Stahl Field Guide- Marine Science Honors 2015
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. Create three herbarium presses of local algae species and correctly identify them.
6. Create a 3-D replica or a series of drawings of organisms in their field guide.
Total Points = 300
Part 1- Replica or Drawings due May 7th and May 8th
Part 2- Herbarium Press due May 14th and May 15th
Part 3- Tampa Bay Field Guide due May 21st and 22nd
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Stahl Field Guide- Marine Science Honors 2015
Part 1- 3 D Organism Replica or 10 detailed and labeled drawings- Worth 75 points
In part one 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.
Part 2- Herbarium Press- Worth 75 points
In part two you will have to go out and collect three different species of algae, press them, and
correctly identify them.
See attached sheet as well as the guide on my website to help you identify the
species. You may do more for extra credit.
Good places to find algae are: Emerson Point, the beach at low tide, and any intercoastal waterway.
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Stahl Field Guide- Marine Science Honors 2015
Part 3-My Tampa Bay Field Guide- Worth 150 points.
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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Plants
o The seven major plants that make up our shoreline
Vertebrates:
o Minimum of 10 fish species, this does not include sharks and rays
o Minimum of 5 sharks and rays
o 2 Marine mammal species
o 2 Reptilia species (sea turtles)
o 2 Aves species (birds)
Invertebrate species
o 1 Sponge species
o 2 Jelly species
o 1 Comb Jelly
o 1 Coral Species
o 5 Mollusk species (sea shells, scallops, clams, squid, etc)
o 5 Arthropod species (crabs, shrimp, lobsters, copepods, etc.)
o 2 Echinodermata species (sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, etc)
o 1 Annelids (polychaete worms, etc.)
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? (mangroves, seagrasses, etc…)
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Stahl Field Guide- Marine Science Honors 2015
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o Status- biogeographic range, is it native or invasive, how many, and is it
threatened or endangered.
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.
Websites to guide you:
1. http://tbep.org/portrait/featured_creature_21.html
2. Myfwc.com
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,
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Stahl Field Guide- Marine Science Honors 2015
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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