Investigation 2

2a. Build Your Own Reef

Students will explore if and how people can construct habitat for marine life by learning about artificial reefs and evaluating the pros and cons of adding an artificial reef to the marine environment. Students will work in small groups to construct their own model artificial reefs for promoting fish populations and present the reasons for their design to the class. If possible, they will conduct an experiment in a classroom aquarium (fresh water or salt water) with shelter-seeking fish.

2b. The Whittier Artificial Reef Project: an experiment in creating habitat

Students will work in groups to design a study to determine whether or not an artificial reef placed in Alaskan waters created habitat for marine organisms. They will then look at the design of the Whittier Artificial Reef Monitoring and Research Project and the preliminary results. They will reflect on what evidence would be necessary to conclude that the placement of the artificial reef had created habitat for seaweeds and rockfish.