HAITATS: SALT MARSH & OEAN - Virginia AquariumHabitats are specialized to their location, and the type s of sediment, plants, and animals all differ. In the salt marsh, we can find

cord grass bed oyster reefs mud flat sandy bottom open water

silverside seahorse northern pipefish sea star hermit crab oyster toadfish

HABITATS: SALT MARSH & OCEAN

“On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip Habitats are specialized to their location, and the type s of sediment, plants, and animals all differ. In the salt marsh, we can find

grass beds, oyster reefs, and open mud flats. Out in the ocean, sandy bottoms, artificial and natural reefs can be found.

Organisms are able to adapt to their habitats so they can survive.

Draw lines to match the animals to their habitat. Animals can be used more than once . Habitats can house multiple animals.

Several of these animals use camouflage to help protect them in their habitats. Which animals use this? What habitat? What

in their habitat do they camouflage with?

Animal Habitat Adaptation(s)

TIDAL INFLUENCES IN THE MARSH “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Write the number of the appropriate tidal zone next to the animal that lives there. Below, list adaptations

animals need to survive in each tidal zone.

1. NONTIDAL ZONE

2. INTERTIDAL ZONE

3. SUBTIDAL ZONE

osprey

oyster

blue crab

great egret

periwinkle snail

Atlantic needlefish

lined seahorse

1. Nontidal zone:

2. Intertidal zone:

3. Subtidal zone:

FOOD WEB OF THE MARSH & OCEAN “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Food chains are a natural feature in every habitat. These chains link together to create complex food webs.

List the animals you viewed during your boat trip. Which is a top predator? Which animals are scavengers?

Salt marsh

Atlantic ocean

Menhaden (2) Plankton (1) Osprey (4) Striped bass (3)

A food web is several food chains combined and overlapping each other. In the section below, draw lines and arrows connecting

the prey to its predator.

FISH ADAPTATIONS Part 1 “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Adaptations are special features that help an animal live in its habitat. The mouth and body of a fish can tell

us a lot about its feeding habits and swimming style. Look at the different adaptations, then answer the

questions on the next page about the fish you saw on the trip.

mouth position:

Inferior:

The mouth opens downward, some fish

use this mouth to eat food off the bottom.

Superior:

The mouth is angled upwards. Fish will sit quietly,

waiting for prey to swim above them.

Terminal:

The mouth is located at the very end of the head.

Fast swimming predatory fish have this mouth.

body shape:

Fusiform

This is the typical fish body shape. This

type of body makes it easier for the fish

to swim for a long time without getting

tired.

Laterally Compressed

Flattened side to side makes it easier for

this fish to move around with a burst of

speed.

Depressed

Being flattened from top to bottom makes it

easier for fish to live on the bottom, where they

can hide and feed.

Elongated

An eel like body allows for easy move-

ment through marsh grasses, oyster

beds, and rocky openings.

caudal fin shape:

Forked:

These caudal fins allow for

continuous swimming

while conserving energy.

Lunate:

The fastest swimming fish tend to

have lunate caudal fins, this allows

for faster speeds with less energy.

Truncate or rounded:

These fins allow for slow swim-

ming but can give quick bursts

of speed.

Elongated:

This tail fin allows fish to

swim in and around

tight spaces.

Pick a fish. Describe the adaptations. (mouth position, body shape, tail fin shape) _____

_____

_____

__________________________________________________________________________________________

What food do you think this fish would eat? _____

_____

____________

How would these adaptations allow the animal to avoid predators? _____

_____

____________

Pick a fish, and watch it for 2-3 minutes. Draw a line in the box to show how this fish swam through the aquarium. Ex-

plain if the movement would help it chase down prey, or hide from a predator.

FISH ADAPTATIONS Part 2 “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

The caudal (tail) fin shows how the fish will swim. By looking at the caudal fin we can learn if the fish swims

fast or slow, and where it might live, in the creek or ocean.

Invertebrates come in all shapes. Some have an exoskeleton, some have a shell, and others have neither. List

the advantages and disadvantages of these body types in the classifications below. Name 3 examples of each

that you may see on an Ocean Collections trip, as well as their preferred habitat (salt marsh or ocean).

Arthropods, such as blue crabs, have a hard exoskeleton they shed as they grow.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

3 examples:

Habitat (circle one): salt marsh ocean

Some mollusks, such as sea snails, have a hard outer shell covering their body.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

3 examples:


Echinoderms are five sided animals that have soft bodies, covered with tiny spines.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

3 examples:


INVERTEBRATES

“On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Cnidarians often have tentacles and can be free-swimming or fixed in one place.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

3 examples:


LIFE IN THE MARSH “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Taxonomy; Kingdom, Phylum: _______________________________

Habitat: _______________________________ Entire Life in Creek or Use as Nursery (circle one)

What does the habitat provide? ___________________________________________

What adaptations does it have to survive? ____________________________________





















Many animals spend their entire lives in salt marshes, while others only use it as a nursery and move out into

the open ocean to live their adult lives. Identify the taxonomy of the animals below, state whether they live

in the marsh for their lifetime or only as a nursery. Explain if the habitats provide food or shelter, and what

adaptations they have to survive.

blue crab

lookdown

great egret

periwinkle snail

grass shrimp

lined seahorse

CRAB CLAW ID “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Animal: _________________________________

Claw Function: ____________________________

Animal: _________________________________

Claw Function: ____________________________

Animal: _________________________________

Claw Function: ____________________________

Animal: _________________________________

Claw Function: ____________________________

Crabs have many adaptations to being able to thrive in their habitat. Claws differences are one example, and

can be unique to each species. They serve a special function for that animal such as feeding, self-defense, or

territorial/mating displays.

Look at the following images of crab claws. Identify the species of crab, and explain the special function each

claw serves.

The teeth found in a fish’s mouth can explain its hunting style and type of prey it will go after. Identify the

species of fish, and describe what kind of prey it will go after. Discuss how the teeth are used to catch the

prey.

TEETH ID “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Animal:

Prey:

Feeding technique:

Mouth location:

Animal:

Prey:

Feeding technique:

Mouth location:

Animal:

Prey:

Feeding technique:

Mouth location:

Animal:

Prey:

Feeding technique:

Mouth location:

LIFE IN THE WATER COLUMN Part 1 “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

A: water surface

B: mid-water

C: sea floor

Many animals live in specific areas of the water column.

On the following page look at the animals listed. Decide the following:

What area(s) of the water column they will live? What adaptations do they have for thriving there?

Is the animal a producer or consumer? What would they prey on? What potential predators would they

have?

LIFE IN THE WATER COLUMN Part 2 “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Water Column: A B C (circle one)

Adaptations:

Producer or Consumer (circle one)

Prey:

Predators:


Adaptations:


Prey:

Predators:


Adaptations:


Prey:

Predators:


Adaptations:


Prey:

Predators:


Adaptations:


Prey:

Predators:


Adaptations:


Prey:

Predators:

summer flounder

sandbar shark

bay anchovy

blue crab

plankton

lined seahorse

For the animals listed, research the varying stages they go through from birth to adult. Answer the questions

below, and find a unique fun fact for each animal.

LIFE STAGES “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Female blue crab

with eggs Blue crab zoea Blue crab megalops Adult blue crab

Birth: Egg or live birth (circle one)

Approximate number of young:

Types of life stages from birth to adult:

Fun fact:




Fun fact:




Fun fact:




Fun fact:

clearnose skate

lined seahorse

speckled trout

stinging nettle

In the aquatic environment, there are a few different adaptations that animals have to respire.

Below, describe how the animals breathe, what biological mechanisms are in place for respiration, and if they

breathe air or water.

BREATHING “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Lungs or gills (circle one)

Special adaptations for breathing:









cownose ray

black –fingered mud crab

oyster

great egret

bottlenose dolphin

PREDATORY DEFENSE “On Your Own” at the Virginia Aquarium for Ocean Collections Boat Trip

Animals have many different ways to protect themselves. Speed, camouflage, venom, and hard shells are a

few examples that may help an organism avoid becoming prey. Below, consider the habitat of each animal

pictured, and their body design. List the predators they may have and what adaptations are in place to offer

defense.

Predators:

Defense Adaptation:

Predators:

Defense Adaptation:

Predators:

Defense Adaptation:

Predators:

Defense Adaptation:

Predators:

Defense Adaptation:

Atlantic stingray

banded hermit crab

hogchoker

brief squid

stinging nettle

Documents

HAITATS: SALT MARSH & OEAN - Virginia AquariumHabitats are specialized to their location, and the type s of sediment, plants, and animals all differ. In the salt marsh, we can find