Student Exploration: Coral Reefs 1 – Abiotic Factors
Horvema Reneze, Tyler Smith, jesus serrano
Vocabulary: consumer, coral, coral bleaching, coral reef, filter feeder, food chain, food web,
grazer, nutrients, ocean acidification, pH, plankton, predator, producer, sediment, zooxanthellae
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE
using the Gizmo.)
1. Look at the graph to the right. What does it show?
it shows a decrease in coral reefs % over time
m
er as
2. Why do you think corals have declined since 1977?
co
They have decreased because the conditions, fishing, land use, and invasive species.
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
Gizmo Warm-up
aC s
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse habitats on
vi y re
Earth, home to over a quarter of all marine species. The
Coral Reefs Gizmo™ provides a simplified model of
interactions among 10 key species in Caribbean reefs. In
the Coral Reefs 1 exploration, you will focus on the effects
ed d
of environmental factors on Caribbean reefs.
ar stu
1. Click Advance year 10 times. Look carefully at the composition of the reef over time. Do
you see any major changes?
is
no, not reely i see th same fish/turtle.
Th
2. Select the DATA tab. Check that Staghorn coral, Star coral, Sponges, and Algae are
selected. Populations are given as a percentage of normal populations.
sh
Click Advance year 15 times. What do you notice about these populations?
They are staying the same
3. On the right side of the Gizmo, select the SUMMARY tab. In a healthy reef, what are the
values for Nutrient load, Water clarity, Coral cover, and the total number of fish species?
4ppt, 94% water clarity, 49% coral cover
This study source was downloaded by 100000823518935 from CourseHero.com on 08-16-2021 20:23:52 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28847719/Coral-Reefs-1-Gizmo-Abiotic-Factorsdocx/
, Nutrient load: Water clarity: Coral cover: Total fish species:
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● On the CONDITIONS tab, click Return to original
The Caribbean
settings. Click Restart.
reef ecosystem
● Select the CORAL REEF tab.
Introduction: A healthy Caribbean reef is home to over 50 species of coral and over 400 fish
species. In this simplified model, we only consider the interactions of ten important species.
Question: How do different species interact in a healthy coral reef?
1. Describe: On the CORAL REEF tab, click on each organism shown in the table below. For
each organism, give its name and what it eats (or how it obtains energy).
m
Picture Name What it eats (or how it obtains energy)
er as
co
staghorn coral by photosynthesis
eH w
o.
boulder star coral by photosynthesis
rs e
ou urc
sponges consume plankton
o
Algea Photosynthesis
aC s
vi y re
stop light algea and coral
queen angelfish sponges
ed d
ar stu
yellowtail snapper young fish, shrimp, crabs, worms.
is
Nassua Grouper Reef Fish
Th
long spined sea urchine alge
sh
hawksbill sea turtle sponges
This study source was downloaded by 100000823518935 from CourseHero.com on 08-16-2021 20:23:52 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28847719/Coral-Reefs-1-Gizmo-Abiotic-Factorsdocx/
Horvema Reneze, Tyler Smith, jesus serrano
Vocabulary: consumer, coral, coral bleaching, coral reef, filter feeder, food chain, food web,
grazer, nutrients, ocean acidification, pH, plankton, predator, producer, sediment, zooxanthellae
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE
using the Gizmo.)
1. Look at the graph to the right. What does it show?
it shows a decrease in coral reefs % over time
m
er as
2. Why do you think corals have declined since 1977?
co
They have decreased because the conditions, fishing, land use, and invasive species.
eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
o
Gizmo Warm-up
aC s
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse habitats on
vi y re
Earth, home to over a quarter of all marine species. The
Coral Reefs Gizmo™ provides a simplified model of
interactions among 10 key species in Caribbean reefs. In
the Coral Reefs 1 exploration, you will focus on the effects
ed d
of environmental factors on Caribbean reefs.
ar stu
1. Click Advance year 10 times. Look carefully at the composition of the reef over time. Do
you see any major changes?
is
no, not reely i see th same fish/turtle.
Th
2. Select the DATA tab. Check that Staghorn coral, Star coral, Sponges, and Algae are
selected. Populations are given as a percentage of normal populations.
sh
Click Advance year 15 times. What do you notice about these populations?
They are staying the same
3. On the right side of the Gizmo, select the SUMMARY tab. In a healthy reef, what are the
values for Nutrient load, Water clarity, Coral cover, and the total number of fish species?
4ppt, 94% water clarity, 49% coral cover
This study source was downloaded by 100000823518935 from CourseHero.com on 08-16-2021 20:23:52 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28847719/Coral-Reefs-1-Gizmo-Abiotic-Factorsdocx/
, Nutrient load: Water clarity: Coral cover: Total fish species:
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● On the CONDITIONS tab, click Return to original
The Caribbean
settings. Click Restart.
reef ecosystem
● Select the CORAL REEF tab.
Introduction: A healthy Caribbean reef is home to over 50 species of coral and over 400 fish
species. In this simplified model, we only consider the interactions of ten important species.
Question: How do different species interact in a healthy coral reef?
1. Describe: On the CORAL REEF tab, click on each organism shown in the table below. For
each organism, give its name and what it eats (or how it obtains energy).
m
Picture Name What it eats (or how it obtains energy)
er as
co
staghorn coral by photosynthesis
eH w
o.
boulder star coral by photosynthesis
rs e
ou urc
sponges consume plankton
o
Algea Photosynthesis
aC s
vi y re
stop light algea and coral
queen angelfish sponges
ed d
ar stu
yellowtail snapper young fish, shrimp, crabs, worms.
is
Nassua Grouper Reef Fish
Th
long spined sea urchine alge
sh
hawksbill sea turtle sponges
This study source was downloaded by 100000823518935 from CourseHero.com on 08-16-2021 20:23:52 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28847719/Coral-Reefs-1-Gizmo-Abiotic-Factorsdocx/
