Oceanography and Marine Biology -- a Curriculum Starter

For Starters.... Water is Sort of the Main Attraction in Oceanology, Right? 

So are various environmental conditions--such as Hurricanes and Earthquakes..

Dihydrogen Monoxide Pollution -- Lens One

This Squidoo lens introduces an aspect of Oceanology, Oceanography, and Marine Biology--namely Dihydrogen Monoxide and how it's predominant in our ecosystem. To understand global warming, pollution, environmental changes, you should learn at least the basics of chemistry. Chemistry is essential to all life on our planet--whether it be plant life or animal life.

Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones--The Dangerous Winds

This Squidoo lens introduces another aspect of Oceanology, Oceanography, and Marine Biology--the weather: the wind currents and wind vortexes can redistribute oceanic life through either the air or through the wind-driven wave action. This can either destroy an island or coastline, or it can build up an island or coastline. Sometimes, it depends on how you look at the process.

Earthquake Preparation

Plate tectonics--how the land masses have moved and repositioned themselves over the millions of years through their "floating" on the earth's plasma, the molten "lava" that land masses ride on. The way that the land masses move creates "subduction zones" and "rifts" and "upheaval zones"... where one land mass (also known as a "tectonic plate") either is shoved under another land mass or is forced over the top of another land mass. Sometimes the land masses just slide against each other while traveling in different directions. Any of these movements can cause what we perceive as an "earthquake". The undersea earthquakes can generate tsunami--the resulting hydraulic pressure creates a "pressure wave", which travels at speeds faster than 700 miles per hour and which results in the massive and destructive wave sets that can obliterate any coastal areas. This was recently observed and experienced during the December 2004 Indonesian 9.0+ earthquake that destroyed much of the coastlines around the Indian Ocean.

Beaches--What Lines the Ocean (or is it the other way around?)

This Squidoo lens explains a bit about what beaches are and how they are formed. There's a bit of wave, tidal, and storm action involved, and also beaches sort of depend on what the geography is near where they form (if they form at all). And sometimes, there's sand involved!

Tsunami, Storm Surge, Floods

Earthquakes and Typhoons/Cyclones/Hurricanes can cause massive flooding of coastal areas--and, of course, areas along rivers that feed into the ocean are also subject to high tides (in addition to the flooding from annual snow melt upriver).

The Stingers--Cnidarians, the Corals, Jellyfish, Anemones, and Hydra 

Coral Reefs--Living Rocks? Yup, Coral is an Animal!

Coral reefs usually surround tropical islands in some way or another. This Squidoo lens describes the three main types of coral reefs:

• The Fringing Reef
• The Barrier Reef
• The Atoll

Of course, some shorelines have no reef (at least not those that have coral in them).

And yes, the coral organism, IS an animal. The coral animal is related to the jellyfish and sea anemone.

Sea Anemones

The sea anemones are related to corals and jellyfish. Certain movies may have made folks more aware of sea anemones--namely, the Disney movie "Finding Nemo", which showed the clownfish Nemo being protected (briefly) by the sea anemone on which he made his home. This Squidoo lens provides some starter material for studying this interesting creature in more depth.

Jellyfish

This Squidoo lens provides information on the wanderers of the sea--the Jellyfish. Jellyfish are related to the corals and the sea anemones and live in all the oceans and seas of the world. Information is presented in this Squidoo lens that can be used as "starter material" for further study if that is desired by the teacher or learner.

The Echinoderms--the "Prickly Skinned" Critters... 

Starfish

These echinoderms are interesting. They are generally the most recognized echinoderms found along the shores and in the waters of the world. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This Squidoo lens provides "starter material" for further study if you choose to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Sea Urchins

Sea urchins are relatives of the sea stars (aka "star fish") and the sea cucumbers. Again, this Squidoo lens provides basic information as starter that can be helpful if you'd like to learn more about these creatures. You can go to a Japanese restaurant and get sea urchin egg sushi (it's an acquired taste!)....

Sea Cucumbers

Sea cucumbers are not vegetables--they are animals (although most don't look like animals--they usually just stay immobile on the bottom "substrate"). This Squidoo lens provides basic information on these interesting creatures if you want to learn more about them.

Molluscs... Most of Them Don't Just Clam Up! 

Cone Shells

These beautiful molluscs (their shell, at least) have the characteristics of a stealth fighter--in that they are stealthy, quick, and deadly. Something that their prey and other creatures inadvertently discover sometimes. This Squidoo lens provides basic information on these creatures and their deadly characteristics--from which you can get further information from other available sources for more in-depth study.

Octopus

The octopus is a pretty savvy critter, considering that it is a "cousin" of the clams and other shellfish (it's a mollusc as well). This Squidoo provides basic information on the different kinds of octopus from which you can investigate these animals for further study.

Chambered Nautilus

This Squidoo lens provides information about the strange and rarely seen alive Chambered Nautilus--most common in the Indo-Pacific region of the oceans.

Giant Squid

This Squidoo lens provides a lot of information on the Giant Squid--of the Architeuthidae family. Lots of interesting info (and pictures!).

Squid!

This is a Squidoo lens about Squid in general.... what they're about and even how to cook 'em.... Yum... they're tasty! Check this lens out!

The Crustaceans -- Shrimps, Crabs, Lobsters, and Krill 

Shrimp! Their Biology and Their Cooking!

This Squidoo lens describes some of the varieties of shrimps that inhabit the marine environment. Some of the shrimps can be dangerous to humans (yeah, that sounds like an oxymoron--just like "jumbo-shrimp" -- but the lens explains and illustrate --with videos--why this is true).

Coconut Crabs - Giant Land Crabs of Tropical Islands

This Squidoo lens describes the giant land crabs, called "coconut crabs" or "robber crabs" of the tropical islands --mostly the Pacific Tropical areas.

The Fish--Hey, Isn't It the Fish that are the Whole Point of the Underwater World? 

Sharks!

This Squidoo provides basic information on Sharks that can be used as starter material for further study of these magnificent creatures.

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

This Squidoo lens provides basic information on the State Fish of Hawaii--the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a--also known as the "common reef triggerfish" or the "cubic triggerfish". You can use the information here as starter information for further study.

Clown Triggerfish

This Squidoo lens provides basic information on the Clown Triggerfish--another common fish found on the tropical coral reefs around the Pacific Ocean. You can use the information here as starter information for further study.

Lion Fish, Turkey Fish, Feather-Duster Fish -- Beautiful but Venomous!

This Squidoo lens introduces the turkey fish members of the Scorpionfish family (Scorpenidae). One of the most memorable views that many folks have had of a turkey fish was in the movie "The Spy Who Loved Me"--Starring Roger Moore as James Bond. In the submarine laboratory of the bad guy, James Bond identifies this creature as Pterois volitans. See more about this creature at this Squidoo.

Stone Fish ... Another Venomous and Extremely Dangerous Reef Dweller

This Squidoo lens provides images, videos, and some details about this strange coral reef dweller. See more about this creature here.

The Oceanic Reptiles 

Sea Snakes

Although they are sometimes mistaken for eels, sea snakes are very much reptiles--air breathing animals. They occasionally come ashore for laying eggs, but they live most of their lives in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This Squidoo lens provides basic information on these creatures from which you can study further with the materials mentioned and provided.

Sea Turtles

This Squidoo lens presents information on the 5 main varieties of sea turtles. It explains the difference between a turtle, a terrapin, and a tortoise. The lens presents the basic information that you can use to study further.

Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans, and Gharials

These giant aquatic and oceanic reptiles live along the coastlines around the world's tropical oceans and rivers. They come up on land to lay eggs and to go after prey that ventures close enough to the shore, but stay most of the time just submerged (except for their nostrils and eyes) under the water's surface. This Squidoo lens provides basic information from which you can study the creatures further from the materials presented within.

Monitor Lizards--The Hall Monitor Might Not Be What You Were Expecting!

Monitor lizards are Old World lizards that commonly take to the water and can migrate from island to island in close archipelagos. Some monitors, such as the Philippine and Thai River Monitors and the Komodo Dragons have been sighted far out to sea. This Squidoo provides basic information on these reptiles and shows more sources for further education if you choose to study them further.

Research and Study Organizations that Are Good Resources! 

Aquariums are also good for students!

University of Guam Marine Laboratory

This is where I got my interest in Marine Biology satisfied. The laboratory is a full-fledged research laboratory with a wide diversity of specialists in all aspects of oceanography, water quality, and marine biology.

University of Hawaii Marine Biology Laboratory

This facility has a great staff with a wide diversity of research areas for the Central Pacific.

British Oceanographic Data Center

This Squidoo lens is a great collection and description of the work of the British Oceanographic Data Center (BODC).

Tennessee Aquarium

This Aquarium on the Chattanooga waterfront has sharks, tropical fish, alligators, crocodiles, and all sorts of critters in between. The website has links for activities for both adults and kids. You can even reserve a spot for overnight "sleepovers" in the aquarium--what a great fieldtrip for kiddos to get *close* to the fishes without getting wet!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

This Pacific coast aquarium just south of San Francisco has a lot to offer visitors--the large tanks feature many rarely seen animals. Lots of activities for adults and kids here.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

This research facility up the coast a bit from the city of Monterey is a working facility--not much available for tours by nonbiologists. But they still have a lot of interesting things to see at their website.

The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific

This aquarium in southern California is a great place for family and school field trips. Check out this website for an idea what you can find here.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

This is the website for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (on Cape Cod).