Architects of Seamount Ecosystems

Young oceanographers research deep sea corals that thrive on chemosynthesis. The lesson focuses on the biology of the animal, preferred habitat, associations, and interactions.

Most drugs used today come from nature, so the discovery of new ecosystems in the deep sea is exciting from a medical perspective. Scholars develop their own bioassay to test germination rates in seeds. 

Students study the vent and non vent deep sea and see the differences in habitats.  In this investigative lesson students complete a worksheet and work in groups.

A tube worm's outer covering is made of chitin, the same material that makes up the shells of lobsters and crabs. Scholars create tube worms and analyze and discuss the longevity of organisms living near cold seeps. They then discuss and...

A pool of brine in the deep sea can be up to four times as salty as the surrounding sea water. The deep sea ecosystem relies on chemosynthesis and the organisms that live there are often strange to us. The lesson plan focuses on...

Students research life forms of both tropical coral reefs and deep-sea coral reefs to discover the biodiversity of the ecosystems. They compare and contrast the diversity and adaptations of the two eco-systems, and draw a picture showing...

The pressure at the bottom of the ocean is 10,000 times that at sea level. Scholars go under the sea as they learn about organisms found in the deep ocean waters. From angler fish to deep sea jellies that bioluminescence, viewers see...

Much like a distant planet, the underwater world of deep-sea benthos is strange and largely unknown. How do creatures survive and thrive in such extreme pressure and temperature conditions? Young oceanographers join the crew of Operation...

Come take a peak at the corals in the deep. Science scholars discover the hidden world of deep-sea corals in the third installment of a 13-part series. Topics include the differences between shallow water and deep-sea corals, the...

Welcome to the deep sea, off the coast of Pakistan! Follow the biologists as they observe the ocean floor and take samples with the help of underwater robotics. Especially interesting is the abundance of methane hydrate which, when lit...