Sea Search Programs
What Lives on the Sandy Beach?
Southern California’s sandy beaches are teeming with life, although much stays hidden to the human eye. As the tide rises and falls, different species take advantage of food, space, and other resources of this ecosystem.
Students will learn about the ecology of our local sandy beaches. With a focus on local species, students will look for animal adaptations, as well as think about their own role in the health of this habitat. This class includes observations of live animals and specimens, in addition to discussions of this habitat using various aquarium tanks and exhibits in order to present a holistic understanding of the topic. Demonstrations may include, sand crabs as they burrow and feed, close-up observations of living sand dollars, purple olive snails, urchins, and more.
This interactive class relates ocean ecology and scientific understanding to observable phenomena through inquiry, including a trip to the sandy beach (weather permitting).
Life on the Rocky Shores**
The tidepool habitat on the rocky shore is where the ocean meets the land. This species-rich habitat is regularly exposed to air as the tide goes out (low tide), then covered by water as the tide comes in (high tide).
Students will learn about rocky intertidal ecology, adaptations of organisms to this habitat, tidal zonation, life cycles, and the rich variety of life found in our coastal Southern California rocky shore tidepools. We examine the challenges that many tidepool animals face during high and low tide. Class components may include, observation of live animals and specimens for adaptations, feeding strategies, behaviors, and life cycle connections, discussion and observations of aquarium tanks and exhibits in order to present a holistic understanding of the topic.
This interactive class relates ocean ecology and scientific understanding to observable phenomena through a process of live inquiry-based learning, including a trip to the tidepools (weather permitting).
**Life on the Rocky Shores is only available on low tide dates; please see specific options on the Reservation Form.
Habitat Comparison
The Cabrillo Coastal Park is a unique area because it offers so many different habitats within an urban setting at the bustling Port of Los Angeles. A native garden, salt marsh, sandy beaches, and tidepool habitat are all within walking distance.
This class compares the characteristics of two or more surrounding habitats. We examine the inhabitants and their adaptations for survival both in the lab and in the field. Habitat preservation, conservation, and coastal ecology are addressed.
This interactive class relates habitats and scientific understanding to observable phenomena through a process of live inquiry-based learning, including a trip to a field site (weather permitting). Select from one field experience where your students make hands-on observations in the tidepools**, sandy beach or salt marsh habitat.
This interactive class compares the incredible variety of the Rocky Shore and Sandy Beach habitat and animals, with a visit to the sandy beach (weather permitting) to survey for animals living in the sand. However, you may select to compare other habitats and field experiences instead, where your students make hands-on observations in the tidepools**, sandy beach or salt marsh habitat.
**The tidepools are only available on low tide dates; please see specific options on the Reservation Form.
Salt Marsh and Plankton
Salt Marshes and coastal wetlands are important soft-bottom habitats that are flooded and drained by the tides. These habitats are essential for healthy fisheries, birds, and soft-bottom communities.
Students examine salt marsh ecology, migratory and resident animal life, native plants, climate change concepts, watersheds, and the effects of water quality on the marine food web. Class components may include, demonstrations observing plankton samples through a microscope and observing animals that begin their life as plankton, to understanding how planktonic stages make up part of the life cycle of many ocean animals, and why plankton is an important part of the food chain in the ocean.
This class includes time observing live animals and specimens, discussion and observations of tanks and exhibits in order to present a holistic understanding of the topics, including a trip to the salt marsh (weather permitting).
Ichthyology
This branch of zoology devoted to the study of fishes, includes bony fishes (ray-finned fishes), cartilaginous fishes (sharks and rays), and jawless fishes (hagfishes). More than 32,000 species of fishes have been described, which is more than all other vertebrate species (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) combined.
Students will examine the form, function, and ecology of many types of marine fishes. Investigate the external and internal anatomy of a fish through a fish dissection. Discuss the myths about sharks, make observations on the physiology and behavior of our aquarium fishes, and discuss the practice of Gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing.
A final discussion of local fish species conservation, fisheries management, and human impacts on fishes concludes the class.