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A Note to the Educator
This presentation contains the Instructions for
conducting the Build a Seagrass Community and
Build a Seagrass Food Chain/Web for grades 5
through 8, designated here as Level 2. The
components for this activity are found in the
Components folder in two batches Batch1.ppt and
Batch2.ppt. The components are the same for
Levels 1 and 2. The Background Information for
the Seagrass Activity Kit presentation (also
found on this CD) offers information about the
organisms and habitats used in the educational
activities found in the Seagrass Activity Kit. It
is intended to refresh the educator with
information relating to the activities. A
glossary of terms is provided at the end of the
presentation for reference purposes. We
acknowledge the artists, M. Gill and D. Peebles,
who created some of the artwork contained in this
educational package. The Seagrass Activity Kit
was developed for educators and their students by
Nancy Diersing and Joy Tatgenhorst, Education
Specialists from the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary. For more information or to provide
input, please contact Mary Tagliareni,
Education Coordinator, Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary, [phone] x 30 or
Mary.Tagliareni_at_noaa.gov or Nancy Diersing, (305)
852-7717 x 26 or Nancy.Diersing_at_noaa.gov.
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An Overview of the Seagrass Activity Kit

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Title Build a Seagrass Community Build a
Seagrass Food Chain/Web--Level 2 Audience
Grades 5-8 National Science Education Standards
The two activities described in this presentation
are designed to meet the Life Science, Content
Standard C. Build a Seagrass Community and Build
a Seagrass Food Chain/Web enable students to
better understand an important concepts of this
standard Populations and Ecosystems (described
below in an excerpt from National Science
Education Standards (1996). Populations and
Ecosystems A population consists of all
individuals of a species that occur together at
a given place and time. All populations living
together and the physical factors with which
they interact compose an ecosystem. Populations
of organisms can be categorized by the function
they serve in an ecosystem. Plants and some
microorganisms are producersthey make their own
food. All animals, including humans, are
consumers, which obtain food by eating other
organisms. Decomposers, primarily bacteria and
fungi, are consumers that use waste materials
and dead organisms for food. Food webs identify
the relationships among producers, consumers,
and decomposers in an ecosystem. For
ecosystems, the major source of energy is
sunlight. Energy entering ecosystems as sunlight
is transferred by producers into chemical energy
through photosynthesis. That energy then passes
from organism to organism in food webs. The
number of organisms an ecosystem can support
depends on the resources available and abiotic
factors, such as quantity of light and water,
range of temperatures, and soil composition.
Given adequate biotic and abiotic resources and
no disease or predators, populations (including
humans) increase at rapid rates. Lack of
resources and other factors, such as predation
and climate, limit the growth of populations in
specific niches in the ecosystem.
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• Build a Seagrass Community Build a Seagrass
  Food Chain/Web--Level 2
• Suggested Time 45-60 minutes for each activity
• Materials
• Printed copy of each page in this presentation,
  containing the nonliving and living components of
  the seagrass community (Arrows are for the Food
  chain/web activity).
• Printed copy of Who am I? Clues for Level 2 and
  of Who am I in the Food Web? (Level 2) (for
  food chain/web activity)
• Felt board, poster board or wall in classroom
  (approximately 3 to 4 ft. by 2-4 ft. in size)
• Clear tape for sticking components to poster
  board or wall OR Velcro for sticking animals to
  felt board
• Scissors for students to use when cutting out
  animals
• Note The students may be enlisted to cut out the
  components to be used in building the community.
  This can be a separate activity prior to
  initiating the activity described below. If the
  components are to be used again, it may be good
  to laminate them.

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How to Read the Hints in the Who am
I? Clue Cards In the Who am I ? Clues, you
will find the words, benthic, nektonic, or
planktonic to describe where the piece is to be
placed on the board. Benthic refers to
bottom-dwelling organisms some benthic animals
are free-moving such as the sea star and others
are sessile or live attached to a hard surface,
such as the sponge. Swimming animals are
described as nektonic and organisms that float or
drift in the ocean currents (no matter how large
or small) are planktonic (see glossary for more
about planktonic organisms). You will also find
descriptions to convey the feeding habits of the
organism--producer/consumer/decomposer. Within
the consumer category, the description herbivore
is given to plant-eating animals such as grassbed
urchins, queen conchs. Carnivore is used to
describe those animals that feed on other
animals. Omnivores consume both plant and
animals for food. Terms such as predator and
grazer are also used to describe the lifestyles
of certain organisms. These clues to feeding
habits may also be used in the food chain/web
activity.

• Build a Seagrass Community Activity--Level 2
• Students receive two to four nonliving and living
  components.
• 2. Under the teachers guidance and using the
  Who am I? Clues, students create a seagrass
  community on the back board, beginning with the
  nonliving components, then moving to the plants,
  and then to animals (The consumers are not
  necessarily in any order).
• To initiate the building part of the activity,
  the teacher reads the clues one at a time in
  numerical order. After each clue is read, those
  students holding the component (plant, or animal
  or nonliving) described by the Who am I? clue,
  places his/her piece on the board in the
  appropriate location. This activity begins with
  the Sun and then moves to seawater (you can point
  out the air and sand/seafloor, too). Next, the
  seagrass clues are read and students place the
  seagrass patches along the seafloor on the board.
  Then, animals are described and placed in their
  appropriate locations. Together the animals,
  plants, and decomposers living in an area form a
  biological community that is adapted to its
  environment. (see fig. 1)

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Note The diversity of organisms that inhabit
or forage in the seagrass is evident by looking
at the completed board. Some of the ecological
roles (niches) that the organisms play are
described in the Who am I? clues. Some
questions that may be posed to initiate a
discussion with the students are What would
happen to the animals that depend upon seagrass
if the seagrass disappeared? or What might
happen to populations of animals if a certain
group of animals were eliminated from the food
chain ? This helps to emphasize the
interdependent nature of organisms in a
biological community. The herbivores (primary
consumers), carnivores (secondary and tertiary
consumers) and predator-prey relationships may be
identified and discussed. (see fig. 1)
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• Build a Seagrass Food Chain/Web--Level 2
• Print out and cut out the components needed for
  this exercise. Adjust your printing to fit your
  class size. You will only need one sun, two to
  three seawater components, and several seagrass
  patches (that can be overlapped on the board due
  to space constraints.) For the food chain animal
  components, print out several shrimp and conch,
  but fewer spiny lobsters, sea turtles, snappers
  and bonefish. This will better reflect the
  populations in nature where many shrimp are
  needed to feed one snapper and many queen conch
  are needed to feed one adult lobster,etc. Having
  more herbivores than carnivores reflects what
  occurs in nature since it takes many herbivores
  to support one carnivore and lots of seagrass to
  support one herbivore. The transfer of energy
  between organisms in the food chain is far less
  than 100 efficient energy is lost at each
  level as heat. (see fig. 2)
• Pass out the components to the students so that
  each student has at least one piece.
• Read the Who am I in the food chain? clues in
  the order that they are given. There is one set
  of clues for each of the food chains listed
  below. When their animal or component is
  described by the clue being read aloud, the
  student will place the animals where they live in
  the seagrass community.
• For each food chain, use the yellow arrows to
  show the transfer of energy from the sun to the
  seagrass and the green arrows to show the
  transfer from plants to animals and so on. (see
  fig. 3)
• Food Chain1-- seagrass (and the living organisms
  growing on its leaves) ? queen conch ? loggerhead
  turtles
• Food Chain 2-- seagrass ? young queen conch ?
  spiny lobster ?nurse shark
• Food Chain 3-- seagrass ? queen conch ? tulip
  snail ? octopus

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• Note Now that three food chains have been placed
  on the board, ask the students to indicate where
  these food
• chains overlap with one another using the green
  arrows. Essentially, the food chains will become
  a food web
• when the connections between food chains are
  indicated using the energy arrows. See figure 4
  to show the
• structure of the food web that can be created
  with these three food chains.
• Ask the students to describe how humans fit into
  the seagrass food web. Do humans feed on gray
  snapper? Spiny lobster? Queen conch? Even
  though humans do not eat the seagrass, they do
  sometimes eat the animals that depend upon
  seagrass.
• Conduct the same activity using the food chains
  given below. Chains 1 and 2 are based on decaying
  seagrass that is consumed by shrimp. Chain 3
  begins with phytoplankton. Phytoplankton and
  zooplantkon are food sources for many
  filter-feeders, including bay scallops, sponges,
  and marine worms such as fan worms. (see fig. 5)
• Food Chain1-- seagrass (dies) ? bacteria
  (decomposes seagrass to form detritus) ? shrimp
  ?gray snapper
• Food Chain 2-- seagrass (dies) ? bacteria
  (decomposes seagrass to form detritus) ? shrimp
  ?bonefish
• Food Chain 3-- phytoplankton ?zooplankton ?bay
  scallops ?spiny lobster
• Note Initiate a discussion about the differences
  between these food chains and those provided
• in the previous examples. Two important concepts
  can be stated. Seagrass is important not
• only when it is alive, but also when it is dead.
  If time permits, construct all food chains on a
• board, showing the interconnectedness of marine
  organisms within the seagrass community.

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Figure 5. A simple food chain.
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Who Am I? Level 2 Clues for Building the
Seagrass Commmunity Note To use the technical
names or terms instead of the descriptions given,
substitute the underlined phrase in parentheses
for the italicized text. 1. Sun I am the source
of all energy for producers on Earth. I am a star
that emits light. (Abiotic factor) 2.
Seawater I contain 3.5 salt plus other minerals.
I am in a liquid form. (Abiotic factor) 3.
Seagrass I am a primary producer (or plant) that
has leaves, roots, and runners. My rhizomes (or
runners) grow across the seafloor, helping to
keep the bottom sand and sediments in place. Many
animals depend upon me for shelter and food. I
reproduce by growing new rhizomes (runners) along
the seafloor or by producing flowers. (primary
producer, benthic) 4. Red Mangrove Tree I am
primary producer (or plant) that grows in salt
water along the shoreline. I use my drop and prop
roots to anchor into the sandy or muddy sea
bottom. Large forests of me protect the upland
areas from wave action associated with storms and
hurricanes. My seedling can float for miles in
the water currents. (primary producer,
benthic) (primary producer, benthic) 5.
Phytoplankton I am the name given to all of the
drifting plants (substitute autotrophs) that are
carried by the currents in the ocean. In most
cases, I am microscopic. The many different
species of these driftin plants are important in
the oceans food chain. (primary producer,
planktonic) 6. ZooplanktonI am the name given
to all of the drifting animals (heterotrophs)that
are carried by the currents in the ocean. Many
times, I am microscopic and can be a food source
for many other marine animals. (zooplankton are a
mixture of marine invertebrates in both larval
and adult forms, includes fish larvae, planktonic)
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7. Vase Sponge I am a marine invertebrate that
grows attached to the seafloor. I am covered with
tiny pores that draw in food and oxygen from the
seawater (substitute Poriferan). I am light
brown in color and my body is shaped like a cup
with a large opening. (marine invertebrate,
benthic--sessile, filter-feeds on plankton and
bacteria Phylum Porifera) 8. Tube Sponge I am
a marine invertebrate that grows attached to the
seafloor. I am covered with tiny pores that draw
in food and oxygen from the seawater (substitute
Poriferan). My body is shaped like a series of
hollow tubes. (marine invertebrate,
benthic--sessile, filter-feeds on plankton and
bacteria Phylum Porifera) 9. Pink-tipped
Anemone I am a marine invertebrate with stinging
tentacles surrounding my mouth. I have only a
mouth and a simploe gut. (substitute Cnidarian).
I have pink tipped tentacles and a body that is
able to move along the seafloor. I do not grow a
skeleton around my base. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, uses stinging tentacles to
capture prey Phylum Cnidaria) 10. Rose Coral I
am a marine invertebrate with stinging tentacles
surrounding my mouth. I have only a mouth and a
hollow gut (substitute Cnidarian). I grow a
golden-colored rose-shaped skeleton around my
body for protection. My hard outer skeleton is
pointed at its base. (marine invertebrate,
benthic --sessile, uses stinging tentacles to
capture prey Phylum Cnidaria) 11. Bay Scallop
I am a soft-bodied invertebrate with a foot used
in locomotion (substitute Mollusk) I grow two
shells that are hinged together at the base. I
filter the water for oxygen and plankton and am
able to propel through the water using a
water-current. (marine invertebrate, mostly
benthicfree-living, can propel themselves
through the water for short distances,
filter-feeds on plankton Phylum Mollusca)
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12. Queen Conch I am a soft-bodied invertebrate
with a foot used in locomotion (substitute
Mollusk). I grow a large singl heavy shell that
flares out as I grow into adulthood. The inside
of my shells lip is pink. I can be found in
large herds in shallow water, grazing on algae
growing on the seagrass leaves and rocky
seafloor. (marine invertebrate, benthic
free-living, feeds on seagrass and the algae
growing on its leaves Phylum Mollusca) 13.
Tulip Snail I am a soft-bodied invertebrate with
a foot used in locomotion (substitute Mollusk). I
grow a single, spiral shell around my body. I am
a predator that pries open clams and other
mollusks for food. (marine invertebrate,
benthic, carnivorous on clams and other bivalves
Phylum Mollusca) 14. Common Octopus I am a
soft-bodied invertebrate that does not have a
hard outer shell (substitute Mollusk). For
protection, I occupy a hole in the seafloor. I
have a well-developed head with two large eyes
that can see color. I prey on crabs, clams, and
other invertebrates using my 8 tentacles, which
are covered with suction cups. (marine
invertebrate, benthicfree-living, deposit feeder
on detritus (decaying organic matter Phylum
Mollusca) 15. Medusa Worm I am an invertebrate
with a soft body that is divided into repeating
sections called segments (substitute Annelid). I
burrow my long narrow body into the soft sand on
the seafloor while my sticky soft tentacles stick
out at the and spread across the seafloor. When
feeding, I trap food matter with my
spaghetti-like sticky tentacles. When disturbed,
I pull the tentacles back into my tube. (marine
invertebrate, benthicfree-living, deposit feeder
on detritus (decaying organic matter Phylum
Annelida) 16. Horseshoe Crab I am a
jointed-legged animal with two main body parts
and a hard outer shell that is molted each time I
grow larger (substitute an Arthropod). I am a
very ancient animal who is related to spiders and
scorpions. I have many legs and two small
pinchers underneath my body. I have a long
pointed tail called a telson for balance.
(marine invertebrate, benthicfree-living,
carnivore that feeds on marine worms and clam
Phylum Arthropoda)
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17. Hermit Crab I am a jointed-legged animal
with two main body parts and a hard outer shell
that is molted each time I grow larger
(substitute an Arthropod). I occupy an old
snails shell that I carried on my back for
protection. My legs and pinchers can poke out of
or be pulled in from the shell. When I become
too large for this shell, I must find a new shell
to occupy. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, Omnivore that feeds on both
plants and animals Phylum Arthropoda) 18. Pink
Shrimp I am a jointed-legged animal with two main
body parts and a hard outer shell that is molted
each time I grow larger (substitute an
Arthropod). I have ten tiny legs and my head is
pointed. When young, I live in the seagrass beds,
but as an adult I move into deeper water and hide
in the sandy bottom. I consume decaying seagrass
and am an important food for many marine
animals. (marine invertebrate, benthicfree-living
, feeds on decaying and living seagrass and
smaller animals Phylum Arthropoda) 19. Blue
Crab I am a jointed-legged animal with two main
body parts and a hard outer shell that is molted
each time I grow larger (substitute an
Arthropod). I have ten legs. One pair of legs is
really a pair of pinching claws used for getting
food and defending myself. Another pair of legs
is a set of paddles used for swimming and burying
myself in the sand. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, carnivorous on smaller
crustaceans, fish, and mollusks Phylum
Arthropoda) 20. Spiny LobsterI am a
jointed-legged animal with two main body parts
and a hard outer shell that is molted each time I
grow larger (substitute an Arthropod). I have ten
legs, a tail, and two sets of antennae on my head
used to sense the environment. I have two large
eyes protected by horns. I back myself into holes
in the reef, but can also swim fast backwards
using my tail. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, carnivore that feeds on
young queen conch, scallops, and other benthic
animals Phylum Arthropoda)
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21. Sea Cucumber I am a spiny-skinned
invertebrate with water-filled tube feet that
stick onto hard surfaces (or substitute an
Echinoderm).) I have no obvious spines, an
elongated body, and a complete digestive system.
I am able to regenerate body parts when needed.
When disturbed, I regurgitate my guts and grow
them back at a later time. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, eats sand from seafloor and
consumes the detritus in the sand Phylum
Echinodermata) 22. Grassbed Urchin I am a
spiny-skinned invertebrate with tube feet that
stick onto hard surfaces (or substitute an
Echinoderm). I have many sharp pointed spines
that are used for locomotion or for protection.
My mouth is on the underside of my oval-shaped
body and has five teeth used in grazing on
plant material. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, feeds on seagrass and the
algae growing on its leavesPhylum
Echinodermata) 23. Cushion Sea Star I am a
spiny-skinned invertebrate with tube feet that
stick onto hard surfaces (or substitute an
Echinoderm). I inhabit the seagrass beds and feed
on the living organisms found growing on seagrass
leaves. I have five wide arms. I am a protected
species because I have been over-collected. (marin
e invertebrate, benthicfree-living, feeds on
seagrass and the algae growing on its
leavesPhylum Echinodermata) 24. Southern
Stingray I am a vertebrate with scales and gills
(substitute belong to the Chondrichthyes). I have
a skeleton made of cartilage. My mouth is
underneath my flattened shaped body and my gill
slits are on top. I have a long tail with a
large barb near the tip used in defense. I can
either bury myself in the sand or swim through
the water. (marine vertebrate, cartilaginous
fish, nektonic, carnivorous on mollusks and
crustaceans Phylum Chordata, Subphylum
Vertebrata, Class Chondryichthyes) 25. Nurse
Shark I am a vertebrate with scales and gills. I
have a skeleton made of cartilage. (substitute
belong to the Chondrichthyes). I have six gill
slits on the each side of my head and two dorsal
(back) fins. I spend a lot of time on the
seafloor feeding on marine invertebrates.
(marine vertebrate, cartilaginous fish, nektonic,
carnivorous on mollusks and crustaceans Phylum
Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Class
Chondryichthyes)
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26. Gray Snapper I am a vertebrate with scales
and gills (substitute belong to the
Osteichthyes). I hide between the roots of the
red mangroves along the shore and feed on shrimp
and other crustaceans in the grassbeds. I have a
stripe across each eye to mask them from
predators. (marine vertebrate, bony fish,
nektonic, carnivorous on smaller fish and
crustaceans, predator Phylum Chordata, Subphylum
Vertebrata, Class Osteichthyes) 27. Sea Horse I
am a vertebrate with scales and gills and a bony
skeleton (substitute belong to the Osteichthyes).
I can wrap my tail around corals and seaweeds.
I have a long narrow snout with a small mouth
used in feeding on plankton. I can use my tail
to wrap onto corals and seaweeds. (marine
vertebrate, bony fish, nektonic, carnivorous on
small crustaceans in the water columnPhylum
Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Class
Osteichthyes) 28. PinfishI am a vertebrate with
scales and gills and a bony skeleton (substitute
belong to the Osteichthyes). I swim in schools
over the shallow waters over the grassbeds,
feeding on clams and other shellfish that I crush
with my strong jaws. I have a yellow body with
stripes and a spot near each of my eyes. People
like to use me as bait for larger fish. (marine
vertebrate, bony fish, nektonic, omnivorous on
crustaceans in the seagrass and algae and
seagrassPhylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata,
Class Osteichthyes) 29. Barracuda I am a
vertebrate with scales and gills and a bony
skeleton (substitute belong to the
Osteichthyes). I can swim forward very quickly to
prey on smaller fish. I have a long silvery body,
large jaws, and sharp teeth. People are sometimes
afraid of me. (marine vertebrate, bony fish,
nektonic, carnivorous mainly on smaller fish
Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Class
Osteichthyes) 30. Bonefish I am a vertebrate
with scales and gills and a bony skeleton
(substitute belong to the Osteichthyes). I swim
in the shallow waters near shore feeding on
shrimp and other small animals on the bottom. I
am a popular fish for anglers to catch. I have a
forked tail fin. (marine vertebrate, bony fish,
nektonic, carnivorous on shrimp and other
crustaceans Phylum Chordata, Subphylum
Vertebrata, Class Osteichthyes)
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31. Loggerhead Sea Turtle I am a vertebrate with
scaly skin who breathes air and lays
air-breathing eggs on land (substitute belong to
the Reptilia) I have a large shell on my back and
four flippers used in swimming. I live my life
at sea, but lay eggs on the beach. I use my
strong jaws to crush small conch and lobsters for
food. (marine vertebrate, reptile, nektonic,
carnivorous on mollusks and crustaceans Phylum
Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Class
Reptilia) 32. Brown Pelican I am a warm-blooded,
two-legged animal that has feathers and hollow
bones (substitute belong to the Aves). I dive
from the air to catch fish in my large beak and
nest in the mangroves along the coast. (marine
vertebrate, bird, carnivorous on small fish such
as minnows and pilchards Phylum Chordata,
Subphylum Vertebrata, Class Aves) 33. Bottlenose
Dolphin I am an air-breathing vertebrate that
feeds milk to its young (substitute belong to the
Mammalia). I feed primarily fish that are tracked
down using sound waves or echolocation. I live
in pods with others of my kind and take care of
my young. (marine vertebrate, nektonic, mammal,
carnivorous on fish Phylum Chordata, Subphylum
Vertebrata, Class Mammalia) 34. Bacteria I am
made of very primitive cells that do not contain
nuclei. (Substitute Prokaryotic). I am
microscopic. I am a decomposer, growing on dead
plants or animals, breaking them down and
releasing nutrients back into the environment
where they can be used by other organisms.
(decomposer, encrusts dead organisms and causes
decay)
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Who am I in the food chain? Clues Food Chain 1--
seagrass (and the living organisms growing on its
leaves) ? queen conch ? loggerhead turtles 1.
Sun I am the source of all energy for producers
on Earth. I am a star that emits light. (Abiotic
factor) 2. Seawater I contain 3.5 salt plus
other minerals. I am in a liquid form. (Abiotic
factor) 3. Seagrass I am a primary producer (or
plant) that has leaves, roots, and runners. My
rhizomes (or runners) grow across the seafloor,
helping to keep the bottom sand and sediments in
place. Many animals depend upon me for shelter
and food. I reproduce by growing new rhizomes
(runners) along the seafloor or by producing
flowers. (primary producer, benthic) 4. Queen
Conch I am a soft-bodied invertebrate with a foot
used in locomotion (substitute Mollusk). I grow
a single large heavy shell that flares out as I
grow into adulthood. The inside of my shells lip
is pink. I can be found in large herds in shallow
water, grazing on algae growing on the seagrass
leaves and rocky seafloor. (marine invertebrate,
benthic free-living, feeds on seagrass and the
algae growing on its leaves) 5.Loggerhead Sea
Turtle I am a vertebrate with scaly skin who
breathes air and lays air-breathing eggs on land
(substitute belong to the Reptilia) I have a
large shell on my back and four flippers used in
swimming. I live my life at sea, but lay my
clutch of eggs on the beach. I use my strong jaws
to crush small conch and lobsters for
food. (marine vertebrate, reptile, nektonic,
carnivorous on mollusks and crustaceans)
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Who am I in the food chain? CluesFood Chain 2--
seagrass ? young queen conch ? spiny
lobsters 1. Sun I am the source of all energy
for producers on Earth. I am a star that emits
light. (Abiotic factor) 2. Seawater I contain
3.5 salt plus other minerals. I am in a liquid
form. (Abiotic factor) 3. Seagrass I am a
primary producer (or plant) that has leaves,
roots, and runners. My rhizomes (or runners)
grow across the seafloor, helping to keep the
bottom sand and sediments in place. Many animals
depend upon me for shelter and food. I reproduce
by growing new rhizomes (runners) along the
seafloor or by producing flowers. (primary
producer, benthic) 4. young Queen Conch I am a
soft-bodied invertebrate with a foot used in
locomotion (substitute Mollusk). I grow a single
large heavy shell that flares out as I grow into
adulthood. I can be found in large herds in
shallow water, grazing on algae growing on the
seagrass leaves and rocky seafloor. (marine
invertebrate, benthic free-living, feeds on
seagrass and the algae growing on its leaves) 5.
Spiny Lobster I am a jointed-legged animal with
two main body parts and a hard outer shell that
is molted each time I grow larger (substitute an
Arthropod). I have ten legs, a tail, and two sets
of antennae on my head used to sense the
environment. I have two large eyes protected by
horns. I back myself into holes in the reef, but
can also swim fast backwards using my tail.
(marine invertebrate, benthicfree-living,
carnivore that feeds on young queen conch,
scallops, and other benthic animals)
23
Who am I in the food chain? Clues Food Chain
3seagrass (dies) ? bacteria) ?shrimp ? pinfish ?
gray snapper 1. Sun I am the source of all
energy for producers on Earth. I am a star that
emits light. (Abiotic factor) 2. Seawater I
contain 3.5 salt plus other minerals. I am in a
liquid form. (Abiotic factor) 3. Seagrass I am
a primary producer (or plant) that has leaves,
roots, and runners. My rhizomes (or runners)
grow across the seafloor, helping to keep the
bottom sand and sediments in place. Many animals
depend upon me for shelter and food. I reproduce
by growing new rhizomes (runners) along the
seafloor or by producing flowers. (primary
producer, benthic) 4.Bacteria I am made of very
primitive cells that do not contain nuclei.
(Substitute Prokaryotic). I am microscopic. I am
a decomposer, growing on dead plants or animals,
breaking them down and releasing nutrients back
into the environment where they can be used by
other organisms.(decomposer, encrusts dead
organisms and causes decay) 5. Pink ShrimpI am
a jointed-legged animal with two main body parts
and a hard outer shell that is molted each time I
grow larger (substitute an Arthropod). I have
ten tiny legs and my head is pointed. When young,
I live in the seagrass beds, but as an adult I
move into deeper water and hide in the sandy
bottom. I consume decaying seagrass and am an
important food for many marine animals. (marine
invertebrate, benthicfree-living, feeds on
decaying and living seagrass and smaller
animals) 6.Gray Snapper I am a vertebrate with
scales and gills and a bony skeleton (substitute
a belong to the Osteichthyes). I hide between the
roots of the red mangroves along the shore and
feed on shrimp and other crustaceans in the
grassbeds. I have a stripe across each eye to
mask them from predators. (marine vertebrate,
bony fish, nektonic, carnivorous on smaller fish
and crustaceans, predator)
24
Who am I in the food chain? Clues Food Chain
4seagrass (dies) ? bacteria) ? shrimp ?
bonefish 1. Sun I am the source of all energy
for producers on Earth. I am a star that emits
light. (Abiotic factor) 2. Seawater I contain
3.5 salt plus other minerals. I am in a liquid
form. (Abiotic factor) 3. Seagrass I am a
primary producer that has leaves, roots, and
runners. My rhizomes grow across the seafloor,
helping to stabilize the bottom sediments. Many
animals depend upon me for shelter and/or food.
I reproduce by growing new rhizomes or by
producing flowers. (primary producer, benthic)
4. Bacteria I am made of very primitive cells
that do not contain nuclei. (Substitute
Prokaryotic). I am microscopic. I am a
decomposer, growing on dead plants or animals,
breaking them down and releasing nutrients back
into the environment where they can be used by
other organisms.(Decomposer, encrusts dead
organisms and causes decay) 5. Pink Shrimp I am
a jointed-legged animal with two main body parts
(substitute Arthropod). I have ten legs. As a
juvenile, I inhabit the seagrass beds, but as an
adult I move out to deeper water and hide in the
sandy bottom. I consume decaying seagrass. I am
very important in the food chain since many
marine animals feed on me. (marine invertebrate,
benthicfree-living, feeds on decaying and living
seagrass and smaller animals) 6. Bonefish I am
a vertebrate with scales and gills and a bony
skeleton (substitute belong to the Osteichthyes).
I swim in the shallow waters near shore feeding
on shrimp and other small animals on the bottom.
I am a popular fish for anglers to catch. I have
a forked tail fin. (marine vertebrate, bony fish,
nektonic, carnivorous on shrimp and other
crustaceans)