HELMUTH, Brian; DRYDEN, Colette; GARDNER, Kristi: Coral Reef Studies in the Classroom: Integration of Research with K-12 Education

In November 2000, researchers from the University of South Carolina and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium studied the effects of reef hydrodynamics on coral physiology using the Aquarius habitat located near Key Largo, Florida. Specifically, we investigated the roles of water movement and coral morphology on diffusional boundary layer formation, and the subsequent effects on coral respiration and photosynthesis. We then incorporated aspects of the research into lesson plans suitable for use by elementary and middle school students, and explicitly linked to state and national science standards. Visits to the classroom prior to the mission introduced students to the concepts of general coral reef biology and boundary layers. During the saturation mission, aquanauts coordinated with the classroom via e-mail, a live Internet connection and cell phone to provide daily updates to students on research progress, and to discuss human adaptations to living at depth. Lesson plans were developed to introduce the concepts of gas and nutrient flux, gradients in solutes, and were tested in the classroom. Lesson plans were then posted on a web site for general use (http;//www.biol.sc.edu/coral). The success of this project demonstrates the benefits of collaboration between university and K-12 educators, and emphasizes the utility of biophysical methods for teaching biology, physics and mathematics in an integrated context. Funding for the research was provided by NOAA-NURP to C.M. Finelli and D.S. Wethey; support for lesson plans and web site design was provided by NSF IBN-9985878 to B. Helmuth.