The primary purpose of this site is to announce the availability of an educational CD-ROM that promotes interaction with multimedia tools that enable users to discover why the marine ecosystem is critical to human existence. The CD is supported with a list of frequently asked questions and educator ideas. In addition, the site provides links to several other sites including Toxic and Harmful Algal ... Full description.

This in-depth profile of a marine biologist takes a look at how animals live and thrive, especially early in life, at very cold temperatures in an Antarctic environment. In this question and answer profile Donal Manahan answers more than 10 questions, including how he ended up studying the adaptations of marine organisms in Antarctica, how many sea urchin and sea star eggs is a lot, if animals actually ... Full description.

During the winter, the sea ice off Antarctica covers an area so big that it's actually the largest continuous habitat on Earth. The algae that live there produce 25 percent of all oxygen on the planet. This in-depth profile of a biological oceanographer gives students insight into the bacteria and algae that live below the layers of Antarctica's sea ice. In the question and answer profile Cornelius ... Full description.

In this activity students will simulate aspects of the Antarctic ice ecosystem, and see how simple life forms respond, thus modeling links between environmental factors and biological responses. Students should recognize the parallels between their work and that done by the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) team. Students will conduct a controlled experiment with brine shrimp eggs in order ... Full description.

While engaged in this activity students will explore phytoplankton, the food of tiny marine animals, particularly krill. Students will prepare a hay infusion in two identical glass aquarium tanks or a 1-liter glass jar and expose one to 24 hours of continuous light, and the other for only four hours during the school day, with all light blocked off by opaque material during the remaining hours. They ... Full description.

This lecture explains research on the shark species who migrate north to Massachusetts as the ocean waters warm in May and June. Among the species are oceanic sharks such as the blue, mako or basking sharks; coastal species such as sandbar sharks, spiny and smooth dogfish; or tropical species such as tiger and hammerhead sharks; and the porbeagle shark, the only species found year-round in Massachusetts ... Full description.

At the bottom of the ocean, miles away from the nearest sunlight, live all sorts of bizarre organisms around submarine volcanoes - new types of bacteria and giant tubeworms, for example. This radio broadcast reports on these lifeforms and their ecosystems, which are changing what scientists think about the origin of life on Earth. The clip is 2 minutes in length. Full description.

In this activity students investigate bioluminescence, which is light given off by living organisms and is common among creatures of the sea. Students discover that in the deep sea, where little or no sunlight penetrates, a variety of fishes live out their lives dependent upon bioluminescence, and that among these fishes, light organs have evolved to serve a number of purposes. Students will learn ... Full description.

This site gives students a chance to get acquainted with some of the most fearsome and fascinating creatures that roam the ocean's depths. The information includes habitat, average adult size, natural history, range, and a photograph. Areas covered include the kelp forests, the food chain, animals with venom, fish with bioluminescence, sharks, whales, coral reefs, and animals living in areas of upwelling. ... Full description.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program education mission is to enhance public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the marine environment. The site features the Dive Into Education Marine Science Program for teachers to support ocean literacy in the classroom; and the Living Classrooms program, an ocean field studies program for teacher ... Full description.