facts or questions they may have.

• Segment 1 - Meet Our Corals: Meet the corals at Mote, learning about their roles in marine ecosystems and the various species found on reefs.

• Video 1 - Coral Restoration Efforts: Short video is shown, highlighting Mote’s efforts in breeding resilient corals and restoring damaged reefs.

• Segment 2 - The Science of Corals: Dive into the science behind coral health, exploring topics like climate change, ocean acidification, and their impact on coral reefs.

• Video 2 - Coral Symbiosis: A second short video showcases other animals at Mote that depend on coral reefs for their survival, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts.

• Segment 3 - Questions and Answers: We conclude with a Q&A session, allowing participants to ask questions and engage in discussions about corals and marine conservation.

• Segments may vary due to weather and veterinary priorities. We will make every effort to deliver the segments as described but may use a combination of live and recorded video when necessary.

🎯 Objectives

1. Identify the critical role corals play in marine ecosystems, including their impact on biodiversity and coastline protection.

2. Explore various coral species and recognize the challenges they face due to environmental changes such as climate change and ocean acidification.

3. Watch and analyze videos on coral restoration efforts to understand the scientific methods used to restore damaged reefs.

4. Ask questions and engage in discussions during the Q&A session to enhance their knowledge of coral conservation and the ongoing research at Mote.

✏️ Standards this program supports

• LS2C 3–5 –– Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience. Learners explore how coral reefs provide food, shelter, and stability to countless marine organisms and what happens to these ecosystems when corals are stressed or damaged.

• LS2C 6–8 –– Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience. Learners examine how coral bleaching, pollution, and other environmental stressors impact reef health and how these changes affect the overall balance and resilience of the marine ecosystem.

• LS2C 9–12 –– Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience. Learners analyze coral reefs as complex, dynamic systems and evaluate how disruptions—such as climate change, ocean acidification, and human activity—can lead to long-term shifts in ecosystem structure and function.

• Ocean Literacy Principles

  1. Ocean Literacy Principle #3 – The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

  2. Ocean Literacy Principle #5 – The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

  3. Ocean Literacy Principle #6 – The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

• UN SDGs

  1. 13 - Climate Action

  2. 14 - Life Below Water

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)

• SC.3.L.15.1 – Classify animals into major groups based on physical characteristics and behaviors. Application: Learners identify corals as invertebrates, their classification as cnidarians, and how they differ from other marine animals.

• SC.4.L.17.4 – Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment. Application: The program discusses how corals and marine life interact with their environment and the effects of human activities on coral reefs.

• SC.5.L.15.1 – Describe how, when the environment changes, differences between individuals allow some plants and animals to survive and reproduce while others die or move to new locations. Application: Learners examine coral adaptation and resilience in changing marine environments.

• SC.6.L.15.1 – Analyze how organisms are classified based on shared characteristics. Application: Learners examine corals within the Linnaean classification system and their distinguishing biological traits.

• SC.7.L.17.3 – Describe limiting factors in an ecosystem and their impact on populations. Application: The program investigates factors affecting coral populations, such as water quality, habitat availability, and disease.

• SC.8.N.4.2 – Explain how political, social, and economic concerns affect science and vice versa. Application: The program explores how coral reef conservation intersects with tourism, fishing industries, and global climate policies.

• SC.912.L.17.4 – Describe changes in ecosystems resulting from seasonal variations, climate change, and succession. Application: The program addresses how climate change impacts coral reefs and the succession processes within these ecosystems.

• SC.912.L.17.8 – Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species. Application: Learners explore the decline in coral biodiversity and the contributing factors, including human impacts and climate change.

• Biodiversity: The variety of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms within an ecosystem, contributing to the health and stability of the environment.

• Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth, affecting coral reefs through increased sea temperatures and altered weather patterns.

• Coral Bleaching: A phenomenon where corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white due to stress factors like elevated sea temperatures, leading to the loss of their symbiotic algae.

• Coral Reef: A diverse underwater ecosystem built from calcium carbonate structures secreted by coral polyps, which provides habitat and protection for many marine species.

• Ecological Service: The benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, such as coastal protection, tourism opportunities, and resources like fish and pharmaceuticals, provided by healthy coral reefs.

• Ocean Acidification: The process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, negatively impacting coral reefs and marine life.

• Restoration: The process of repairing and rehabilitating damaged or degraded coral reefs to restore their health and function in marine ecosystems.

• Resilience: The ability of coral reefs to recover from disturbances and adapt to changes, such as environmental stresses and human impacts.

• Sustainabillity: Taking care of the Earth by using natural resources wisely, so people, animals, and plants (like coral reefs) can stay healthy now and in the future.

• Symbiosis: A close and long-term biological interaction between two different species, such as the mutualistic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae algae, which help corals get nutrients.

• Zooxanthella: Microscopic algae that live within coral polyps and provide essential nutrients to corals through photosynthesis, playing a crucial role in coral health and growth.

Play Coral Bingo

Play virtual bingo using a computer, smartphone or tablet during your program to reinforce key concepts and vocabulary.

• Online

• On paper/PDF

🌐 Websites

• Coral Biobank Alliance

• Mote - Coral Health & Disease

• Mote - Coral Reef Restoration

• Mote - International Coral Gene Bank

• Mote - Ocean Acidification

📚 Books & Publications

• The World of Coral Reefs by Erin T. Spencer (Tundra Books, 2022) – A beautifully illustrated introduction to coral reef ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation for younger readers. https://erintspencer.com/writing/world-of-coral-reefs/

• Science Comics: Coral Reefs by Maris Wicks (First Second, 2016) – A graphic novel-style guide to coral reef science, covering anatomy, ecosystems, and the role of corals in the ocean. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626721456/sciencecomicscoralreefs/

• Coral Reefs: A Natural History by Charles Sheppard (Princeton University Press, 2021) – A comprehensive overview of coral reef biology, geology, and environmental importance, written by a leading coral reef scientist. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691198682/coral-reefs

• Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs by Juli Berwald (Riverhead Books, 2022) – A blend of science journalism and personal narrative that explores the global crisis facing coral reefs and the scientists racing to save them. https://juliberwald.com/life-on-the-rocks/

📰 Mote News

• Mote Marine Laboratory’s International Coral Gene Bank achieves breakthrough coral spawning success with rarely propagated species

• 🪸 Mote Mote News: corals

🖥️ Videos

• Mote Marine Laboratory Florida Keys Coral Nursery. Florida’s coral reefs are down to just 2–3% of their original cover. Mote’s coral nurseries in the Florida Keys are using groundbreaking science—like microfragmentation—to grow corals up to 50× faster and restore reefs for future generations. https://youtu.be/CorEnkwIjA4

• Snacktivity: Coral Outplanting

• Looe Nursery Tour Video

• Behind the Scenes: Corals Up Close

• Behind-the-Scenes: Ocean Acidification

• Behind-the-Scenes: CAOS

• Mote's restored coral spawns on Florida's Coral Reef!

• New coral disease research at Mote Marine Lab

• PBS Changing Planet features Mote’s coral research

• OceanX Reef On Fire: The Strange Disease Spreading through Florida's Corals