Name _________________________________________

Biodiversity Activity/Project

Date_________________

Tropical Coral Reef Biodiversity

Introduction
Coral reefs offer up a wide diversity of species, which is called biodiversity.
Two main types of organisms inhabit coral environments, those with a backbone
(vertebrates) and those without (invertebrates). Coral polyps, or corals, for the
structural foundation of coral reef ecosystems and are the dominant inhabitant (1).
Coral reef environments contain more species per unit area than any other marine
environment, containing about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals, and
hundreds of other species. These coral reef environments are important in that
there are many drugs currently being developed from coral reef animals and plants
as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, bacterial infections, and other diseases (2).
Assignment
Since the number of species in these coral reef environments are so
numerous, there is a lot of species interaction and cohabitation taking place. Each
species has their own niche and role in the environment. You have been tasked by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to document and
determine the interactions between the species in the Great Barrier Reef, found off
the coast of Queensland, Australia. Your tasks that need to be addressed and have
conclusions drawn are as follows:
1. Identify the interactions of at least four (4) species of organisms found in the
Great Barrier Reef. What niches do they occupy in the environment? What
type of relationship do that have, i.e. symbiotic, predator-prey?
2. What would happen to the environment if any, a few, or all of these species
were to be removed from this ecosystem? How would this affect those
interactions? The food web? Nutrient cycles?
3. How is the Great Barrier Reef being affected by aspects such as human
influences (i.e. overfishing, need for tropical fish in aquariums, chemical
pollutants in the air and water) and global climate change?
4. What can be done currently to combat that decline in these reefs systems
that have been brought on by human impacts on the environment?
The data that youve collected and concluded upon must be grouped
together in one of the following means: a report format (such as a pamphlet or
flyer), a poster (must be poster size, a piece of notebook paper will not be
acceptable), a PowerPoint presentation, a constructed model of a reef system, or a
video. You will then present your findings to other colleagues from the NOAA (your
classmates) and must last no more than five (5) minutes. You need to be as
detailed as possible in order to convey your understanding of these implications on
the Great Barrier Reef. Be sure to reference the rubric to make sure you have
everything that you need to include. References must be included in your work as
well.
Good luck to all of the young NOAA scientists.
systems lies in your hands!
References

The future of these reef

Name _________________________________________
Biodiversity Activity/Project

Date_________________

(1) Alevizon, W. (2010). Coral Reef Animals. Retrieved from http://www.coral-reefinfo.com/coral-reef-animals.html.

(2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2008). NOAA Ocean Service
Education:
Corals.
Retrieved
from
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/coral07_importance.html.

Name(s): ___________________________
Topic:
1

Appearance
(X2)

Project is
illegible and
contains too
much text.
There are
several
grammatical
errors, no
use of
animation or
effects

Project is
attractive,
does not
contain too
much text.
There are no
grammatical
errors and
some use of
animation or
effects.

Information
&
Explanation
(x4)

Information
presented is
on an
elementary
level; misses
key points
and does not
meet
objective

Project is
legible and
contains
some
portions with
too much
text. There
are some
grammatical
errors, and
some use of
animation or
effects
Information is
presented at
an average
level;
explanation
is unclear;
shows little
understandin
g of the
objective

Creativity
(x4)

There is no
evidence of
creativity.
All
information
presented
was taken
from outside
sources.

Project is
very
attractive
and does not
contain too
much text.
There are no
grammatical
errors and
use of
animation or
effects is
present.
Information is
presented at
a very
advanced
level that is
similar to a
detailed high
school text;
completely
clear
explanation;
shows
complete
understandin
g of the
objective
Creativity is
highly
advanced.
Information is
present in a
unique
format.
There is a
great amount
of originality

A basic level
of creativity
is evident.
Information is
present in a
unique
format.
There is
some
originality

Information is
presented an
advanced
level that is
similar to a
detailed
periodical
article; most
of the
explanation
is clear;
shows
substantial
understandin
g of the
objective
Creativity is
more
advanced.
Information is
present in a
unique
format.
There is
originality
present.

Value

Name _________________________________________
Biodiversity Activity/Project
present.

Presentatio
n Style
(x4)

Time (x1)

No eye
contact is
made with
the
audience;
material is
read directly
from project
or note cards
< 15
minutes

Minimal eye
contact is
made with
the audience;
most
material is
read directly
from project
or note cards

Date_________________
present.

Eye contact
is made with
the audience;
minimal
material is
read directly
from project
or note cards

Eye contact
is made and
the
presenters do
not rely on
their project
or note cards
during the
presentation
15 minutes+