Marine Life Matters

🎓 Audience

Education: Grade(s) 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 Overview: Sharks, sea turtles, manatees, and corals are at risk due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Learners are invited to share what they already know about these threats, setting the stage for deeper exploration.

• Segment 1 - Conservation: Learn how Mote researchers research, rescue, and protect sea turtles, responding to strandings and studying their life cycles.

• Segment 2 - Restoration: Explore our extensive coral reef restoration programs and the innovative techniques of microfragmentation, diversifying genotypes, and outplanting.

• Segment 3 - Monitoring: From satellite tags to global surveys, Mote researchers use an researchers use technology to track shark populations and monitor manatee health.

• Questions and Answers: Wrap up with a live Q&A session where learners can ask questions about sharks, sea turtles, manatees, or corals.

🎯 Objectives

1. Recognize the different threats facing sharks, sea turtles, manatees, and corals.

2. Describe how conservation, restoration, and monitoring programs protect marine species and habitats.

3. Explore how scientists use data and technology to guide recovery and ensure future ocean health.

4. Identify community conservation and personal actions that can help protect marine species.

✏️ Standards this program supports

Next Generation Science Standards

• ESS3C 6–8 — Human impacts on Earth systems. Learners examine how pollution, marine debris, and unsustainable practices affect ocean health, and explore how individuals and communities can reduce their ecological footprint through conservation action.

• ESS3C 9–12 — Human impacts on Earth systems. Learners evaluate the cumulative effects of human activities—such as plastic pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change—on marine ecosystems, and assess how science-based policy and restoration strategies mitigate these impacts.

• ESS3D 6–8 — Global climate change. Learners explore how rising ocean temperatures and sea level affect marine life, including the migration patterns, reproductive success, and survival of keystone species like sea turtles and manatees.

• ESS3D 9–12 — Global climate change. Learners investigate how climate change alters marine biodiversity and ecosystem stability, using scientific models and data to understand species vulnerability and resilience in a changing ocean.

• ETS1B 6–8 — Developing possible solutions. Learners discover how scientists and engineers develop tools and technologies to track marine animals, clean marine debris, and restore habitats, applying the engineering design process to solve real-world conservation problems.

• ETS1B 9–12 — Developing possible solutions. Learners assess innovative solutions such as biodegradable materials, satellite tagging, and artificial reefs, evaluating their effectiveness in mitigating human impacts and supporting marine conservation.

• LS2A 6–8 — Interdependent relationships in ecosystems. Learners analyze how species like sharks, corals, and sea turtles interact with their habitats and each other, and how disruptions to these relationships can affect the balance of marine ecosystems.

• LS2A 9–12 — Interdependent relationships in ecosystems. Learners evaluate food web dynamics and species interactions in marine ecosystems, exploring how the loss or recovery of one species can cascade through the entire ecological community.

• LS2C 6–8 — Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience. Learners investigate how ecosystems respond to disturbances such as pollution or species decline, and explore how marine habitats recover when protected and restored.

• LS2C 9–12 — Ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience. Learners examine coral bleaching, habitat fragmentation, and marine protected areas to evaluate how ecosystems adapt or collapse in response to environmental stressors.

• LS4D 6–8 — Biodiversity and humans. Learners explore why marine biodiversity matters to ecosystem health, fisheries, and coastal communities, and how protecting species and habitats benefits both people and the planet.

• LS4D 9–12 — Biodiversity and humans. Learners assess the ethical, ecological, and economic value of marine biodiversity, examining how conservation strategies aim to preserve species richness and ecosystem services in the face of human threats.

Ocean Literacy Principles

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

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

UN SDGs

• 13 - Climate Action

• 14 - Life Below Water

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)

• SC.6.N.1.5 – Recognize that science involves creativity, not just in designing experiments, but also in creating explanations that fit evidence. Application: Learners explore how scientists develop tools and methods like microfragmentation, turtle tagging, and remote shark monitoring systems to study and protect marine species.

• SC.7.E.6.6 – Identify the impact that humans have had on Earth, such as deforestation, urbanization, desertification, erosion, air and water quality, and changing the flow of water. Application: Learners examine how coastal development, pollution, and boat traffic affect sea turtles, coral reefs, sharks, and manatees, and how conservation efforts reduce those impacts.

• SC.7.L.16.4 – Recognize and explore how gene expression can be influenced by environmental factors such as light, temperature, or chemical exposure. Application: Learners investigate how environmental conditions influence coral resilience and sea turtle hatchling survival.

• SC.7.L.17.1 – Explain and illustrate the roles of and relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in food webs. Application: Learners explore the ecological roles of sharks, sea turtles, and manatees in maintaining balanced marine ecosystems.

• SC.7.L.17.3 – Describe and investigate various limiting factors in ecosystems and their impact on native populations, including food, shelter, water, space, disease, parasitism, predation, and nesting sites. Application: Learners analyze how nesting beaches, reef habitats, and seagrass beds influence species survival and reproductive success.

• SC.912.L.17.1 – Discuss the characteristics of populations, such as number of individuals, age structure, density, and pattern of distribution. Application: Learners interpret population data from sea turtle nest monitoring, coral restoration sites, and manatee surveys.

• SC.912.L.17.3 – Describe how interactions among organisms and the environment help shape ecosystems. Application: Learners explore how grazing by manatees, coral-algae symbiosis, and shark predation influence ecosystem structure.

• SC.912.L.17.8 – Recognize the consequences of the loss of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species. Application: Learners analyze how species loss affects reef ecosystems and what conservation measures support biodiversity recovery.

• SC.912.L.17.13 – Discuss the need for adequate monitoring of environmental parameters when making policy decisions. Application: Learners explore how monitoring sea turtle nests, coral outplants, and manatee sightings helps guide management decisions.

• SC.912.L.17.16 – Discuss the large-scale environmental impacts resulting from human activity, including waste spills, oil spills, runoff, greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and water pollution. Application: Learners evaluate how pollution affects marine species and how clean water initiatives support ecosystem recovery.

• SC.912.L.17.17 – Assess the effectiveness of innovative methods of protecting the environment. Application: Learners assess techniques like coral microfragmentation, satellite tracking, and boat speed zones to protect vulnerable marine species.

• SC.912.L.17.20 – Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems. Application: Learners reflect on how personal actions like reducing plastic use, supporting habitat conservation, and responsible boating contribute to marine conservation.

• aerial survey: A method of observing and collecting data about wildlife or habitats from an aircraft, often used to count animals like manatees or sea turtles.

• apex predator: A top predator in a food chain that has no natural predators, such as sharks.

• bleaching: A stress response in corals caused by changes like warmer water, where corals expel the algae they depend on and turn white.

• catch limit: A regulation that sets the maximum number of a species that can be caught to help maintain healthy populations.

• climate change: Long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns.

• conservation: The protection and preservation of natural resources and wildlife to prevent their extinction and maintain ecological balance.

• dorsal fin: The fin located on the back of marine animals like sharks, used for stability while swimming.

• ecology: The branch of biology that studies the relationships between living organisms and their interactions with their environment.

• endangered species: Species that are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, environmental changes, or other threats.

• extinction: The permanent disappearance of a species when the last individual dies.

• false crawl: When a sea turtle comes ashore but returns to the water without laying eggs.

• finning: The practice of removing fins from sharks and discarding the rest of the body, often illegal and harmful to shark populations.

• fragmentation: A coral restoration technique where coral pieces are broken into smaller fragments to grow and later reattach to reefs.

• genotype: The genetic identity of an organism, often used in coral research to study diversity and resilience.

• Global FinPrint: An international research initiative aimed at surveying and understanding the status of reef shark populations worldwide to inform conservation strategies.

• habitat: The natural environment where a species lives, including the physical and biological factors necessary for its survival.

• hatchery: A controlled environment where animals like fish are bred and raised to support population recovery.

• hatchling: A newly emerged young animal, such as a baby sea turtle that has just hatched from its egg.

• marine ecosystem: A complex network of interacting organisms and their physical environment in the ocean, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.

• modeling: The use of simulations or representations, often computer-based, to predict environmental changes or animal behavior.

• monitoring: The systematic observation and assessment of environmental conditions and wildlife populations to track changes and guide conservation efforts.

• outplanting: The process of transplanting young corals grown in nurseries back onto damaged reefs to help restore them.

• photo ID: A method of identifying individual animals by unique features, such as scars or markings, using photographs.

• population dynamics: The study of how populations of species change over time and space due to births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.

• prop scars: Injuries caused to manatees by boat propellers, often leaving permanent marks on their backs.

• rehabilitation: The care and treatment of injured or sick animals with the goal of restoring them to health and releasing them back into the wild.

• resilience: The ability of an organism or ecosystem to recover from stress, disturbance, or environmental change.

• restoration: The process of returning degraded or damaged ecosystems to their original condition to improve ecological health and biodiversity.

• spawning: The release of eggs and sperm into the water by marine animals, like fish or corals, to reproduce.

• sustainable: Capable of being maintained over time without depleting resources or harming the environment.

• tagging: Attaching a device to an animal to help scientists track its movements, behavior, or health.

• tracking: Following the movements of animals over time using tools like satellite tags, acoustic transmitters, or photo ID.

Play Career Bingo

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

• Online

• On paper/PDF

🌐 Websites

• Coral Reef Restoration

• Manatee Research

• Sarasota Dolphin Research Program

• Sea Turtle Conservation & Research

• Seagrass Ecosystem Restoration Research Program

• Sharks & Rays Conservation Research

📰 Mote News

• New study finds global reef shark conservation depends on a combination of protected areas and national fisheries management

• Mote 40-year study attests to the effectiveness of ongoing sea turtle conservation

• Mote Marine Laboratory releases rehabilitated sea turtle “Lil’ Dougie”

• Mote Leads Successful Sensor Deployment Initiative to Improve Coral Reef Acidification Monitoring

• First rescued sawfish receiving critical care at Mote

🖥️ Videos

• Changing Seas: Corals in Crisis

• Changing Seas: Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea

• Changing Seas: Saving Florida's Starving Manatees

• Changing Seas: Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings