Estero Morua

Break into small groups

Interpret the landscape

Where are we (i.e., what is this place)?

Look at the aerial photo. Where are we?

Where does the water come from?

Make some predictions about the water chemistry.

What processes have affected the water chemistry?

Dunes

What are they made of?

Where do they get the raw materials?

What are the mechanics behind their formation?

How can you tell which are active and which are old?

Halophytic Plants

Key out a few halophytic plants (work in pairs or trios).

Where do they get their nutrients?

What do they contribute physically to the area?

What do they contribute to the marine ecosystem?

Beach rock vs. mud/sand bottom

Beach Rock = " "

Where does the beach rock come from?

How old is it?

Probe around. Perhaps try the shovel. How many phyla can you identify?

Each group breaks into trios or quartets. Work through CRABS and RAYS. Re-group with small group and discuss.

A case of CRABS

Why do they wave the claw?

Where do they run to?

What affect does this have for the local environment? ... on the community?

Ray traces

What are the bowl shaped depressions?

What affect does this have for the local environment? ... on the community?

Shrimp Dance

Discuss shrimp and their effects

Get together and stomp the mud

In-Seine for fish (or... coo-coo for copepods ... ga-ga for gobies)--- We'll demonstrate a useful technique for censusing fish populations and assessing fish diversity.