Program summary
Years: 11–12
Time: Available as part of a two day camp or as a day visit (minimum 5 hour investigation time)
Maximum number: 1 class group (up to 24 students)
Description
The Changing Ocean Program
Unit 3: Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of life
Topic 1: Describing biodiversity
Topic 2: Ecosystem dynamics
Assessment: Student Experiment
Students will conduct a comparative investigation into the settlement and success of sessile planktonic organisms in the southern reaches of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
Biotic and abiotic data will be collected over a 7 week period using data loggers and Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) placed at the mouth of the Gold Coast Seaway and within the confines of a marine harbour within the Gold Coast's Broadwater system.
Students will use the data to evaluate biodiversity at the different sites and then they will redirect and focus on their own research question.
This investigation is placed into the context of global climate change and ocean acidification but is easily placed into any number of human impact contexts that will fit any number of assessments.
Pre-requisites: Participating students and teachers will be provided with a handbook along with access to an explanatory video (https://internationalmarinesciencedatabase.com/changing-ocean-program) that highlights the significant aspects relating to the investigation in order to facilitate prior learning. A pre-visit from a member of JWEEC staff is also recommended.
Requirements: Students will need to be appropriately dressed in long sleeved shirts and covered footwear that may be splashed with salt water.