Ocean Ecosystems Simulation: Birds Activity One Introduction The frigate bird is a consumer in this warm ocean ecosystem. Adults have a wing span ranging from 3 to 7 _ feet (1 to 2.5 meters), depending on the family. The largest family is also called the Man o' War bird. They only weigh 2 to 3 pounds, which allows them to glide long distances and fly for days without coming to land. Adults only stay on land when breeding, so they have no natural predators after its juvenile stage. A frigate gets all its food while flying. Its long-hooked beak is ideally suited for both catching prey and for stealing from other birds. They do not land on water, but typically glide just above the water and pick out fish, small octopus, and young turtles that are near the surface. Directions One area where frigate birds like to soar over is coral reefs. Using the Ocean Ecosystems simulation, observe how the frigate bird would be affected by an increase in the shark population in this coral reef system. Procedure From the Main Screen select the Simulations icon. Then click the Ocean Ecosystems icon. Read Start Here and close the window. For more information, click Background and close the window. For detailed directions, click Help and read "How to Use this Simulation." Go to Producer/Consumer Populations. Click on increase tiger shark from the pull down choices. Do not make a change under Water Temperature or to Negative Human Behavior. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. Carefully observe as the ecosystem changes. Describe the changes observed in the reef ecosystem. You may need to repeat the steps to compare changes.

How will this change affect the frigate bird? Why?

What do you think will happen to the frigate birds that eat at this coral reef?

Ocean Ecosystems Simulation: Birds Activity Two Introduction When an ecosystem is in balance, the organisms in that system will grow, reproduce, and die in a manner that maintains the system. Organisms include consumers, producers, and decomposers. Some organisms, such as the parrot fish in this simulation, are both a consumer and producer. The parrot fish eat algae and other tiny organisms, while serving as food for larger fish and marine mammals. Directions Using the Ocean Ecosystems simulation, observe how a change in the population of parrot fish affects the energy flow in system. Procedure 1. Read Start Here and close the window. For more information, click Background and close the window. For detailed directions, click Help and read "How to Use this Simulation." 2. Go to Producer/Consumer Populations. Click on increase parrot fish from the pull down choices. Do not make a change under Water temperature or to Negative Human Behavior. 3. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. Watch carefully as the ecosystem changes. 4. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem. You may need to click on the Reset button and watch again to compare the reef before and after the change.

5. What do you predict will happen to the reef system if no additional predators for the parrot fish come into the system?

6. Observe what happens to the reef system when the parrot fish population decreases. Again holding the human activity and water temperature constant, go back to Producer/Consumer Populations and click on "decrease parrot fish" from the pull down choices. 7. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. 8. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem.

9. What other species might be affected by this decrease in parrot fish population?

Ocean Ecosystems Simulation: Ecology Activity One Introduction When an ecosystem is in balance, the organisms in that system will grow, reproduce, and die in a manner that maintains the system. Organisms include consumers, producers, and decomposers. Some organisms, such as the parrot fish in this simulation, are both a consumer and producer. The parrot fish eat algae and other tiny organisms, while serving as food for larger fish and marine mammals. Directions Using the Ocean Ecosystems simulation, observe how a change in the population of parrot fish affects the energy flow in system. Procedure 1. Read Start Here and close the window. For more information, click Background and close the window. For detailed directions, click Help and read "How to Use this Simulation." 2. Go to Producer/Consumer Populations. Click on increase parrot fish from the pull down choices. Do not make a change under Water temperature or to Negative Human Behavior. 3. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. Watch carefully as the ecosystem changes. 4. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem. You may need to click on the Reset button and watch again to compare the reef before and after the change.

5. What do you predict will happen to the reef system if no additional predators for the parrot fish come into the system?

6. Observe what happens to the reef system when the parrot fish population decreases. Again holding the human activity and water temperature constant, go back to Producer/Consumer Populations and click on decrease parrot fish from the pull down choices. 7. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. 8. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem.

9. What other species might be affected by this decrease in parrot fish population?

Ocean Ecosystems Simulation: Ecology Activity Two Introduction Temperature is one of the abiotic factors in an ecosystem. Temperature change in the Earth's oceans is a growing area of study. Some changes are seasonal, while others appear to be the result of climate change. What we do know is that temperature changes affect many organisms in an ocean ecosystem, staring with the microscopic plankton and algae. Plankton is microscopic organisms that float freely with ocean currents. Plankton forms the first link in marine food chains, providing food for many larger organisms, including larger plankton. Phytoplankton is the primary producers in an ocean ecosystem. They use chlorophyll to convert energy from the sun into carbohydrates. Zooplankton is microscopic animals that eat other plankton. Directions Using the Ocean Ecosystems simulation, observe how changes in temperature affect the system when there are no other changes and when the fish populations changes. Procedure 1. What do you predict will happen to the reef system when the temperature increases and there are no other changes?

2. Read Start Here and close the window. For more information, click Background and close the window. For detailed directions, click Help and read "How to Use this Simulation." 3. Go to the Water Temperature button. Select increase temperature from the pull-down menu. Do not make any additional changes. 4. Carefully observe, then describe the change in the reef ecosystem. Compare these to your predictions.

5. What do you predict will happen when the temperature increases and there are no other changes?

6. Click on the Reset button. Go to the Water Temperature button. Select decrease temperature from the pull-down menu. Do not make any additional changes. 7. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem. Compare these to your predictions.

8. What could be an explanation for a seasonal increase in water temperature?

9. What could be an explanation for a climatic increase in water temperature?

10. Predict what will happen to the reef ecosystem when human activity increases when there is also an increase in water temperature?

11. Click on the Reset button. Go to the Water temperature button. Select increase temperature from the pull-down menu. Go to the Negative Human Activity button. Select high activity form the pull down menu. Make no changes to the Producer/Consumer Populations. 12. Describe the change in the reef ecosystem. Compare these to your predictions.

13. Develop an explanation for the results observed.

14. What conservation measures could be taken to prevent further damage to the ocean ecosystem under these conditions?

Ocean Ecosystems Simulation: Fish and Amphibians Activity One Introduction The tiger shark is a solitary predator. Its preferred food is fish, turtles, crabs, clams, mammals, sea birds, reptiles, other sharks, and just about anything else that it can catch alive. Tiger sharks have been known to kill humans for food. Tiger shark teeth are very serrated (saw-edged), razorsharp, and curved. When teeth are lost or broken, they are replaced by new teeth. Young sharks are prey for larger fish, other sharks, and marine mammals. Very large sharks and humans are the only predators for the adult tiger shark. Tiger sharks are usually about 10 feet or 3 meters in length but can grow to more than 6 meters or 20 feet. They have tiger-like markings on a dark back with an off-white underbelly. Tiger sharks have excellent eyesight and an exceptionally keen sense of smell, with almost 2/3 of its brain dedicated to processing information about what it smells. It also has electroreceptors that allow it to sense small movements in its prey, which aids in locating prey. Directions Using the Ocean Ecosystems simulation, explore how changes in the tiger shark population affect the coral reef ecosystem. As a consumer, changes in the ecosystem can also have an effect on the tiger shark. Explore how changes in temperature and human activity affect the tiger sharks. Procedure 1. Read Start Here and close the window. For more information, click Background and close the window. For detailed directions, click Help and read "How to Use this Simulation." 2. Go to Producer/Consumer Populations. Click on increase tiger shark from the pull down choices. Do not make a change under Water Temperature or to Negative Human Behavior. 3. Click on the View Ecosystem Change button. Describe the changes observed in the reef ecosystem.

4. Now decrease the tiger shark population. Describe the changes observed.

5. Click on the Reset button to return the ecosystem to a stable state. Go to Negative Human Behavior and click on high activity from the pull down menu. 6. Describe how this increase in negative human behavior affects the tiger shark.