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Habitats activity

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Knowledge building

Human activity and climate change are affecting the full range of ocean habitats – from coastal areas to deep offshore waters

Read Habitats independently or in a group.

In a class knowledge building circle, discuss the following questions.

  1. How does sea ice habitat support different behaviours of marine life, including feeding, resting, and growing?
  2. The chapter provides several examples of habitats with species that photosynthesize, including eelgrass cover, ice algae blooms, and kelp forests. How do species that photosynthesize contribute to a healthy habitat?
  3. Ocean habitats support a wide diversity of marine organisms. Distinguish between some of the categories of animals you read about in the report, including arthropods, seabirds, fishes, and marine mammals. How do different groups of animals co-exist in the same habitat?
  4. Were there any habitats in the chapter that you had never heard of before? Was it surprising to learn that certain habitats, like coral and sponge reefs, exist in Canada? Why are there still so many habitats and species waiting to be discovered in Canada’s oceans?

Activity

Educator overview:

In this activity, students will work independently or in small groups to design a travel poster for one of Canada’s extreme deep-sea habitats. After selecting one of the deep-sea habitats provided, they can read the Habitats chapter for more information about their chosen location. Students can also conduct their own independent research online.

Student worksheet

Habitats activity worksheet
(PDF, 104 KB)

You are offering the first submersible tour to one of Canada’s extreme deep-sea habitats. It is up to you to create a travel poster that will convince people to take your tour.

Choose one of the following habitats for your tour:

  1. The Mud Volcanoes of the Beaufort Sea
  2. The Gully off Nova Scotia
  3. The Hydrothermal Vents of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

Your poster should include the following:

  1. The name of your chosen habitat
  2. A slogan to persuade people to take your tour
  3. Images or text that describe the amazing sights visitors will see on your tour. The sights should include:
    1. Abiotic or non-living components of the habitat
    2. Biotic or living things in the habitat

Canada’s Connected Oceans

  1. Building Links within Canada’s Oceans Now 2020
    • Read Decreasing Trends in the Species chapter. Describe two ways that species are being negatively impacted by changes to the abiotic factors in their habitats.
  2. Exploring Beyond Canada’s Oceans Now 2020
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