BAD ALGAE WEBQUEST
Researching Harmful Algae Blooms

Introduction

We have already discussed in class how algae contribute the majority of the oxygen in our atmosphere that we breathe in. Algae are also used to make many products that we buy and consume on a daily basis like toothpaste, ice cream, and biofuel. Sometimes however, algae in the environment multiply out of control and may cause disease to enter the food chain. This is an example of what is called a harmful algae bloom (HAB). Many conditions in the environment that come from natural or human sources can trigger harmful algae blooms. The local NJ coastal town of Walshville has suffered from several HABs recently and has hired your team to figure out what they can do to stop them from happening again.

Task
You will come up with a poster, Powerpoint or pamphlet to teach the habitants of Walshville about harmful algal blooms and present your plant to prevent them.  Material from all of the following sections should be included in your final product.  This will be due Wenesday October 24.

Process and Information Sources

1. What is seaweed? How are these groups similar and different?
• Differentiate between the three major groups of seaweed (Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta)
• Provide 1 example of each

http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/algae/index.htm#tax

2. What’s the problem with harmful algae blooms?
• What kind of damage do these blooms cause?
• What species are affected?
• How much do these blooms “cost” or hurt the economy?

http://habsos.noaa.gov/whats-the-problem
http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/coastal/algal_blms.shtml
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/

http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2001/feb01/noaa01030.html

3. Explore the many benefits of seaweeds to humans
• List a medicinal use
• List a use in a product
• List a use in food

http://www.seaweed.ie/
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/algae/

4. How is marine algae’s growth limited in the oceans?
• What does it mean to be nutrient limited?
• What nutrients limit algae from growing at full capacity
• What is eutrophication?
• Why is eutrophication bad?

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/monitoring/limit/index.html
http://www.lifesciences.napier.ac.uk/teaching/MB/Eutroph03.html
http://www.mare.su.se/ENG/eng-om/eng-om-eutrofiering.html

5. Where do HAB’s occur and what kinds of HABS occur on the NJ coast?
• What is the scientific name of the algae?
• When were they first discovered?
• What is this bloom called?

http://www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/btide/index.html
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/whathabs/whathabs.html

6. Why do HAB’s occur?

• What physical factors are linked to HABS?
• What are humans doing that may trigger HABS?
• What does eutrophication have to do with HABS?

http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/national/mvmt_n.shtml
http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/coastal/sea_surf_temp.shtml
http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/press_releases/archive/99-00/02-00/algal_blooms.htm
http://www.lifesciences.napier.ac.uk/teaching/MB/Eutroph03.html

7. What can be done to control HAB’s

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/pertinentinfo/PCM_HAB_Research_Plan.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/hab/index.html
http://waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-Harmful.html

8. How do humans influence harmful algae blooms.

http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2006/sep06/noaa06-r483.html
http://waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-Harmful.html
http://cimt.ucsc.edu/factsheets/2HaB_Factsheet.pdf

Other Information Sources

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/HABdistribution/HABmap.html
http://www.cop.noaa.gov/stressors/extremeevents/hab/habhrca/NE_fact_03-06.pdf
http://www.habhrca.noaa.gov/habfacts.html
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/retiredsites/sotc_pdf/hab.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/algal.htm
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/
http://www.bigelow.org/hab/organism.html
http://www.nccos.noaa.gov/news/pfiesteria_press.htm
http://www.hab.nos.noaa.gov/pfiesteriafacts.html

Conclusion
Your project will be graded using the following rubric…  If you are missing any of the sections of info you will drop down a grade.  Additionally this will only be accepted late with a penalty.