Share in our full school day exploration of the coastal ecosystem. We are fortunate enough to be able to explore a living beach that is not dominated by towering hotels and condominiums in John U. Lloyd State Park in Broward County, Florida. Your “marine biologists” have an opportunity to explore the dune habitat and understand the succession that occurs as plants help shape our dune system. This beach is unique in Broward County as it is not “cleaned” for the tourists. Marine biologists collect samples along the wrack line and plankton tow to better understand the diversity and adaptations organisms have to be better suited for living in this extreme ecosystem. The physical aspects of our coastline are not to be overlooked as marine biologists collect data on tides, currents, and other physical and chemical properties that shape and influence our coastline. Don’t miss an opportunity to visit a place where mole crabs, osprey, sea turtles, and others call home.

• Discuss dune succession
• Discover adaptations of coastal flora
• Go on a plant identification hunt
• Determine the significance of the barrier island
• Compare plant communities
• Understand ethnobotany

• Investigate interstitial species
• Search the wrack line
• Tow a plankton net and analyze organisms
• Connect food chains and food webs
• Understand animal adaptations

• Wind vs. Current
• Tidal fluctuations
• Water chemistry
• Calculation of wave lengths
• Human impact on the shoreline

On the return trip back to school, the instructor asks the teams of marine biologist to share their data, so comparisons can be made about the coastline and what changed or what was consistent throughout the day. With this knowledge obtained by their experience, marine biologists are able to make more informed decisions concerning our coastline and how to better protect and conserve what is left of this very precious and constantly changing ecosystem.