sign in sign up
<<
Home , Benthos

Arctic Ocean Exploration

Meet the Arctic Benthos

FOCUS Arctic Mid-Oceanic Ridge Benthic invertebrate groups in the Arctic Ocean Canadian Basin Biological communities GRADE LEVEL -ice realm 7-8 FOCUS QUESTION What kinds of animals are found in the benthic of the Arctic Ocean? Viruses Fungi LEARNING OBJECTIVES Energy source Students will be able to recognize and identify Flatworms major groups found in the Arctic benthos. Jellyfishes Students will be able to describe common feeding Squids strategies used by benthic animals in the Arctic Ocean. Polychaete worms Students will be able to discuss relationships Sea anemones between groups of animals in Arctic benthic com- Tunicates munities. Ascidians Students will be able to discuss the importance of Grabs diversity in benthic communities. Dredges Cores ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS OF DEAF STUDENTS ROPOS In addition to the words listed as key words, the fol- ROV lowing words should be part of the vocabulary list. Manipulator Sampling Chukchi Sea Relative abundance Atlantic Ocean Microscopic algae Greenland Sea Hydrothermal vents Submarine ridges Chemosynthesis Alpha Ridge Silt Lomonosov Ridge 1 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

Sediment SEATING ARRANGEMENT Carnivorous species Classroom style Benthic Realm Biological communities MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS There are 18 groups to be studied. Students may Invertebrates work individually or in groups to complete the research activity. If the maximum desirable size for There are no formal signs in American Sign a group is four students or less, the activity could Language for any of these words listed as key accommodate as many as 72 words and many are difficult to lipread. Having students in a single class. the vocabulary list on the board as a reference during the lesson will be extremely helpful; however KEY WORDS the list is quite long. It may also be helpful to have Pelagic it available as a handout for the students. Benthic Sympagic It may take an additional 20-45 minutes to conduct Sessile this activity, depending on the students‚ familiarity Anthozoa with the topic and the vocabulary of the lesson. Nemertea In the Background Information, beginning with Polychaeta Phylum Cnidaria, there is a description of inverte- Echiurida brate groups. This should be copied and given as Ectoprocta a handout to assist students in this activity. Bryozoa Lophophore Create a worksheet with the requirements that the Priapulida students need to include in the report. Sipunculida Cirripedia MATERIALS  “Benthic Habitats” Sheet, either redrawn onto a blackboard, marker board or flip chart, or cop- ied onto a transparency for use with an overhead Pelecypoda projector Gastropoda  Library or Internet access for research on Arctic Amphineura invertebrates Echinoidea Holothuroidea Ophiuroidea AUDIO/VISUAL MATERIALS Blackboard, marker board, flip chart, or overhead projector and appropriate markers BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world’s four TEACHING TIME ocean basins with a total area of about 5.4 mil- One or two 45-minute class periods, depending lion square miles or 14 million square kilometers upon the amount of time spent on introductory (roughly 1.5 times the size of the United States). It is material, plus time for students to do library or bordered by Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Norway, Internet research and Russia. The Arctic Ocean has the widest conti-

nental shelf of any ocean, extending 750 mi (1,210 2 3 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

km) from the of Siberia, but also has areas summer months produces on the ice surface that are quite deep. The average depth is 12,000 that contain their own communities of . ft (3,658 m) and the maximum depth is 17,850 ft Melting ice also releases organisms and nutrients that (5,441 m). The Chukchi Sea provides a connec- interact with the ocean water below the ice. tion with the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait, but this connection is very narrow and shallow, so most The Pelagic Realm includes organisms that live in the water exchange is with the Atlantic Ocean via the between the ocean surface and the Greenland Sea. bottom. Melting sea ice allows more light to enter the sea, and algae grow rapidly since the sun shines The floor of the Arctic Ocean is divided by three for 24 hours a day during the summer. These algae submarine ridges (Alpha Ridge, Lomonosov Ridge, provide energy for a variety of floating animals and the Arctic Mid-Oceanic Ridge), one of which () that include crustaceans and jellyfishes. (the Lomonosov Ridge) creates a relatively isolated Zooplank-ton, in turn, is the energy source for larger area known as the Canadian Basin. This area is par- pelagic animals including , squids, seals, and ticularly interesting to scientists, because its isolation whales. could mean that it contains unique life forms that are found nowhere else on Earth. But the Arctic Ocean is When pelagic organisms die, they settle to the not easily explored: it is almost entirely covered with ocean bottom, and become the energy source ice for eight months of the year, a drifting polar ice for inhabitants of the Benthic Realm. Sponges, pack covers the central and western portions year- bivalves, crustaceans, polychaete worms, sea round, and sea temperature seldom rises above 0 anemones, bryozoans, tunicates, and ascidians are degrees C. Although the Arctic is still the world’s least common members of Arctic benthic communities. explored ocean, new expeditions are about to give us These animals provide energy for bottom-feeding much greater knowledge of the mysteries of this polar fishes, whales, and seals. frontier. Most of our knowledge about biological communities At this point, we know that there are at least three in the Arctic Ocean comes from studies on portions distinct biological communities in the Arctic Ocean. of the ocean near the continental shelves. Very little The Sea-Ice Realm includes plants and animals that research has been done on the sea ice, pelagic, live on, in, and just under the ice that floats on the and benthic realms in the deepest parts of the Arctic ocean’s surface. Because only 50% of this ice melts in Ocean. These areas are the focus of the 2002 Ocean the summer, ice flows can exist for many years and Exploration Program’s Arctic Ocean Expedition. can reach a thickness of more than six ft (2 m). Sea ice is not usually solid like an ice cube, but is riddled This activity is focused on the Benthic Realm. Because with a network of tunnels called brine channels that the deep Arctic Ocean is virtually unexplored, the range in size from microscopic (a few thousandths first questions researchers want to investigate are of a millimeter) to more than an inch in diameter. pretty basic: “What are the physical conditions of Diatoms and algae inhabit these channels and obtain the Benthic Realm?,” ”What organisms make up the energy from sunlight to produce biological material realm’s biological communities?,” and “How do these through photosynthesis. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi organisms obtain energy?” Research in shallower also inhabit the channels, and together with diatoms polar waters suggests that many different types of and algae provide an energy source (food) for flat- organisms are likely to be found, and that the major- worms, crustaceans, and other animals. This commu- ity of these will probably be invertebrates. These nity of organisms is called sympagic, which means organisms are an essential part of Arctic Ocean food “ice-associated.” Partial melting of sea ice during the webs, and play a major role in recycling nutrients.

2 3 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

This activity is intended to introduce students to major Phylum Sipunculida – “peanut worms,” which groups of invertebrates that have been found in other live in burrows or crevices; most eat sand or mud polar ocean expeditions, and to acquaint the students and use whatever food material they may contain, with the feeding habits of these animals as a basis but one species is carnivorous for making inferences about benthic communities and their connection to other components of the Arctic Phylum Arthropoda (animals with a hard Ocean ecosystem. external skeleton and jointed appendages) – Four groups are common among the polar A brief description of major invertebrate groups benthos; all belong to the class Crustacea: that have been reported in previous studies of polar Subclass Cirripedia – barnacles benthic communities follows. It is almost certain that Order Amphipoda – These laterally flattened other groups will also be found by expeditions to the arthropods employ a variety of feeding strate- deep Arctic Ocean, and it is quite possible that some gies and are the dominant group in many ben- organisms will be found that are new to science. thic communities. Order Cumacea – These animals are usually Phylum Cnidaria – Jellyfish, , sea anemo- quite small (1-4 mm long), but and nes, and similar animals that have stinging cells Arctic species may be ten times as large, and called nematocysts. The Class Anthozoa, particu- live in burrows or mucous tubes in bottom larly sea anemones, is often abundant in polar mud. benthic communities. Order Isopoda – Dorso-ventrally flattened arthro- pods resembling bugs; may be free-living or Phylum Nemertea (also known as Rhyncocoela parasitic, but are never filter feeders. and Nemertinea) – Their long flat shape gives these animals the common name “ribbon worms.” These Phylum Mollusca (invertebrates usually having worms have no segments and are often predators. a muscular foot and an external shell) Class Pelecypoda – , which are all filter feed- Phylum Annelida (segmented worms) – The ers Class Polychaeta (worms with many appendages) Class Gastropoda – , which have a variety of has many representatives in polar feeding strategies benthic communities and is highly diverse in physi- Class Amphineura – , which feed by scraping cal form as well as feeding strategy. algae and other materials from hard surfaces

Phylum Echiurida (or Phylum Annelida, Class Phylum Echinodermata (invertebrates with a Echiura) – “spoon worms,” that also live in burrows spiny skin) and are primarily deposit feeders Class Echinoidea – Sea urchins and sand dollars; sand dollars are often found in areas where Phylum Ectoprocta (or Phylum Bryozoa, strong currents make it difficult for other ani- Subphylum Ectoprocta) – small, tube-dwelling ani- mals to live mals that feed by means of a crown of tentacles Class Holothuroidea – Sea cucumbers called a lophophore Class Ophiuroidea – Brittle stars

Phylum Priapulida – also called “penis Phylum Chordata worms;” mud-dwellers that resemble a little cucum- Class Ascidiacea – “sea squirts,” leathery-skinned ber with teeth bottom dwellers that grow singly or in colonies attached to stable surfaces

4 5 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

LEARNING PROCEDURE animals in these benthic communities, and why 1. Assign one or more of the groups listed above to this diversity is important. each student or student group. Have each group prepare a brief report on the assigned group(s) THE BRIDGE CONNECTION using library and/or Internet resources. Each www.vims.edu/BRIDGE/polar.html report should include (a) a description of the animal including size range; (b) habitat; (c) food THE “ME” CONNECTION source(s) and feeding habits; and (d) an illustra- Have students write a brief essay on why diverse tion, if possible. The following websites contain but relatively unknown groups, like those studied in the necessary information: this activity, are important to their own lives. http://library.thinkquest.org/26153/marine/animalia.htm http://www.teachinhg-biomed.man.ac.uk/bs1999/bs146/ CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SUBJECTS biodiversity/metadiv.htm English/Language Arts http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Animals&contgroup=Eukaryotes http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/randerson.Marine%20Invertebrates/ EVALUATION index.htm Reports prepared in Step #1 may be submitted for http://biodicac.bio.uottawa.ca – this site has lots of images grading on the basis of thoroughness in addressing suitable for downloading the four content areas. It is also possible to create a matching or fill-in-the-blank identification quiz 2. Have each student or group present their report using images from http://biodicac.bio.uottawa.ca. to the entire class. Redraw the “Benthic Habitat” sheet, or copy the sheet onto a transparency EXTENSIONS for use with an overhead projector. Have the 1. Have students visit http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov to students write the name of their group(s) in the keep up to date with the real-time explora- appropriate habitat area, and indicate whether tion of the deep Arctic Ocean, and to find out the animals are sessile (fixed in one place) or what organisms researchers actually find in mobile. the benthic realm.

3. Lead a discussion of how different benthic groups 2. Investigate the Shelf Basin Interactions (SBI) interact, with particular emphasis on feeding and Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study strategies. Students should realize that these (CASES) programs groups are adapted to obtain food from the benthic environment in a variety of ways, includ- RESOURCES ing filter feeding, deposit feeding, and predation http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov – Follow the Arctic Ocean upon other benthic organisms. Students should Expedition daily as documentaries and discover- also realize that the primary source of food for ies are posted each day for your classroom use. A benthic organisms is primary production that wealth of information can also be found at this site. occurs in the sea ice and pelagic realms, and that organic material and nutrients are trans- http://www.arctic.noaa.gov – NOAA’s Arctic theme page, ported out of these environments when organisms with numerous links to other relevant sites die and settle to the bottom. Feeding activities by benthic organisms are an important process that http://maps.grida.no/arctic/ – A site with many “theme” returns some of these materials to other realms of maps that show , populations, geology, the polar ocean environment. Ask students why etc. they think there are so many different kinds of 4 5 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

Grebmeier, J. M., H. M. Feder, and C. P. McRoy, Student Handout 1989. Pelagic-benthic coupling on the shelf of the northern Bering and Chukchi . II. Benthic community structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series 51:253-268. – Scientific journal article on which this activity is based

NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS Content Standard A: Science As Inquiry • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry • Understanding about scientific inquiry Content Standard C: Life Science • Populations and ecosystems • Diversity and adaptations of organisms

FOR MORE INFORMATION Paula Keener-Chavis, National Education Coordinator/Marine Biologist NOAA Office of Exploration Hollings Marine Laboratory 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston SC 29412 843.762.8818 843.762.8737 (fax) [email protected]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This lesson plan was produced by Mel Goodwin, PhD, The Harmony Project, Charleston, SC for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. If reproducing this lesson, please cite NOAA as the source, and provide the following URL: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

6 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Arctic Ocean Exploration—Grades 7-8 Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean oceanexplorer.noaa.gov oceanexplorer.noaa.gov Benthic invertebrate groups in the deep Arctic Ocean

Student Handout

6