Richlen Mindy L, Curran Mary Carla, Chadwick Christina, Hubbard Katherine A
Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA 31404.
Sci Act. 2022;59(4):180-190. doi: 10.1080/00368121.2022.2106172. Epub 2022 Aug 13.
The Earth's oceans are home to a diverse array of life, from large marine mammals to microscopic organisms. Among the most important are the marine phytoplankton, which comprise the basis of marine food webs, and also produce a large percentage of the Earth's oxygen through photosynthesis. Although the vast majority of phytoplankton are essential to ocean health, several dozen species produce potent toxins, and can form what are called Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). This activity focuses on the importance of HABs, as well as the types of data scientists collect to understand blooms. In the classroom exercises, students will calculate the proportional abundance (% contribution) of five HAB species present in water samples, and use these data to create pie graphs to depict species composition. Students will then compare these results with levels of HAB toxins in water samples collected over the same time period. Thought questions challenge students to develop hypotheses regarding how changes in the HAB community may relate to observed trends in toxin concentrations. This activity was successfully taught to visually impaired students who were able to complete the pie charts and answer the thought questions.
地球海洋是各种各样生命的家园，从大型海洋哺乳动物到微观生物。其中最重要的是海洋浮游植物，它们构成了海洋食物网的基础，还通过光合作用产生了地球上很大比例的氧气。虽然绝大多数浮游植物对海洋健康至关重要，但有几十种浮游植物会产生强效毒素，并能形成所谓的有害藻华（HABs）。本活动聚焦于有害藻华的重要性，以及科学家为了解藻华而收集的数据类型。在课堂练习中，学生将计算水样中存在的五种有害藻华物种的相对丰度（% 贡献），并使用这些数据制作饼状图来描绘物种组成。然后，学生将把这些结果与同一时期收集的水样中的有害藻华毒素水平进行比较。思考问题促使学生就有害藻华群落的变化如何与观察到的毒素浓度趋势相关联提出假设。这项活动成功地教授给了视障学生，他们能够完成饼状图并回答思考问题。
