Science Standard 6 ‐ Life Processes Structure/Function Relationship Enduring Understanding: Living systems, from the organismic to the cellular level, demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function. Grades 4­5 1. Structures that function for similar purposes in living things may have different appearances. 3. Organisms can be grouped based on similarities and differences in their structures and functions. These may include characteristics such as appendages, roots and leaves of plants, or the presence or lack of a backbone. Allows for comparison of horseshoe crab features with those of other organisms. Explains
horseshoe crab taxonomy.
Regulation and Behavior Enduring Understanding: Organisms respond to internal and external cues, which allow them to survive. Grades 4­5 1. An organism displays behaviors in response to internal cues, such as hunger, and external cues, such as light, temperature, or interaction with living things. 2. There are similarities and differences in how organisms respond to internal and external cues. These behaviors may include strategies for acquiring food, building shelters, or evading predators. Explains how horseshoe crab mating behavior is timed both seasonally and with tide
variations.
Matter and Energy Transformations Enduring Understanding: All organisms transfer matter and convert energy from one form to another. Both matter and energy are necessary to build and maintain structures within the organism. Grades 4­5 2. Animals need food to provide materials and energy for life which they derive directly or indirectly from plants. Describes the importance of horseshoe crab eggs as food source for migratory shorebirds.
Identifies the horseshoe crab as a ‘keystone species’ in the Delaware Bay.
1 - Updated April 2009 Life Processes and Technology Application Enduring Understanding: Grades K­8: The life processes of organisms are affected by their interactions with each other and their environment, and may be altered by human manipulation. Grades 4­5 2. Short term and long term studies are used to determine the effects of environmental changes (natural and man‐made) on the health of the organisms within that environment. Details protection efforts and monitoring of the horseshoe crab population in the Delaware
Bay.
Science Standard 7 ‐ Diversity and Continuity of Living Things Reproduction, Heredity and Development Enduring Understanding: Organisms reproduce, develop, have predictable life cycles, and pass on heritable traits to their offspring. Grades 6­8 1. Reproduction is a characteristic of all living systems and is essential to the continuation of every species. 3. Some organisms reproduce sexually involving two parents. Sexual reproduction results in offspring that have greater genetic diversity than those resulting from asexual reproduction. One‐half of the offspring’s genetic information comes from the “male” parent and one‐half comes from the “female” parent. These genetic differences help to ensure the survival of offspring in varied environments. 5. Organisms have different reproductive strategies to ensure their offspring’s survival. Some organisms produce many offspring and provide little parental care. Other organisms produce few offspring and invest much time and energy in care of their offspring. Outlines the reproductive strategy of horseshoe crabs: many eggs and no parental care.
Describes mating strategies of males—increase of genetic diversity.
Diversity and Evolution Enduring Understanding: The diversity and changing of life forms over many generations is the result of natural selection, in which organisms with advantageous traits survive, reproduce, and pass those traits to offspring. 2 - Updated April 2009 Grades 6­8 1. The Earth’s present day species evolved from earlier, distinctly different species. Many thousands of layers of sedimentary rock provide evidence for the long history of the Earth and for the long history of changing life forms whose remains are found in the rocks. More recently deposited rock layers are more likely to contain fossils resembling existing species. 5. There is a wide diversity of organisms on Earth. These organisms may be classified in a number of ways. One classification system places organisms into five kingdoms (monera, protista, fungi, plantae, animalia) based on similarities in structure. 6. The great variety of body forms and structures found in different species enable organisms to survive in diverse environments.
Identifies prehistoric ancestors of the present day horseshoe crab identified in fossils.
Allows for comparison of horseshoe crab features with those of other organisms.
Explains horseshoe crab taxonomy.
Science Standard 8 ‐ Ecology Interactions within the Environment Enduring Understanding: Organisms and their environments are interconnected. Changes in one part of the system will affect other parts of the system. Grades 4­5 3. Adaptations in organisms enable them to live and reproduce in certain environments. Those organisms that are best suited for particular environments have adaptations that allow them to compete for available resources and cope with the physical conditions of their immediate surroundings. 4. Changes in an organism’s environment may be either beneficial or harmful. Organisms may be affected by other organisms, by various physical factors (e.g., rainfall, temperature), by physical forces (e.g., storms, earthquakes), and by daily, seasonal, and annual cycles. 5. In order to survive, populations within an ecosystem require a balance of resources. Considers relatively unchanged adaptations of the horseshoe crab for its environment.
Explains horseshoe crab behavior in relation to seasonal changes.
Identifies key resources for the horseshoe crab, and also for other species depending on
the horseshoe crab itself.
3 - Updated April 2009 Grade 6­8 3. The Delaware Estuary is a semi‐enclosed tidal body of water with a free connection to the ocean. This richly productive system, including the associated marshes, provides a variety of habitats for diverse species. This system is biologically and economically important. 4. A population consists of all individuals of a species that occur together at a given place and time. A species is a distinct biological grouping of organisms whose members interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring. 5. The size of populations may change as a result of the interrelationships among organisms. These may include predator/prey ratios, availability of resources, and habitat changes. 8. Organisms within an ecosystem may interact symbiotically through mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. Analyzes the role of the horseshoe crab in the local estuary ecosystems.
Describes symbiotic relationships between the horseshoe crabs and other organisms.
Human Impact Enduring Understanding: Humans can alter the living and non­living factors within an ecosystem, thereby creating changes to the overall system. Grades 4­5 2. Different technologies are used to access resources to meet human wants and needs. In many cases the environment is affected and resources become limited. Grades 6­8 2. The introduction of competing species, removal of natural habitat, alteration of native landscapes due to urban, industrial and agricultural activities, over‐harvesting of species, alteration of waterways and removal of natural predators, etc., are actions that have a lasting impact on ecosystems. Grades 9­12 5. People manage the Earth and its resources by preservation, conservation, appropriate utilization, and restoration. The complexity and interaction of these ecosystems requires individual and collaborative efforts on a local, regional, national, and international scale. Explains human impacts on the horseshoe crab population: harvesting for commercial fishing
and medical research, development of important breeding grounds, and conservation.
4 - Updated April 2009