Down Under Grasslands
Summary
The student will be able to calculate percentages and rank data relating to seagrass beds in Texas estuaries.
Background
Seagrasses are plants that root, pollinate, and spend their entire lives submerged in shallow waters. Turtlegrass is a favorite of, you guessed it--sea turtles, and south Texas shoalgrass meadows feed nearly 350,000 redhead ducks--half the world's population. Seagrasses provide oxygen, nutrients, anchorage, food, habitat, cover, and places for attachment.
Vocabulary
- estuary
- percent
- seagrass
Seagrass Cover
Bay System | Seagrass Meadow Area | Area of Bay Bottom | Percent Seagrass |
---|---|---|---|
Galveston Bay | _____391 | _____143,153 | ___/___ |
Matagora Bay | _____1096 | _____101,368 | ___/___ |
San Antonio Bay | _____2743 | _____54,335 | ___/___ |
Aransas Bay | _____2455 | _____47, 267 | ___/___ |
Corpus Christi Bay | _____5249 | _____43,550 | ___/___ |
upper Laguna Madre | _____24,900 | _____33,100 | ___/___ |
lower Laguna Madre | _____48,200 | _____68,400 | ___/___ |
*all measurements are hectares
Exercises
The Texas bay systems above are listed in order from north to south. Use the measurements provided to calculate the percent seagrass coverage in each bay.
Rank the measurements in each category. Number one through seven from largest to smallest. Record the rankings in the blanks to the left of each measurement, including percent seagrass coverage.
Examine the rankings. Do you see any relationships between the measurements provided and seagrass coverage? How about location north and south? If so, explain.