Student Exploration: Coral Reefs 2 – Biotic Factors/
Coral reef abiotic factors
[This lesson was designed as a follow-up to the Coral Reefs 1 – Abiotic Factors lesson. Students should complete that activity before trying this one.] Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site f...
[Note to teachers and students: This lesson was designed as a follow-up to the Coral Reefs 1 –
Abiotic Factors lesson. We recommend doing that activity before trying this one.]
Vocabulary: biotic factor, black band disease, invasive species, white band disease
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew left a wake of destruction through Florida. One
victim of the storm was a reptile-breeding facility. Over 900 Burmese pythons
were set free, and today thousands of pythons live in Florida. These pythons
are an invasive species, or a harmful species not native to the region.
1. What impacts do you think the Burmese pythons might have on local ecosystems?
2. In general, why might ecologists be concerned when new invasive species arrive in an
ecosystem?
Gizmo Warm-up
Like terrestrial environments, coral reefs can be damaged by
invasive species. Reefs are also impacted by disease-causing
bacteria, humans, and other biotic factors, or living parts of
the ecosystem. In the Coral Reefs 2 – Biotic Factors lesson,
you will explore how these factors affect coral reefs.
1. On the CONDITIONS tab, select Fishing. Set Net fishing to 50%. Click Advance year 10
times. What changes do you notice on the Coral reef tab?
2. On the DATA tab, select every organism. What happens to the reef populations?
This study source was downloaded by 100000844708667 from CourseHero.com on 08-23-2022 05:29:25 GMT -05:00
, Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
Click Return to original settings and Restart.
Fishing regulation On the CONDITIONS tab, check that Fishing is
selected.
Introduction: Fishing is a major part of many Caribbean economies. The yellowtail snapper
and Nassau grouper are important food fishes. However, a lack of adequate regulation has led
to overfishing in many areas and consequent damage to reefs. The goals of this activity are to
observe the effects of overfishing and determine how much fishing the reef can withstand.
Question: What are the effects of fishing on the reef ecosystem?
1. Describe: On the CORAL REEF tab, click on the stoplight parrotfish, queen angelfish,
yellowtail snapper, and Nassau grouper. Describe what each of these fishes eat.
Stoplight parrotfish: Yellowtail snapper:
Queen angelfish: Nassau grouper:
2. Predict: Set Grouper to 70%. How do you think this level of fishing will affect the
populations of the other fish in the simulated reef? Explain your reasoning.
3. Experiment: Select the DATA tab, and check that every species is selected. Click Advance
year 10 times. Which fish populations increased, and which fish populations decreased?
4. Explain: Why do you think the snapper population changed the way it did?
5. Predict: Click Return to original settings and Restart. Set Snapper to 70%. How do you
think this will affect the other fish populations? Explain your reasoning.
(Activity A continued on next page)
This study source was downloaded by 100000844708667 from CourseHero.com on 08-23-2022 05:29:25 GMT -05:00
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