Exploring the Ocean

      In this course we will be learning and researching about the ocean properties, creatures and ecosystems. We will explore different habitats including some of the most challenging places to live on planet earth.  We will talk about biodiversity, how it is threatened by human activities and what we can do to preserve our oceans. 

Introduction to the Ocean:
- History of how we came to have 5 different oceans.
- Salinity
- Temperature
- Geography
- Big currents
- How does the moon affect the ocean?
- Zones
- Biodiversity: from plankton to the biggest mammals in the world. Daily horizontal migration and seasonal migrations.
 

Diversity of habitats:
- The shore
 - Open ocean
- The ocean floor
 - Mangroves
 - Tropical (corals)
 - Subtropical
- Extreme environments
- The deep end (creatures of the abys)
 
From the shores to the deep: animals and algae that live in each Ocean.

Exploring the Pacific Ocean: biggest and deepest
- Biodiversity
- Organisms exclusive to this Ocean.
- Food chain
- Great Barrier Reef
- Deepest oceanic trenches
- Volcanoes
 

Exploring the Atlantic Ocean: saltiest
- Biodiversity
- Organisms exclusive to this Ocean.
- Food chain
- The seas: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic, Sargasso.
- The Mid Atlantic ridge
 

Exploring the Indian Ocean: warmest
- Biodiversity
- Organisms exclusive to this Ocean.
- Food chain
- Endangered species (turtles, seals and dugongs)
- Low oxygen content and temperature
- Kerguelen Plateau (hidden continent)
 

Exploring the Antactic Ocean: youngest
- Biodiversity
- Organisms exclusive to this Ocean.
- Food chain
-adaptations to cold
 

Exploring the Arctic Ocean: smallest and shallowest
- Biodiversity
- Organisms exclusive to this Ocean.
- Food chain
- Icepack
 
 
Let`s talk about climate change and conservation

- What is happening in the ocean?
- Rising temperatures
- Rising sea levels
- Weather
 
- It`s effect on organisms and the whole planet.
- How are humans impacting the Ocean?
- What can we do to help?
 
Final project.