Estuarine Ecology Curriculum Guide
Topic: learners will gain an understanding of drainage basins and watershed formation and how a drainage will impact a wetland
Arcmap = create a drainage basin, preform watershed delineation
Elevation/rain = explore how these factors shape a watershed and river systems
How ecosystems change in a watershed from mountain to oceans
How humans impact watershed/ upstream and downstream impacts
Topic: learners will discover how and why various organism evolved and adapted to live in the coastal plain region, and focus on
aquatic organism (flora and fuana)
Taxonomy and how organisms are classified
discover how organisms in the same class compare and contrast
dissection of star fish, mussel, and cray fish; discuss various adaptations and how these organism deal with biological pressures
dissection of fish, fish biology, physoclist, physostome, or no bladder; jaw and jawless; bony and cartilage
SAV, identification, factors that impact production, nutrients, growth, and propagation
Topic: learners will discover what wetlands consist of including, types of wetlands and common wetlands found in NC
how wetlands are delineated (soil, plants, water characteristics)
gain an understanding of Hydric soil, Hydrophytic plants, and Hydrological regime
Review 5 types of wetlands marine, estuarine, riverine, lacustrarine, palustrine
Functions of wetlands including chemical, biological, and socioeconomic
discover wetland animals and overview how these animals deal with living in an environment with varying salinity, low DO, discuss how these animals interact (niches, food web, predator-prey)
Topic: Focus on Estuarine wetlands and types of estuaries found in NC including, sandy beaches, sea grass beds, fringing marshes, and oyster reefs Topics covered within each type of estuary
Topic: learners will gain an understanding of drainage basins and watershed formation and how a drainage will impact a wetland
Topic: learners will discover how and why various organism evolved and adapted to live in the coastal plain region, and focus on
aquatic organism (flora and fuana)
Topic: learners will discover what wetlands consist of including, types of wetlands and common wetlands found in NC
- how wetlands are delineated (soil, plants, water characteristics)
- gain an understanding of Hydric soil, Hydrophytic plants, and Hydrological regime
- Review 5 types of wetlands marine, estuarine, riverine, lacustrarine, palustrine
- Functions of wetlands including chemical, biological, and socioeconomic
- discover wetland animals and overview how these animals deal with living in an environment with varying salinity, low DO, discuss how these animals interact (niches, food web, predator-prey)
Topic: Focus on Estuarine wetlands and types of estuaries found in NC including, sandy beaches, sea grass beds, fringing marshes, and oyster reefs Topics covered within each type of estuaryTopic: Sampling Techniques and methods
Invasive Species Nature Conservancy
Pea Island Data Sheet
Wetland Laws
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tTj6AZ6oPILXG1m988rUiCA&hl=en#
Link to Student Wiki
Useful websites
Projects