Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
 
 
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  Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops  

Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops

    Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops provide interactive and engaging experiences that focus on a wide range of marine biology topics.

Topics offered include:
    1-What Lives on the Sandy Beach,
    2-Life on the Rocky Shores*,
    3-Salt Marsh and Plankton,
    4-Habitat Comparison, and
    5-Ichthyology.

Each class includes an introduction with a presentation specifically designed for that topic, in addition to interactions with the live animals at the Aquarium. Conservation issues are incorporated in all classes.

Details:
  • Days offered: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday
  • Dates offered: October - June
  • Length of program: 3 hours
  • Times offered:
      9am-12pm,
      9:30am-12:30pm,
      10am-1pm
  • Fee**: $350 for up to 35 students, $10 for each additional student. Scholarships available
  • Maximum number of participants: 50

Programs are adaptable to grade-specific Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Reservation Symbol
To schedule a visit, please submit your reservation request here.




* Life on the Rocky Shores is only available on low tide dates; please see specific options on the Reservation Form.
** Grant-funded support & scholarships are available for financial assistance. Please call Our Reservation Team for more information (310) 548-7562
     
 

Ichthyology


Program Length: 3 hours

Day/Time Offered: Tuesday - Friday

Grades: 5 - 12

Location: Outdoor - Cabrillo Marine Aquarium / Cabrillo Coastal Park

Program Cost: $350 for up to 35 students.*

Month(s) Offered: October - June

Description:
The form, function, and ecology of many types of fish is discussed. Virtually investigate the internal and external anatomy of fish through dissection and fish printing.  Examine the myths about sharks and record virtual observations of our aquarium fish.

Fishes are a diverse group of organisms that live in a wide variety of specialized habitats. In the Southern California Bight, we see a diversity of habitats and fishes that gives scientists and naturalists much to study. In addition, marine fishes are an important part of a complex food web for animals in the ocean.

There are more than 30,000 species of fishes worldwide, and just over 700 species of marine fishes can be found in California. With our unique combination of deep upwelling currents bringing cold water and nutrients along the coastline, in addition to both northern and southern currents, we see a mix and variety of local species of fishes. The diversity we see today is evidence of evolution and adaptations to changing environments and special habitats that emerged over thousands of years.

Modern fishes include various categories like the jawless fishes (hagfishes: Myxini), the cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, and rays: Chondrichthyes) and the bony fishes (ray-finned fishes: Actinopterygii). The jawless fishes are eel-shaped, slime-producing fishes that are opportunistic feeders on dead or dying organisms. Cartilaginous fishes display physical, behavioral, and reproductive diversity that can range from the extremely large, pelagic basking sharks that give live birth, to the small, benthic skates that lay egg cases. In addition, there are many other inshore and open ocean sharks and rays specific to Southern California. The display of diversity continues with the bony fishes, showcasing links to survival and adaptations with many categories from the highly modified sea horse and moray eel, to the speciose rockfishes, and the streamlined sea basses and mackerel. In addition, Southern California is home to many small fish species specifically adapted to their surroundings with unique camouflage and countershading.

In the Sea Search Ichthyology class the form, function, and ecology of many types of marine fishes is presented and discussed. We lead students through a virtual investigation of the external and internal anatomy of a fish through dissection. Discuss the myths about sharks, make virtual observations on the physiology and behavior of our aquarium fish though video, 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.

* Financial assistance is available for the Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops.


Our programs can be made accessible to all audiences. Persons with disabilities are welcome to participate. Reasonable accommodations will be made with prior arrangements.

Sea Search Marine Biology Workshops are L.A. City Board of Education-approved and follow guidelines of the Science Framework, the National Science Benchmarks, and California State Board Science Content Standards.
 
   
 
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