Marine Science Video Series (*In-Class Only* Assignments)
The Marine Science Video Series is a series of videos shared in class to help students tie together concepts taught during each model's lessons. These assignments are only available for students to complete in class for an extra grade. If they are not completed in class, during class time the assignment is excused.
South Pacific: Endless Blue
Episode Summary: A large part of the remote, blue wilderness of the South Pacific is a marine desert. Many animals that live in the ocean, among them sharks, whales and turtles – must go to extraordinary lengths to survive. Tiger sharks travel hundreds of miles to feast on fledgling albatross chicks and, every year, sperm whales journey from one side of the South Pacific to the other in their search for food and mates. Theirs is a journey that can end in tragedy. But the South Pacific is not all desert. New Zealand’s super-rich coast supports huge pods of acrobatic dolphins; its coral reefs are some of the most diverse on earth; and there are few places richer in wildlife than the quirky Galapagos Islands, home to tropical penguins and surfing sea lions.
Using the greatest shipwreck story of all time – an event that inspired Moby Dick – the huge challenges of survival in this seemingly endless blue ocean are revealed. Questions: 1.Summarize the events of the Essex that inspired the famous novel “Moby Dick.” (Leave about half a page to answer). 2.Why did sperm whales make the journey from Antarctica to the tropics? What advantage did they have by traveling there? 3.Why does the “Desolate Region” have such clear blue waters? How does any life exist in this area? 4.The survivors of the Essex were unaware of the life teaming along the surface at night, name some examples of organisms. 5.How do deep ocean currents flowing against islands affect life around the islands? 6.How is a sperm whale able to hold its breath so long and dive so deep? |