Marine ecosystems Florida Keys - Assignment Example

Marine Biology camp in Florida Keys The three-week experience at the marine camp in Florida Keys was a learning opportunity as a picnic for me. At first I expected that it would be a boring four days but it turned out to be a memorable experience for me. This paper will discuss the things that I learnt at the marine biology camp in the Florida Keys. The main objective of the camp is to educate interested students on various aspects of the marine environment. Each day in the three weeks had a task assigned, and hence I had a lot to learn.

On the first day, we were educated on the importance of preserving the natural environment. The environment specialist gave an insight on the importance of the environment as a habitat for other animals and for human health. The insight acted as guidance to how we treated the environment at the place for the next three weeks. The park had two laboratories. One dealt with research on marine plants while the other dealt with research on marine animals. In the plant laboratory, I learnt how to operate the modern microscopes.

The lab technicians were very helpful in helping us identify the adaptation characteristics of the plants. I was able to see some of the biology facts that I had learnt theoretically. The technicians introduce us to marine crop improvement which was done through numerous tests. At that particular time, the technicians were doing research on improving the green algae plant. Their major aim was to reduce its growth period and increase its adaptation in being a habitat for certain small sea animals (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary retrieved from http://www.q2lschool.org/ecosystem/popeco/ecoscenario/drytort/index.html). I worked as an assistant lab technician which led me discovering the adaptation of the algae plant.

The animal laboratory was very busy and with many technicians. They had many sea animal specimens which we dissected so as to understand their body features. We dissected different types of fish, and we were able to identify and compare various organs. To test on our understanding capabilities, we were given simple test to dissect crabs and remove certain organs. We were required to describe the adaptability of different features such as how the feet were adapted to movement in water. The project about the crab also required us to identify the different kinds of foods that crab feed on.

From my research, I learnt that crabs are omnivorous and they feed on algae and small seas animals such as molluscs and worms.In the laboratory, what amazed me most was the diverse features of a crab, and haw its anatomy and physiology does aid it to adapt to the external environment. We dissected the various parts, noting down the various systems of its body including digestive, respiratory, muscular and circulatory systems. We tried to relate the various parts with its behavior. Additionally, we made various drawings of the internal and external features of the organism as shown below.

We spent most of the evenings in boat trips. The experience was good since by the use of the glasses provided, we were able to see sea creatures and animals in their natural habitat. The relationship between sea animals and plants was clear since we would see what sea creatures were feeding on and where their habitats were. Most of the boats had flat bottoms that allowed us to see the animals and plants in the water (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary retrieved from http://www.q2lschool.org/ecosystem/popeco/ecoscenario/drytort/index.html). The willing campers were allowed to sea dive so that they would see much more under the water.

The experience made me appreciate the seal life since I was able to see a lot of things I hadn’t seen before. There were so many types of fish with different adaptation characteristics. I learnt more about the corals and algae and how they were adapted for their sea functions. The mangrove vegetation around the sea was very attractive. I later learnt that is a home and food or most sea animals (Barange 76). There were many seas birds in the camp. Most of them fed on sea creatures. They were many reptiles some of which I had not seen before.

The instructors and guides explained the balance between the animals and plants in the area. I was amazed to realize how even the small crabs helped in maintaining an environmental balance at the sea (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary retrieved from http://www.q2lschool.org/ecosystem/popeco/ecoscenario/drytort/index.html). The major topic and theme in the camp was conservation of the environment. In conclusion, the experience was a good learning experience and made me appreciate the biology lessons we have in class.

Works CitedBarange, Manuel. Marine Ecosystems and Global Change. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. "Ecoscenario: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary." N.p., Nov. 2013. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.