Marine Biology

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION LESSON PLAN

By Todd Holman


Subject/Topic:
Sex in the sea

Year/Level: Level 10 Marine Biology

Aims:
Students explore the importance that reproduction plays in the cycle of life of
marine organisms. They will discover why aquatic animals can have different
reproduction strategies to that of land-based animals. They will look at the
differences between asexual and sexual reproduction, and internal and
external fertilization. Then investigate how aquatic animals can utilize the
properties of water for external reproduction.

Expected student learning outcomes:

To understand the importance of reproduction in the cycle of life.

To look at the different mechanism and adaptations to reproduction in
an aquatic environment.


Preparation

Whiteboard marker
Computer and power point presentation
Worksheet
Yellow and blue food colouring x10 each
Large clear container x10 each
Stirring rod x10


Teaching strategies (including timing of activities)

ACTIVITY

TIMING
Prior Knowledge How do some organisms in the
Ocean reproduce?
Introduction to sex in the sea and questions
25 minutes
Sex in the sea fill in the missing words worksheet 1 10 minutes
7 reproduction strategies youtube clips and
worksheet 2 relating to clips
40 minutes
External fertilization practical and questions 30 minutes
Whiteboard discussion 5 minutes
Individual worksheet 3 Remainder







































Worksheet 2: Spawning in the sea Name:

Following each of the video clips, please make notes on the reproduction
strategy used by each animal.

Sponges:





Coral Spawning:





Coral Budding:





Cuttlefish:





Fish Spawning Aggregation:





Barramundi:





Grey Reef Shark:








Activity 3: External Fertilisation

Students will explore how aquatic animals can use external fertilization.

This is achieved by adding food coloring into water and observing the results.
Use yellow food coloring to represent the eggs and blue coloring to represent
sperm. In this experiment, successful fertilization occurs when the water turns
green

Steps

1. Fill glass-baking dish with water. Use the tip of an empty pipette to
stir the water (two circular stirs only)

2. Add one drop of the yellow food coloring at one end of the baking
dish.

3. After 5 seconds, add one drop of the blue coloring to the other end
of the baking dish.

4. The slight water movement created in step 1 should allow the
coloring to slowly mix, but only a small amount should change color.

5. Record observations in book

5. Ask student to stir water again (five circular stirs only) and add 5
drops of both the yellow and the blue dye.

6. Record observations in book.


Answer questions in workbook:
Q1.What can animals do to encourage the egg and sperm to mix?

Q2.What does the green colour represent?

Q3.What types of conditions could prevent fertilisation from occurring?

Q4.What types of condition could aid fertilisation from occurring?

Q5.Why do you think animals on the land dont reproduce externally? What
would happen if they tried?







Sex in the sea worksheet
Name:
(Write your answers in notebook please)

Q1) Female gonads are called ovaries. What do they produce?

Q2) Male sexual organ are called testis. What do they produce?

Q2) How does an animal that is permanently attached to a surface such as a coral or a
sponge reproduce?

Q3) Some marine animals are able to reproduce sexually and asexually. Can you
define these words?


Q4)



Q5) What is the difference between internal and external fertilisation?

Q6) Can you name a fish that does not reproduce externally like most bony
fish?





Q7) Cuttlefish have
developed an unusual
mating behaviour. Describe
it in a few sentences?







Conclusion
Overview: Review learning intentions



Extra activity if required: