Reptile

Common Name: Orninoco Crocadile
Scientific Name: Crocodylus intermedius
Habitats: Live in theColumbian Orinoco River Basin
Adaptations: Adapted to live in freshwater
Status: Critically Endangered, only 547 can be found in the wild
Interesting Facts: Largest Living species of crocadile
Current Issues: Scientits are trying to gradually increase their population through breeding
Why I chose it: I think crocodiles are pretty neat

Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification is the increase in the oceans acidity due to the CO2 released in the burning of fossil fuels. Ocean acidification affects the platonic organisms in the ocean becasue it makes it harder for them to form their shells which makes them live shorter lives becasue the ocean is eating away at them. The reduction of the population of platonic organisms affects the benthic organisms because there is less food to fall down to the sea floor which causes many benthic organisms to die. Three important things I learned from this topic are that we rely on the ocean for many things, we need to switch to alternative energy sources to stop acidification, and we need to do more to protect marine life.

Karenia brevis

The karenia brevis dinoflagellate the plankton species responsible for the phenomenon called red tide. Red tide is caused by toxins released by karenia brevis which die the water red and poison shellfish and fish in the area. This hurts the gulf economy by putting the local fishermen in the area out of business until the red tide is gone.

Plankton

There are many things I learned about plankton this week. I learned that they come in two types, zooplankton and phytoplankton. I learned that they are the base of the oceanic food chain. I learned that they can produce an underwater snow effect when they die and fall to the bottom of the ocean. I learned that plankton can cause problems if they are too numerous and I learned that animals can grow out of being plankton as they mature.

Plankton race

The goal of the plankton race was to create a plankton that would sink the slowest using a given set of materials. The plankton in the picture took 10 seconds to sink which was pretty good. Paper, however, took 20 seconds to sinn which is why my team used that instead. If I could change my design I would give it more surface area so it would produce more drag. I liked working in a group for this activity.

The Killer Whale

Common Name: Killer Whale
Scientific Name: Orcinus orca
Habitat: Killer Whales are found in all oceans
Reproduction: Killer Whales reproduce just like any other animals but they tend to stay in families after birth
Status: Not Endangered
Interesting Facts: Can swim up to 28 mph
Stay with their family most of their lives
Have the 2nd heaviest brains among marine mammals
Major Issues: Can get violent when kept in captivity
Why I chose it: I like Shamoo

Harmful Algae Bloom

Harmful Algae Bloom is when the plankton population gets over populated and the plankton release toxins. Red Tide is an algae bloom that is caused by dinoflagellates. There is nothing we can do to prevent red tide. Red Tide causes fish to become poisoned and for shell fish to become poisonous to eat.