The presentation part of this lesson is a teaching tool that demonstrates the link between striped bass survival and physical conditions such as water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Striped bass hatch as tiny larvae that can grow to be 1000 times larger than they started. They are influenced by physical conditions at every stage in their life cycle, from larval drift, to growth and feeding, to adult spawning. Habitat quality for striped bass varies as water temperature and dissolved oxygen change in different seasons. Monitoring programs and observing systems are important tools that scientists and managers use to better understand how physical conditions influence striped bass and inform fisheries and ecosystem management. Developed by E. North. 

The second part of the lesson is a web-based activity that uses information on striped bass habitat preferences and water temperature and dissolved oxygen to understand where striped bass can be found in Chesapeake Bay. Users are asked to answer a series of questions about the potential location of striped bass by following links to monitoring programs and observing systems for recent information on physical conditions in Chesapeake Bay. This activity is based on the presentation above. Developed by E. North.

Teacher Note: This is a more advanced activity and should take one-two class periods. Carefully monitor your students to make sure they are understanding the data they are investigating on the Chesapeake Bay monitoring programs.

Objectives

• Students will examine the link between striped bass habitat and physical conditions
• Students will be able to list the physical conditions affecting the striped bass life cycle
• Students will predict where striped bass can be found in the Chesapeake Bay by utilizing web resources

Materials

• PowerPoint Presentation 
• Where Could the Stripers Be? Activity page

Procedure

1. Lead a discussion by utilizing the PowerPoint presentation about striped bass scales and life history tales; fish and physics in the Chesapeake Bay.
2. Following the presentation, allow students to investigate various on-line monitoring stations to answer questions regarding the locations of striped bass.

National Science Education Standards

9-12 A: Science as Inquiry

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understandings about scientific inquiry

9-12 B: Physical Science

• Structure and properties of matter
• Interactions of energy and matter

9-12 C: Life Science

• Interdependence of organisms 
• Matter, energy, and organization in living systems 
• Behavior of organisms 

9-12 D: Earth and Space Science

• Geochemical cycles 

9-12 E: Science and Technology

• Understandings about science and technology 

9-12 F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

• Population growth 
• Natural resources 
• Environmental quality 
• Natural and human induced hazards 
• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges 

9-12 G: History and Nature of Science

• Science as a human endeavor 
• Nature of scientific knowledge 
• Historical perspectives 

Lesson Resources

PowerPoint Presentation 

Where Could the Stripers Be? Activity page