Under the Sea

Join us on March 13th for LiveStream at Olympic National Park at 12 pm ET.

Goals:

To understand the impact of tides on marine ecosystems and coastal environments.
To identify, compare, and analyze marine creatures in Pacific tidepools versus those in the Atlantic Ocean.
To develop problem-solving, engineering, and research skills through hands-on activities and challenges.

Scenario:
Students will engage in a series of hands-on activities and an engineering challenge related to the marine ecosystem of Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. This will include a virtual component, where they will observe the diverse tidepools. The physical activities will be conducted in a controlled outdoor or laboratory setting, simulating the conditions of Ruby Beach.

Resources:

Virtual tour of Ruby Beach tidepools.
Tidepool simulation kits (including artificial tidepools, marine creature models, and water flow systems).
Materials for engineering design challenge (recyclable materials, tools for model building, etc.).
Computers or tablets for virtual exploration and research.

Call to Action:
Students will engage in hands-on activities to understand the dynamic nature of tidepools and the importance of cultural heritage in environmental stewardship.

Activities or Engineering Design Challenges:

Tidepool Simulation: Create and observe a mini tidepool ecosystem. Students will replicate tidal movements and observe how they affect the behavior and interaction of marine species models.
Species Comparison Study: Conduct a comparative analysis of marine life found in Pacific and Atlantic tidepools using digital resources.

Engineering Design Challenge - 'Tidepool Protector': Students will design and build a model structure that protects tidepool habitats from environmental threats like pollution or human interference, using sustainable materials. Students may also present ways to protect our tidepools from microplastics, climate action, predators; human and animal.

Reflection:
Reflective Journaling: Document the design process, challenges faced, and solutions found in the engineering challenge.
Group Discussion and Feedback: Share experiences from the tidepool simulation and species study, discussing the importance of biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Final Presentation: Present the 'Tidepool Protector' models, explaining the design choices and how they would effectively protect real tidepools.

I CAN STATEMENTS ABOUT TIDEPOOLS:

I CAN explore and identify the diverse life forms living in a tide pool, such as algae, sea anemones, crabs, snails, and starfish.
I CAN observe and understand the adaptations that tide pool organisms have developed to survive in their environment, such as camouflage, protective shells, and tolerance to changes in temperature and salinity.
I CAN recognize and describe the interdependence among different species in a tide pool ecosystem, including symbiotic relationships and predator-prey interactions.
I CAN explain how environmental factors like tides, sunlight, temperature, and water quality impact marine life in tide pools.
I CAN observe and describe the process of ecological succession in tide pools, noting how different species dominate at different stages.
I CAN discuss the importance of conservation efforts to protect tide pool ecosystems from human impacts like pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
I CAN develop and apply scientific skills such as observation, data collection, and analysis while conducting field research in tide pools.
I CAN study marine biology concepts such as anatomy, physiology, behavior, and reproduction by observing tide pool organisms in their natural habitat.
I CAN investigate coastal geology topics such as erosion, sedimentation, and rock pool formation by exploring tide pool habitats.
I CAN develop a deeper appreciation for nature and a sense of stewardship towards protecting tide pool ecosystems for future generations.

VOCABULARY

Intertidal Zone: The area of the shoreline that is submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide, where tide pools are typically found.
Benthic: Relating to the ecological region at the bottom of a body of water, where organisms in tide pools often reside.
Zonation: The spatial arrangement of different species within a tide pool ecosystem, typically organized by their ability to tolerate different levels of exposure to air and water.
Brackish: Describes water that has a salinity intermediate between freshwater and seawater, often found in tide pools due to evaporation and mixing with seawater.
Invertebrate: An animal lacking a backbone, such as snails, crabs, and sea anemones, which are common inhabitants of tide pools.
Epibenthic: Refers to organisms that live on the surface of the seabed or rocks in tide pools, including algae, barnacles, and limpets.
Euryhaline: Species capable of tolerating a wide range of salinities, allowing them to thrive in the fluctuating conditions of tide pools.
Sessile: Describes organisms that are attached or fixed in place and cannot move independently, such as barnacles and anemones attached to rocks in tide pools.
Osmoregulation: The process by which organisms regulate the balance of water and salts in their bodies, crucial for survival in tide pools with varying salinity levels.
Predation: The act of one organism (predator) hunting, capturing, and feeding on another organism (prey), a common interaction observed among species in tide pool ecosystems.

Gravitational Forces on Tides

The moon and the sun have a big effect on the tides in the oceans. The moon pulls the water towards it, creating high tides. On the opposite side of the Earth, there are also high tides because of how the Earth and moon move together.
When the Earth spins, areas not facing the moon have low tides. This happens because the water is pulled towards the high tide areas.
Besides the moon, the sun plays a part in the tides too. Sometimes, when the sun and moon's pull line up, the tides get bigger, making really high highs and really low lows called spring tides. When they are at right angles, the tides aren't as extreme, called neap tides.
The whole cycle of high and low tides takes about 24 hours and 50 minutes, matching the moon's cycle. This means there are around two high tides and two low tides every 12 hours and 25 minutes.

Salinity and Tide Pools

Tide pools have changing salt levels due to mixing of seawater and rainwater, as well as evaporation during low tide. This makes life challenging for the creatures living there, as they must adjust to different salt levels.
Different parts of a tide pool can have different salt levels. Shallow areas may be saltier because they get more sun and water evaporates faster, while deeper areas may have less salt from freshwater coming in. This variety creates homes for many different species.
Creatures in tide pools have ways to balance salt and water inside their bodies as salt levels change. For example, sea animals may have special cells or organs that control how much water and salt come in and out to keep them from drying out or getting too full of water.
Some places where freshwater and seawater mix create "brackish" tide pools with middle-level salt. These spots support special environments with creatures that can handle a wide range of salt levels.
Salt levels decide which living things can survive in tide pools. Some creatures can handle a big range of salt levels, so they can live in different parts of the tide pool. Others need specific salt levels and can only live in the best parts of the tide pool for them. To study tide pool ecosystems and the different kinds of life, it's essential to know how salt levels affect where species live.