YEAR 7 SCIENCE 58

TEACHER GUIDE

Exploring and identifying invertebrates

The aim of this activity is to identify characteristic features of different invertebrate groups and their associated habitats and learn about the biodiversity of the reef.

ACARA curriculum links Science understanding (ACSSU111) Science inquiry Skills (ACSIS125)

Instructions• Thisactivityshouldbeconductedonthereefflat/lagoonatlowtide.Checktidestimetableandplan

this activity accordingly.• Toincreasetheamountofdatacollection,splitthegroupintosmallergroups.Walkfromshoretothe

reefcrestandletstudentsmakenotesonanychangesinhabitat.• Theinvertebratesresulttablecanbeprintedontowaterproofpaperorcopiedontoawaterproofslate.• ItcanbeusefultolaminatetheID-sheetswithcommongroupsofinvertebrates,andtakethemintothe

field.

Equipment• Booties,hat,sunscreenandwaterbottle• Waterproofslatewithpencil• Underwatercamera(ifavailable)• Viewingtube(ifavailable)• WaterproofIDguide(ifavailable)• IDreferencebooks

Resources• Invertebrateidentificationbooks• WaterproofIDsheets/Commoninvertebratecheatsheetinthiscurriculum

Recommended classroom activities• WorksheetC2-Observablefeaturesoforganismsanddichotomouskeys.

F2

Fiel

d C

ompo

nent

YEAR 7 SCIENCE 59

TEACHER GUIDEFIELD GUIDE

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Ove H

oegh

-Guld

berg

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Craig

Reid

Eva M

cClur

e

Wen

sung

Doug

las S

tetne

r

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

www

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Polycarpa aurata (Sea squirt). Didemnum vexillum (Ascidian).

Stomolophus meleagris (Cannonball jellyfish).

Heteractis magnifica (Magnificentanemone).

Reef-buildingcorals.

Cnidarians: Jellyfish, Hydroids, Corals, Anemones

Porifera and Ascidians: Sponges, Seasquirts, Salps

Holothuria atra (Blackseacucumber). Archaster typicus(Commonseastar).

Spirobranchus spinosus (Christmastreeworm).

Eupolymnia crassicornis (Spaghetti worms).

Thysanozoon nigropapillosum (Yellow-spottedflatworm).

Worms: Bristleworms, Nematodes, Flatworms, Lace animals

Craig

Reid

Echinoderms: Sea stars, Sea cucumbers, Sea urchins

Dian

a Klei

ne

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

Tridacna gigas (Giantclam).Acanthopleura granulata (Fuzzy chiton) Cypraea tigris (Tigercowrie).

Molluscs: Chitons, Clams, Mussels, Oysters, Snails, Slugs, Nudibranch, Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish

Craig

Reid

Crustaceans: Copepods, Crabs, Shrimp, Lobster, Mantis

shrimp, Amphipods, Isopods, Mysids, Barnacles

Carcinus maenas (Green crab).

COMMON INVERTEBRATES

Stenopus hispidus (Banded coral shrimp).

Chris

Roe

lfsem

a

YEAR 7 SCIENCE 60

TEACHER GUIDE

YEAR 7 SCIENCE 60ACSSU111

WORKSHEET FIELD 2

Instructions Species ID - Reefwalk1. Makesimpledrawingsoftheinvertebratesyoufind.Workasagroupandleteveryonedrawadifferent

invertebratetomaximisethenumberofspeciesfound.2. Usetheinvertebratesresulttableandmakenotesaboutcolour,shapeandothercharacteristics.3. Take a photograph and use this as reference to look up in books once back on shore.4. Backonshore,identifytheinvertebratesdrawn/photographedandcountthenumberofspecies.5. Compareyourdataresultswithotherstudents.6. Answerthefollowingquestions:

a. Whatkindofanimalsdoyoufindonthereef?b. Howmanyspeciesdidyoufind?Canyougivethemcommonandscientificnames?c. Aretherecertaingroupsofinvertebratesquitecommoninyourarea?d. Howbiodiverseisyourarea?e. Doesthebiodiversitychangebetweenzones?f. Listsomeofthedifferentfunctionsofreefinvertebrates.

INVERTEBRATES RESULTS TABLE

Exploring and identifying invertebrates

Observer(s):

Location: Date:

Weatherconditions:windy/calm/cloudy/sunny

Drawing Description List any characteristic features that assist identification

Fiel

d C

ompo

nent