Stahl Marine Science Honors- Operation Tampa Bay
Operation Tampa Bay
The goal of this project is to take the information learned in the Tampa Bay Unit and apply it to a
multifaceted project that you will be able to use in the field. Each category is assigned a certain
amount of points; therefore if you choose not to do one of the projects then you will lose the
points for that area. The total maximum number of points for this project is 300 points.
Learning Objectives for each student:
1. Students will use correct scientific nomenclature, grammar, and spelling.
2. Knowledge will be gained through research utilizing respectable internet websites, other
field guides, and their Marine Science text.
3. Write knowledgeably about each organism they have chosen and why that specific
Phylum is important to the ecology of the bay.
4. Produce a detailed and precise field guide of the Tampa Bay area that can and will be
used during field trips and extracurricular activities.
5. Design a local food web that demonstrates the flow of energy from one trophic level to
another, using the organisms from their field guide.
6. Create a 3-D replica or a series of drawings of organisms in their field guide.
Total Points = 300
Part 1- Tampa Bay Field Guide due March 3rd and 4th
Part 2- Food Web due February 6th and 7th
Part 3- 3D Replica or Drawings due February 20th and 21st
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Stahl Marine Science Honors- Operation Tampa Bay
Part 1-My Tampa Bay Field Guide- Worth 200 points. Due March 3rd and 4th
Objective: To learn and recognize the wide variety of species which inhabit our local bays and
estuaries. You will be creating your own field guide that represents Tampa Bay. A field guide is
an important tool to help a person identify a specific species, usually through a picture and
description of that organism. You are to research the organisms to make sure that they live in the
bay. We, as a class, came up with several species that reside in the bay and you may use that list
as a starting point.
Your field guide must have:
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Minimum of 15 fish species, this does not include sharks and rays
Minimum of 10 sharks and rays
Invertebrate species
o 1 Sponge species
o 3 Jelly species
o 1 Comb Jelly
o 1 Coral Species
o 10 Mollusk species (sea shells, scallops, clams, squid, etc)
o 10 Arthropod species (crabs, shrimp, lobsters, copepods, etc.)
o 4 Echinodermata species (sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, etc)
o 3 Annelids (polychaete worms, etc.)
o 2 Marine mammal species
o 4 Reptilia species (sea turtles)
o 5 Aves species (birds)
Minimum of 10 plants with three being a species of alga (you will have to do a little
research on some alga in the area- if you have questions ASK!!!!)
A picture of each organism either drawn out very detailed or a printed off picture. Please
make sure that great care and construction is taken.
Detailed, typed out description that must be neatly placed under the picture of the
organism and MUST include:
o Name of the organism, both common and scientific name
o Kingdom, Phylum, and Class of the organism
o Description of organism- what does it look like, nicknames, what does it feed on,
unique behavioral adaptations or relationships.
o Habitat- where does it typically live?
o Status- biogeographic range, is it native or invasive, how many, and is it
threatened or endangered.
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Stahl Marine Science Honors- Operation Tampa Bay
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o Comments- fun facts about the organism, unique behavioral adaptations or
relationships with other organisms, interesting reproductive strategy, etc. Think
outside of the box!
Typed out information at the end of your field guide stating what the ecological
importance is of each Phylum of organisms: Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Mollusca,
Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Annelida, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia.
Placed neatly in either a binder or a pronged folder with your name, class period, and
date on the front.
Part 2- Food Web- Worth 30 points Due February 6th and 7th
You are to construct a Tampa Bay food web on a poster board using colored pictures or colorful
drawings, painting, etc. You are to choose 20 organisms, at least one from each category, and
create a food web. Make sure that the organisms are in the correct trophic levels and that the
arrows are pointed towards the organism where the energy is being transferred.
Part 3- 3 D Organism Replica or 10 detailed and labeled drawings- Worth 70 points
Due February 20th and 21st
In part three you have a choice between two projects.
3-D Replica= A physical model of one of your organisms that was in your field guide. If you
choose this project please take great care in the construction process. You will be graded on how
much care and time went into it as well as the accuracy. You must also write a short, 3-5
sentence, typed paragraph as to why you chose this organism.
Black and white ink drawings or colored drawings / paint= Choose 10 organisms from your field
guide and draw them on a white sheet of unlined paper. You are to use most or the entire sheet of
paper. DO NOT draw a tiny organism on a huge sheet of paper. The pictures are to be organized
into a folder or binder when turned in. If you choose this project you will also be graded on
accuracy and care. On each page you must also write the common and scientific name as well as
the habitat in which it lives in the bottom left corner of each page.
Websites to guide you:
1. http://tbep.org/portrait/featured_creature_21.html
2. Myfwc.com
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Stahl Marine Science Honors- Operation Tampa Bay
Example 1. Sample identification.
Killer Whale, Orcinus orca
o Kingdom Animalia
o Phylum Chordata
o Class Mammalia
o Description of organism- Distinct black and white coloration with a white patch
behind the eye, a gray saddle patch behind the dorsal fin, a white underbelly. The
male’s dorsal fin reaches about 6 ft. in height, while the females is about 3ft.
Males are about 31 feet in length and the females are around 28 feet in length.
Residential orcas feed predominately on salmon and fish, while transient orcas
feed on other marine mammals, sharks, etc. Live in large groups, often surface in
groups or in unison, aerial behaviors are very common (e.g. breaching,
spyhopping, tail-lobbing, pectoral fin slapping), and have unique social dialects /
means of communication.
o Habitat- Worldwide oceans, bays, straits, Gulfs
o Status- Ranges from 2-5 (transients) to 5-30 (residents) to 30-80 (offshores),
groups may be spread out across a body of water, residents are threatened due to
pollutants,
o Comments- Babies can be confused with Dall’s porpoises or false killer whales.
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