2015-2016 Edition
Coral Reef Habitat Study
My Name:___________________________
Team Members:
1.
2.
3.
4.
___________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Page 1
Coral Reef Habitat
BEFORE YOU VISIT
Coral reef habitats provide
homes for thousands of marine
life. Hard, stony coral animals
create the structure for the
coral reef.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors of a Coral Reef Habitat
Draw a circle around the biotic factors.
Draw box around the abiotic factors.
Fish
Lobsters
Sand
Water temperature
Zooplankton
Plants
Shore birds
Wind
Moss & algae
Sea turtles
Sunlight
Water depth
Eels
Waves
Rocks
Snails
Salt water
Pollution
Clams & muscles
Sea stars & urchins
Coral animals
Sharks
Page 2
Our Habitat - Coral Reef
Goal - Create a fish to live in a coral reef habitat that eats small animals from the middle of the coral
reef water column.
Question - What adaptations are needed for a fish to live in a coral reef and eat animals from the
middle of the coral reef water column?
Hypothesis - Look at the pictures below. Circle one body shape, one mouth shape, one tail shape, and one
coloration pattern to describe how a fish can look to live in a coral reef habitat and eat animals from
the middle of the coral reef water column.
Fish Habitat: Your fish lives in a coral reef.
Fish Food: Your fish eats animals from the middle of the coral reef water column.
Circle the body shape
that is best for a fish to
live in the coral reef.
Circle the mouth shape
that is best for a fish to
eat animals from the
middle of the coral reef
water column.
Circle the tail shape
that is best for a fish to
swim between the
rocks and plants in a
coral reef.
Circle the coloration
pattern that will help a
fish to hide in a coral
reef.
Page 3
Just by looking at (observing) a fish you can learn a lot about how it swims, where it
lives, and how it eats.
All fish have special body parts to help it to live in its habitat. These special body parts are called
adaptations. Adaptations in fish are special body shapes, mouth shapes, tail shapes, and coloration
patterns. You will study these adaptations, like a scientist, and then build a fish with your group.
Your job at the aquarium is to build a fish to live in a coral reef habitat. On your aquarium tour, you will
learn how real fish are adapted to live in this habitat.
1. Stay with your assigned group
2. Use an inside voice in the aquarium.
3. Walk in the aquarium.
4. Do not tap, write on, or touch the glass exhibits.
1. Find the fish pictured on pages 5, 6, and 7. Your aquarium guide will help you.
2. Observe each fish in its habitat and answer the questions about its adaptations.
3. Use the Wacky Adaptations Booklet as a guide.
Page 4
Read a Fish
1. The name of this mouth is: ________________________________
2. Observe: Where does this fish swim in the water column? (Circle one)
Top
Middle
Bottom
3. How does this fish use its mouth? (Circle one)
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Eats food overhead
Eats food below or underneath
Gulps food
Eats food straight ahead
4. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
Tide Pool
Coral Reef
____________________________________
5. The name of this mouth is: ________________________________
6. Observe: Where does this fish swim in the water column? (Circle one)
Top
Middle
Bottom
7. How does this fish use its mouth? (Circle one)
Archer fish
Toxotes jaculatrix
Eats food overhead
Eats food below or underneath
Gulps food
Eats food straight ahead
8. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
Page 5
Tide Pool
Coral Reef
Read a Fish
9. The name of this body shape is: _______________________________
10. How does this body shape help the fish hide? (Circle one)
Fish hides in small places
Fish darts quickly and makes fast turns
Fish buries itself in the sand
Fish does not hide, it swims in open water
11. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply)
Snowflake Eel
Echidna nebulosa
Swims non-stop
Stays in one spot
Swims alone
Swims and rests
Swims backwards
Swims in a school
12. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
Tide Pool
Coral Reef
13. The name of this body shape is: _______________________________
14. How does this body shape help the fish hide? (Circle one)
One-spot
Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus unimaculatus
Fish hides in small places
Fish darts quickly and makes fast turns
Fish buries itself in the sand
Fish does not hide, it swims in open water
15. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply)
Swims non-stop
Stays in one spot
Swims alone
Swims and rests
Swims backwards
Swims in a school
16. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
Page 6
Tide Pool
Coral Reef
Read a Fish
17. The name of this tail is
______________________________
18. How does this fish use its tail? (Circle one)
Short bursts of speed
Slow swimming
Steady swimming in open water
Very fast swimming
19. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply)
Crevalle Jack
Caranx hippos
Swims non-stop
Stays in one spot
Swims alone
Swims and rests
Swims backwards
Swims in a school
20. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
21. The name of this tail is
Tide pool
Coral Reef
______________________________
22. How does this fish use its tail? (Circle one)
Short bursts of speed
Slow swimming
Steady swimming in open water
Very fast swimming
23. Observe: How does this fish swim? (Circle all that apply)
Sandtiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
Swims non-stop
Stays in one spot
Swims alone
Swims and rests
Swims backwards
Swims in a school
24. What habitat(s) does this fish live in?
Lake
River
Page 7
Tide pool
Coral Reef
Now that you have completed your aquarium investigation, it is time for you to create an imaginary fish.
1.
Use this chart below as a checklist to choose the adaptations that will help your fish live
in a coral reef habitat and eat animals from the middle of the coral reef water column.
Look at the habitat pictures to help you make your choices.
2.
Draw a picture of your fish (on page 9).
3.
Build a fish from the items in the box on the table.
4.
Evaluate your fish model (on page 10).
Fish Habitat: Your fish lives in a coral reef.
Fish Food: Your fish eats animals from the middle of the coral reef water column.
Step 1
Circle the body
shape that is best
for a fish to live in
the coral reef.
Circle the mouth
shape that is best
for a fish to eat
animals from the
middle of the coral
reef water column.
Circle the tail shape
that is best for a fish
to swim between
the rocks and coral
in a coral reef.
Circle the coloration
pattern that will
help a fish to hide in
a coral reef.
Page 8
Step 2
Step 3
Page 9
Step 4
1. Use your Wacky Adaptation Booklet as a guide. How do the adaptations you chose help your
imaginary fish survive?
Mouth
Shape
Tail
Shape
Body
Shape
Coloration
Pattern
2. Look at your hypothesis and compare it to the build a fish checklist. Are they the same or
different?
If they are different, why are the adaptations you chose after your investigation better than the
ones you chose in your hypothesis?
3. Tell your class about your fish. Back at school, you can build a second fish for a different
habitat.
Page 10