Coral Research Divers

As an expert diver, you have the unique ability to observe coral as no one else can. You have seen first hand and close up what we above the water cannot. You will use your expertise to present to your team explanations full of rich imagery so that we can "see" the coral reef in our minds.

Research Questions for the Coral Research Divers

1. In your journal, define and diagram a coral polyp.

2. Be able to identify and visually represent at least eight different species of coral and indicate whether it is classified as soft or hard.

3. Describe the general habitat of coral, how it lives, and how it reproduces.

4. How do the animal and plant organisms depend on each other? Explain three of these symbiotic relationships.

5. What are the natural enemies of the coral? Explain why they are threats.

Internet Sites

For the Internet portion of your WebQuest, you will follow these links specifically chosen for your topic.

The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium http://www.mcra.com/Biology.htm

Living Corals http://www.odyssey.ycg.org/coralreefs2.htm

The LivingReef http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/ps_living_reef.html

Sea World www.seaworld.org

Anatomy and Physiology http://discover.key-west.fl.us/about/coral.htm