2015-2016 Edition Tide Pool Habitat Study
My Name:______
Team Members:
1. ______2. ______3. ______4. ______
Page 1
BEFORE YOU VISIT
Tide pools are pools of water found along the ocean’s edge. There can be crashing waves and changes in water levels caused by the tide.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors of a Tide Pool Habitat Draw a circle around the biotic factors. Draw box around the abiotic factors.
Fish Lobsters Sand Water temperature Zooplankton Plants Shore birds Wind Moss & algae Sea turtles Crabs Waves Rocks Snails
Tide Pool Habitat Pool Tide Salt Water Water depth Clams & muscles Sea stars & urchins Horseshoe crabs Pollution Sunlight Tides
Page 2
Our Habitat – Tide Pool
Goal - Create a fish to live in a tide pool habitat that eats small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Question - What adaptations are needed for a fish to live in a tide pool and eat eats small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks?
Hypothesis - Look at the pictures below. Circle one body shape, one mouth shape, one tail shape, and one coloration pattern to describe how a fish can look to live in a tide pool habitat and eat small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Fish Habitat: Your fish lives in a tide pool. Fish Food: Your fish eats small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Circle the body shape that is best for a fish to live in the tide pool.
Circle the mouth shape that is best for a fish to eat small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Circle the tail shape that is best for a fish to swim between the rocks and plants in a tide pool.
Circle the coloration pattern that will help a fish to hide in a tide pool.
Page 3
Just by looking at (observing) a fish you can learn a lot about how it swims, where it lives, and how it eats.
All fish have special body parts to help it to live in its habitat. These special body parts are called adaptations. Adaptations in fish are special body shapes, mouth shapes, tail shapes, and coloration patterns. You will study these adaptations, like a scientist, and then build a fish with your group.
Your job at the aquarium is to build a fish to live in a tide pool habitat. On your aquarium tour, you will learn how real fish are adapted to live in this habitat.
1. Stay with your assigned group 2. Use an inside voice in the aquarium. 3. Walk in the aquarium. 4. Do not tap, write on, or touch the glass exhibits.
1. Find the fish pictured on pages 5, 6, and 7. Your aquarium guide will help you. 2. Observe each fish in its habitat and answer the questions about its adaptations. 3. Use the Wacky Adaptations Booklet as a guide.
Page 4
Read a Fish
1. The name of this mouth is: ______
2. Observe: Where does this fish swim in the water column? (Circle one) Top Middle Bottom
3. How does this fish use its mouth? (Circle one) Eats food overhead Eats food below or underneath Gulps food Eats food straight ahead Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus 4. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide Pool Coral Reef
______
5. The name of this mouth is: ______
6. Observe: Where does this fish swim in the water column? (Circle one) Top Middle Bottom
7. How does this fish use its mouth? (Circle one) Eats food overhead Eats food below or underneath Archer fish Gulps food Eats food straight ahead Toxotes jaculatrix 8. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide Pool Coral Reef
Page 5
Read a Fish
9. The name of this body shape is: ______
10. How does this body shape help the fish hide? (Circle one) Fish hides in small places Fish darts quickly and makes fast turns Fish buries itself in the sand Fish does not hide, it swims in open water
11. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply) Snowflake Eel Swims non-stop Stays in one spot Swims alone Echidna nebulosa Swims and rests Swims backwards Swims in a school
12. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide Pool Coral Reef
13. The name of this body shape is: ______
14. How does this body shape help the fish hide? (Circle one) Fish hides in small places Fish darts quickly and makes fast turns Fish buries itself in the sand Fish does not hide, it swims in open water
One-spot 15. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply) Foxface Rabbitfish Swims non-stop Stays in one spot Swims alone Siganus unimaculatus Swims and rests Swims backwards Swims in a school
16. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide Pool Coral Reef
Page 6
Read a Fish
17. The name of this tail is ______
18. How does this fish use its tail? (Circle one) Short bursts of speed Slow swimming Steady swimming in open water Very fast swimming
19. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply) Swims non-stop Stays in one spot Swims alone Crevalle Jack Swims and rests Swims backwards Swims in a school Caranx hippos
20. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide pool Coral Reef
21. The name of this tail is ______
22. How does this fish use its tail? (Circle one) Short bursts of speed Slow swimming Steady swimming in open water Very fast swimming
23. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply) Sandtiger Shark Swims non-stop Stays in one spot Swims alone Carcharias taurus Swims and rests Swims backwards Swims in a school
24. What habitat(s) does this fish live in? Lake River Tide pool Coral Reef
Page 7
Now that you have completed your aquarium investigation, it is time for you to create an imaginary fish. 1. Use this chart below as a checklist to choose the adaptations that will help your fish live in a tide pool habitat and eat small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks. Look at the habitat pictures to help you make your choices. 2. Draw a picture of your fish (on page 9). 3. Build a fish from the items in the box on the table. 4. Evaluate your fish model (on page 10).
Fish Habitat: Your fish lives in a tide pool. Fish Food: Your fish eats small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Step 1
Circle the body shape that is best for a fish to live in the tide pool.
Circle the mouth shape that is best for a fish to eat small lobsters, crabs, and clams hiding among the rocks.
Circle the tail shape that is best for a fish to swim between the rocks and plants in a tide pool.
Circle the coloration pattern that will help a fish to hide in a tide pool.
Page 8
Step 2
Step 3
Page 9
Step 4
1. Use your Wacky Adaptation Booklet as a guide. How do the adaptations you chose help your imaginary fish survive?
Mouth Shape
Tail Shape
Body Shape
Coloration
Pattern
2. Look at your hypothesis and compare it to the build a fish checklist. Are they the same or different?
If they are different, why are the adaptations you chose after your investigation better than the ones you chose in your hypothesis?
3. Tell your class about your fish. Back at school, you can build a second fish for a different habitat.
Page 10