Topic: Dangerous Sea Creatures
Concept: Identifying various sea creatures students may encounter
while boating or performing water activities
Skill:
1. Students will identify five other types of sea creatures they may
encounter in their water activities
* What type of water will they be in
* What kinds of dangers do the creatures pose?
* If encountered what should a boater or skier/wake boarder
do?
This will be placed into the students' portfolios to be handed in at
the end of the unit.
Objective: Students will be exposed to various types of salt water and fresh water sea creatures, they will see what they look like with task cards and what they should do if they happen to see the creature and also the treatment plan to follow if they should be stung, ingested etc.
Lesson Activity:
Class discussion will begin with introducing the students to various
sea creatures. The students will be told that this class and a few of the
others have been very low activity ~ but they must understand that they
need to build a knowledgeable foundation for this activity in order to
maintain safety and a full understanding of it key components.
Teacher should use task cards ~ or real creatures if available to show the students
visual aids of the creatures. These pictures can be obtained by going to the
Developmental Analysis Home Page .
The students should be educated on the fact that there are a number of hazardous creatures in the sea. Many can cause serious harm to unaware or inattentive boaters or water participants. Some may even cause death, but this can depend on the amount of venom used, individual reactions, nature of the injury and location of the incidents.
The following is a quick overview of the creatures to be discussed, a more detailed description can be found on The Developmental Analysis Home Page and if interested visit Dangerous Sea Creatures.
CONTACT IRRITANTS:
Sea Anemones:
While most sea anemones are relatively harmless to humans a few do
contain strong toxic substances producing quite sever effects. One of these
is the stinging anemone, a blue-grey animal which can look somewhat
like a fir tree.
Sea Cucumbers:
Although sea cucumbers are one of the safest animals on the reef to
touch, the numerous while Cuvierian tubules, which some eject when irritated,
contain a toxin which can cause blindness if it comes into contact with
the eyes.
Sea Urchins:
Contact with the sharp black spines of the black sea urchin is strongly
avoided. They can penetrate deeply into the flesh and break off causing
long-lasting inflammation if not removed often surgically.
INGESTED TOXINS:
Shell fish:
(Clams, scallops, oysters, etc.) The toxin, saxotoxin, is water soluble,
heat and base stabile, and is therefore not affected by steaming or cooking.
It inhibits sodium channels of excitable membranes, blocking propagation
of nerve and muscle action potentials.
Tetradoxin:
Toad, or puffer fish, common in tidal creeks and coastal waters are
well known for their amusing habit of inflating their bodies with air or
water when provoked. Their bodies contain the same toxin as the salvia
of the blue ringed octopus with the same potentially fatal effects. Easily
caught on fishing lines, or rope lines they must never be eaten.
PREDATORS:
Barracuda:
Barracudas are bold and inquisitive, and fearsome fishes, that may
be/are dangerous to humans. The great barracuda is known to have been involved
in attacks in skiers / wake boarders. To avoid them do not wear any shiny
objects.
Moray Eels:
A number of water activity participants have been bitten by moray eels,
their sharp teeth designed to lock on to prey sometimes causing severe
damage.
Sharks:
There are only 4 sharks who consistently attack people: The Great White,
The Tiger, The Bull, and The Oceanic White Tip.