The Marine Science Station Crystal River, FL Citrus County School District Teacher Field Manual A Cooperative Partnership between: and The Florida Fish and Wildlife The Marine Science Station & the Citrus County Conservation Commission School District Table of Contents Preface p. 3 Introduction to the Marine Science Station p. 4 Marine Science Station Facilities p. 5 Marine Science Station Field Experiences (aboard boats) pp. 6—7 Marine Science Station Classroom Lab Experiences p. 8 Marine Science Station Contact Info/Fee Schedule & Reservation Policies p. 9 Marine Science Station Curriculum p. 10 Florida’s Geological History—Background Info p. 11 Springs Coast Watershed, Rivers, and Springs—Background Info pp. 12—13 Modeling Groundwater Flow & Pollution—Classroom Demo-Lab pp. 14—15 Water Quality Monitoring (Freshwater) — Field Activity pp. 16—21 Florida’s Estuaries — Background Info pp. 22—24 The Edible Estuary—Fun Evening (Snack-time) Camp Activity pp. 25—26 Estuarine Water Quality Monitoring—Field Activity pp. 27—32 Salt Marshes—Background Info pp. 33—35 Salt Marsh Investigation—Field Activity pp. 36—39 Salt Marsh/Coastal Hammock Identification Sheets pp. 40—47 Mangrove Swamps—Background Info/Identification Sheets pp. 48—53 Mangrove Investigation—Field Activity pp. 54—58 Fisheries Independent Monitoring/Seining—Background Info p. 59 Seining/Fish Adaptations Investigation—Field Activity pp. 60—64 Seagrasses—Background Info pp. 65—69 Seagrasses Investigation—Field Activity pp. 70—74 Sponge Beds & Limestone Reefs (Hardbottom)—Background Info pp. 75—76 Hardbottom/Sponge Beds—Field Activity pp. 77—83 Fisheries Independent Monitoring/Trawling—Background Info pp. 84—85 Scientific Seafloor Sampling/Trawling—Field Activity pp. 86—89 Shell Island/Native American Natural History—Background Info p. 90 Taking Out the Trash: Native American Middens-Classroom Activity pp. 91—97 Spoil Banks/Marine Debris Analysis—Background Info p. 98 Spoil Banks/Marine Debris Analysis—Field Activity pp. 99—104 Marine Life Diversity—Classroom Lab Activity pp. 105-107 Plankton—Background Info/Identification Sheets pp. 108—112 Plankton— Classroom Lab Activity pp. 113—117 Wings of Hope—Classroom Demonstration p. 118 Astronomy—Night time Lab Demonstration p. 118 2 Springs & Groundwater Ecology Snorkeling Field Experience Snorkel and study the aquatic habitats of the Crystal River in the year- round 72o F waters flowing from the Floridan Aquifer. Conduct water quality monitoring and understand how human decisions impact the environmental health of springs systems. See pages 11—21 for related curriculum. Estuaries Ecology—Saltmarsh & Coastal Hammock Field Experience Study saltmarsh and coastal hammock communities through field studies and water quality monitoring. Closed toe shoes or water shoes required. See pages 22—47 for related curriculum. Mangrove Island Ecology/Seine & Dip Netting Field Experience Study mangrove communities through habitat observations and wade into shallow waters to dip net and collect estuarine organisms. Closed toe shoes or water shoes required. See pages 48-64 for related curriculum. Seagrass Meadow & Sponge Bed Ecology Snorkeling Field Experience Snorkel and study these marine habitats of the nearshore, shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Investigate a wide variety of marine life. Snorkeling equipment included except for fins and wetsuits. See pages 65-74 for related curriculum. 6 Limestone Rock Reef Ecology Snorkeling Field Experience Snorkel and study natural hardbottom areas with colorful algae, sponges, and stony corals. Observe a multitude of fish, invertebrates, and the occasional sea turtle. Snorkeling equipment included except for fins and wetsuit. See pages 75-83 for related curriculum. Scientific Seafloor Sampling Field Experience Collect fish and invertebrates from the seafloor using sampling trawls. Hands-on investigation of collected specimens. Determine food web interactions. See pages 84-89for related curriculum. Shell Island Native American Natural History Field Experience Natural history interpretative tours of a shell midden constructed by Native Americans. See pages 90—97 for related curriculum. Closed toe shoes or water shoes required. Spoil Bank Islands Natural History and Fossil Hunting Field Experience Explore man-made spoil islands that are covered with fossils from the Eocene Epoch (approximately 56 to 34 million years ago)! Observe nesting sea birds and vegetation adapted to a dry, harsh environment. Marine debris collection and analysis. See pages 98—104 for related curriculum. Closed toe shoes or water shoes required. 7 Marine Life Diversity Lab Engage in a hands-on activity of studying a variety of marine life collected from the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Use microscopes and magnifiers for closer inspection of collected organisms. Determine the roles and interactions of organisms within food web dynamics. See pp. 105-107 for related curriculum. Plankton Lab Study phytoplankton and zooplankton collected from the Gulf of Mexico using dissecting and compound microscopes. Using field guides, identify major taxonomic groups represented in the plankton. Determine the roles and interactions of plankton within food web dynamics. See pp. 108-117 for related curriculum. Wings of HOPE Staff from HOPE Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. present live, majestic birds that serve as ambassadors of environmental education and natural resource conservation. Features live birds of prey and explains their natural history, their role in the environment and of the encounters these birds faced and the injuries they endured. See p. 118 for more information. Astronomy Lab Learn the basics of amateur stargazing. Explore the brightest stars and constellations currently visible and some of the more interesting celestial objects therein. View the night sky through as many as five telescopes of different size and type with an experienced astronomer. See p. 118 for more information. 8 Marine Science Station 12646 West Fort Island Trail Crystal River, FL 34429 (352) 795-4393 https://mss.citrusschools.org/ Hugh Adkins, Supervisor/Boat Captain Earnie Olsen, Teacher/Boat Captain Cathy Proveaux, Secretary/Trip Coordinator Since the Marine Science Station is a Citrus County School District educational facility, each group must reserve AT LEAST one educational activity for their visit. Dorms: $15.00 per person/per night Meals: $21.00 per person/per day (3 meals) Breakfast – $5.00 Lunch – $7.00 Dinner – $9.00 Seafood Dinner – add $5.50 Field-Based (Aboard Boats) Educational Programs: $50.00 per person (Minimum of 15 guests / Maximum of 45 guests) Lab-Based (Classroom) Educational Programs: $20.00 per person/per program (Minimum of 15 guests / Maximum of 30 guests) Canoe Rental: $125 for unlimited use of all canoes. PFDs and paddles provided. Deposit: A deposit of 20% is required. This deposit is to secure your scheduled dates and purchase food and supplies for your visit. This deposit will be applied towards your final bill. Damage/Cleanup Deposit: In order to cover any damages or excessive clean up costs that may occur during your visit, a dam- age/cleanup deposit of $300 is required. If no damages occur or no excessive clean up is required, then this deposit will be refunded within ten days of your departure. Cancellation Policy: At the Marine Science Station, we realize that circumstances can arise beyond your control, therefore, if you must cancel then please contact us as soon as possible. ***Cancellations requested 30 days or more before your scheduled arrival date will result in a full refund of your deposit. Cancellations requested 29 days or less before your scheduled arrival date will result in a 50% refund. Cancellations requested within two weeks of arrival will forfeit the deposit.*** 9 Marine Science Station Curriculum 10 FLORIDA’S GEOLOGICAL HISTORY The Florida plateau, which is the platform upon which Florida is perched, was formed about 530 million years ago by a combination of volcanic activity and marine sedimentation during the early Ordovician Peri- od. When the Florida plateau was part of the supercontinent Pangaea, Florida was sandwiched between what were to become North and South America and Africa. Movement of the tectonic plates that compose the Earth's crust eventually caused Pangaea to split into Laurasia (North America, Europe, and portions of Asia) and Gondwana (South America, Africa, India, Aus- tralia, and Antarctica). When North America split from Laurasia and drifted northwesterly, it dragged the Florida plateau with it. Sea levels have had a profound effect on both Florida's geology and ecology. The fossil record indicates a mass migration of plants and animals occurred between North and South America approximately 2 million years ago, when sea levels were much lower and a land bridge connected North America. During the last ice age, Florida was as much as three times the current land area (dotted line on Figure 1). Figure 1. Previous Florida land area. Credits: U.S.G.S. As the ice age ended, sea levels rose, Florida shrank in size, the climate became much wetter, and habitats changed. A notable example of these climatic changes is formation of the Everglades, which occurred sometime around 4,000-6,000 years ago. As sea levels rose and fell, the calcium carbonate remains of sea creatures and algae formed sedimentary limestone bedrock. Erosion of the limestone bedrock causes karst development. Karst is a terrain or type of topography un- derlain by soluble rocks, such as limestone. The karst landscape