The REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project represents the largest marine life database in the world! You can bring this data into your classroom or programs.
Marine Science II Honors students at Coral Shores High School in Islamorada, Florida, recently assessed trends and patterns in the ecosystem health by comparing two sites in the Florida Keys.
To prepare students for their field adventure, marine science and honors biology teacher Edward Bauer invited our Ocean Explorers Education team to teach students about fish ID and survey methods. Afterwards, they headed out on the water to conduct REEF fish surveys!
To conclude their field research, the students created poster titled, Assessing the Diversity and Abundance of Fish Species at Davey Crocker Reef and Davis Reef in Islamorada, Florida. By using the REEF database and their surveys to compare the two sites, the students found that Davis Reef has a higher fish abundance and biodiversity than Davey Crocker Reef.
Incorporating REEF data into lessons allows your students to analyze real-world information and form their own research questions. To learn more and incorporate REEF data into your classroom or lessons, email us at explorers@REEF.org.
