Cocos Islands

A Study of Symbiotic Relationships

Web Quest By:

Andrew S. Basler

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teachers | Credits

Introduction

The Cocos Islands lie about 300 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The islands provide a unique ocean habitat where nutrient rich currents provide a source of nourishment for extensive coral reefs. The islands ar home to the largest shark population in the world, and countless other fish. Within this environment, there exists numerous symbiotic relationships.

Task

Your task is to use internet research to learn about the different types of symbiotic relationships. After defining each different relationship, you will use additional sites to find examples of each, both in the ocean, and in the Cocos Islands.

Process

1) Your teacher will divide you into groups

2) Use the following websites to find the definitions of different symbiotic relationships. Write each definition on a piece of paper so you can refer to it later.

Symbiotic Relationships Website 1 | Symbiotic Relationships Website 2

3) After you have defined the different types of symbiotic relationships, you will see a video on the Cocos Islands. While watching the video, look for examples of different symbiotic relationships. After the movie is over, get together with your group and make a list of at least 6 different relationships. If you need help finding more, use the internet Search Engine to find some more ocean examples.

4) After your group is done, you will come together as a class and define each type of symbiosis, and give your examples. At the end of the lesson, you will turn your paper into your teacher, so be sure to write neatly.

Evaluation

Your group will be evaluated based on your co-operation, research, and answers.

Conclusion

Symbiotic relationships are very important because they allow some animals to survive in a special niche. Symbiotic relationships are found in many different habitats, not just oceans. Understnading these relationships help us to understand an organisms place within a food web and habitat.

Teachers

Grade Band: 6-8 Life Science

Tennessee Curriculum Standards

2.1 Understand the nature of symbiotic relationships

2.2 Examine the competitive relationships among organisms within an ecosystem

6.2 spi 2: distinguish between commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism

Purpose: To teach the student about symbiotic relationships. To encourage the use of the internet for research. To promote research skils. To promote group skills. To develop an understanding of different relationships within ecosystems.

Preceding and Ensuing Events of Instruction: The Teacher should show the IMAX movie Island of the Sharks (41 mins) after the students have looked up the definitins of various symbiotic relationships. The movie chronicles the marine life of the Cocos Islands. The teacher may want to expand or contract this project as necessary. This project may be expanded to a class presentation, or may simply be a class discussion between different groups reporting their findings from research. This project is a good introduction into ecosystems, habitats, keystone species, niches, etc.

Credits

Student Resources (2002). Learn About Symbiosis. Retreived October 28, 2003, from www.lcsc.edu/education/student/jsjweb/resourceport.htm

North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (2003). Symbiotic Relationships. Retrieved October 28, 2003, from www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent591k/symbiosis.html

Google. (2003). Search Engine. Retrieved October 28, 2003, from www.google.com

Tennessee Curriculum Standards. (2003) Science 6-8. Retrieved October 28, 2003, from www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cistandards.htm

Big Picture. Island of the Sharks (1999). [DVD]. Toronto, Canada, IMAX