As an expert in the field of marine biology (the study of living things in the sea) your major role is to provide your team with the biological information they need to compete the task. You will be called upon to document your research in your journal and present your finds as part of the team's oral presentation.

Research Questions:

1. Outline the different types of animals that live around a tropical coral reef. You are to identify, visually represent and research five different coral reef animals.
   
   The following key questions need to be answered about each animal:
   
   1. Is this animal a vertebrate or invertebrate?
   2. Identify the criteria you would use to classify each animal into a group?
      Hint: What are the main characteristics of each animal?
   3. Where are these animals usually found?
   4. What does this animal eat?
   5. Describe any special adaptations this animal has?
      
2. Construct a food web that shows the feeding interrelationships if any between the animals you have researched.
3. Evaluate the importance of each animal to the reef ecosystem.
4. What might happen if any one of these animals was to become extinct?

The following sites may be of some assistance: (More links coming soon)

reefED Links

GBR Explorer Overview
/explorer/index.html

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External Links

Australian Museum Fish Site
http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/

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Enchanted Learning "All About Oceans and Seas"
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/ocean/

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Fauna and Flora of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/misc_pub/fauna_flora/index.html

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Fish Web
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/

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Marine Education Society of Australia
http://www.mesa.edu.au/habitat/gbr01.htm

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Reef Education Network
http://www.reef.edu.au

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State of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area 1998
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/sotr/

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