Marine Species, Impacts, and Stewardship

This unit examines the diversity, adaptations, and ecological roles of marine organisms across habitats (from polar and deep sea to coastal and pelagic zones) while addressing ocean properties and natural hazards. Students will also investigate human impacts, ecosystem services, and practical stewardship actions—from personal consumer choices to community and policy engagement—to protect local watersheds and marine resources.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations and ecological roles of a range of marine organisms (e.g., sea snakes, cone snails, jellies, pelagic and coastal birds, ostracods, deep-sea fauna) across different habitats and environmental extremes.
• Evaluate human impacts and conservation challenges affecting marine systems (including pollution, plastic accumulation, overharvest, tourism pressures, sea-level change, and product exploitation) and prioritize evidence-based mitigation and policy responses.
• Apply best-practice stewardship and pollution-reduction strategies at personal and community scales—such as responsible consumer choices, drain-safe products, watershed protection actions, and participation in conservation organizations—and create an implementation plan.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify common marine taxa and coastal bird groups, recognize marine hazards (venomous species, waterspouts, dangerous conditions), and explain appropriate safety protocols along with the ecosystem services these organisms provide.