Diversity of Marine Animals

"Man and the Gulf of Mexico" (MGM) is a marine science curriculum series developed to meet the needs of 10th through 12th grade students in Mississippi and Alabama schools. This MGM unit on the diversity of marine animals is divided into 16 sections. These sections focus on: marine protozoans; sponges; coelenterates; ctenophores; polychaetes; mollusks; echinoderms; barnacles; the blue and hermit crabs; shrimp; horseshoe crabs; sea squirts; sharks and stingrays; common seashore birds; marine turtles; and marine mammals. Each section includes a statement of concept(s) to be learned, objectives, text material, and a vocabulary list. In addition, one or more activities (including vocabulary activities) are provided in the sections on marine protozoans, sponges, coelenterates, polychaetes, mollusks, barnacles, blue and hermit crabs, common seashore birds, and marine mammals. Objectives, list of materials needed, and procedures are provided for these activities, which investigate such areas as: salinity and small animals; sponge structure; general and feeding behavior of "Hydra"; reaction of "Nereis" to a changing environment; anatomy and feeding behavior of barnacles; marine organisms and osmotic tolerance; and the world of whales. (JN)