Image sources  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/6603/animal.htm and http://www.stanford.edu/group/Urchin/GIFS\c-urchin.gif

The tasks for this activity require you to be in groups of three, with each group sharing access to a computer with internet connection. The primary outcomes of the tasks for assessment will be a 15 minute oral presentation to the class and a short written report .

TASK 1

Each group will firstly choose 3 marine species from the Heroes table on the next page (Process page) from the application called `Pharmaceuticals/ Chemicals/Disease'.

For each marine species you will be required to:

1. provide a visual representation of each animal. Be creative! You may want to draw, paint, photograph or make your animal using art materials.

2. study the environment each animal inhabits (e.g. open ocean, intertidal zone, coral reef, deep sea). Discuss the conditions that make this environment difficult to live in and what adaptations your animal has made in order to survive.

3. explain the physical attributes that make each animal suitable for using in marine biotechnology (e.g. chemical, physical). Which human disease or condition is each animal being used for in the research?

TASK 2

Each group will then be designated to complete a short written report for ALL the species from one other application i.e. from biomolecular materials, biopesticides, enzymes, bioremediation, biomonitoring, aquaculture OR environment etc.

Your report should focus specifically on what properties these species possess that makes them useful for this application. Also explain how the type of application is important for human or environmental benefit?

Tasks 1 and 2  will be assessed according to the criteria shown on the Evaluation page.

TASK 3

Using the links provided on Villains choose 3 animal or plant species and answer the following questions about marine pests in Australian waters:

1. what is the scientific name and common name of this marine pest?

2. which marine biome (habitat) does it live in?

3. where has it spread from, and to? How has it spread?

4. why is it considered a pest?

Briefly discuss your findings in front of the class. You will be marked as a group on how accurately you answer the questions.

Proceed to the Process page.

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Copyright © March 2003.

Website designed by Bronwyn Atcheson, Student at Queensland University of Technology, Queensland. Email b.atcheson@student.qut.edu.au