Life is teeming under the sea. On one hand, you have microscopic unicellular diatoms, on the other, enormous whales. Plants of unimaginable beauty grace the mangroves and seagrass habitats, while coral reefs provide home to countless organisms and creatures, with a beauty and serenity rivaling anything in the ocean. Fish and other marine life live close to the ocean’s surface. They live deep in the abyss of the ocean floor depths. All marine life plays an important role in keeping our climate balanced. This is why it is crucial to educate people on the importance of keeping our marine environment safe and clean. Because if one system is damaged, it affects us all.
General Aquatic Information
Fisheries and Aquatics: Databases, online mapping applications, general fishery and aquatic resources from the National Biological Information Infrastructure.
The Aquatic Resources Education Association– Established to provide a cohesive, authoritative voice uniting experts, scientists, aquatic professionals, and other educational resources toward responsible aquatic management.
Aquatic Biomes: Marine and freshwater biomes make up the two types of aquatic plant communities that are maintained by the climate.
Tropical Oceans: It takes a century for an inch of coral reef to grow. Find out what threatens these fragile systems.
Threatened Habitats: Coral reefs, mangroves, kelp forests and polar ecosystems are some of the threatened marine habitats.
Marine Mammals: The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program studies marine mammal capability and basic biology.
Invasive Species: Databases, profiles, fact sheets, general publications, and reports from the National Agricultural Library.
The Salty Ocean: Why is the ocean salty? Experiment with three glasses of water and some salt.
Ocean Facts: Did you know that mountains are part of the ocean or that humans have explored less than 10 percent of the ocean?
Plants
Endangered Marine Plants: Several categories of marine plants, such as seagrasses, algae, and mangroves are discussed.
Seagrass: There are 502,000 acres of these endangered underwater flowering plants, which significantly help the environment.
Mangroves: There are over 70 species of mangroves, including hibiscus, holly, and palm.
Seagrass Habitats: Discusses what sea grass is and isn’t and what makes their habitat different from macroalgae.
Seagrass Research: General information, projects, publications, conservation and recovery issues covered from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute.
Seagrass Research Lab: Basic and applied research regarding the structure and function of seagrass ecosystems.
Mangrove Facts: Identification, morphology, physiology, reproduction, communities and ecology of mangroves.
Florida’s Coastal Trees: Discover the trees native to Florida, collectively called mangroves.
Phytoplankton: Plant-like organisms living in the ocean that are a major part of the ocean’s food chain and that influence the climate of the world.
Seaweed Database: Seaweed descriptions, pictures, and news.
Algae
Simple or Complex?: Algae varies from single celled organisms to huge multi-celled organisms, such as giant kelp.
AlgaeBase: Searchable database of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater algae organisms.
Algal Microscopy: Database archives over 185 digital images of algae.
Diatoms: Unicellular algae resources for diatomists and phycologists, maintained by Indiana University.
Redtides: Dedicated to harmful algal blooms. HABs are normally referred to as red tides that can harm marine and other mammal life.
Green Algae: Over 7,000 species of green algae exist, making it the most diverse group of algae.
Dinoflagellates: Unicellular, flagellated protists that are usually called algae.
Hawai’ian Reef Algae: Overview and specific links to order pages, research, and lists of endemic species.
Algae and Sea Grasses: Classification is dependent on morphology, ultrastructure, and chemistry.
Images: Photos of algae from PISCO, the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans.
Ichthyology and Herpetology
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: Association dedicated to study of fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
FISH: A quick course in marine fish study: definition, classes, reproduction, schooling, and the age old question “Can fish breathe underwater?”
Ichthyology Research: Database, imagebase, collections database, and research of fish.
Amphibian Conservation: Delves into the research as to why amphibian populations around the world are in decline.
Frogs: Latest news from the Amphibian Specialist Group is the finding of the “extinct” yellow-spotted bell frog in rural Australia.
Center for North American Herpetology: News and research links on the various kinds of frogs, toads, crocodilians, lizards, salamanders, snakes and turtles in North America.
Reptiles: Database of lizards, snakes, tuataras, crocodiles, amphisbaenians, and turtles.
Amphibiaweb: Information resource about amphibian declines, conservation, taxonomy, and natural history.
Herpetology Cluster: Taxonomy, classification, natural history, and interesting articles on herpetology.
Salamanders and Newts: General overview includes the differences in the appearance and pictures.
Underwater Photography
Photo Tutorials: Includes quick tips, specific how-tos, travel, and destinations for underwater photography.
Underwater Cameras: How to choose the best digital underwater camera.
Coral Reef Photography Information: Tips, photobank, and other resources regarding photographing coral reefs.
Lines and Shadows: Underwater galleries, reference, and equipment and its repair.
Shark Photography: Composition, strobe use, challenges, and ethics.
Deep Sea Fish: Check out the pink deep-sea creatures photographed at nearly 30,000 feet below sea level off the coast of New Zealand.
Deep Sea Photography: Stock photo site with unique deep-sea marine life images.
Overview Underwater Photography: Quick overview of the cameras and lenses used for underwater photography.
Photomicrographs of Phytoplankton: Phytoplankton from the Clemson Aquaculture Facility. Click on the names in the left frame to bring up the pictures.
Protists: Images of algae and protozoa.
Ocean Life
Oceans Alive: Australian project explores and celebrates marine diversity.
Ocean Life: Library of links to various ocean creatures and oceanic information.
Marine Life Census: Humans are not the only ones to be counted in a census.
Sharks: The Shark Research Institute keeps information on shark attacks, research, conservation efforts, and legislation.
The Deep: Exploring the deep ocean floor and its many curious life forms.
Micro Life: Check out the microscopic ocean life which is a crucial component of the food chain.
Marine Life Endangered? Is global warming zapping our oceans of oxygen and killing our ocean life?
Whales: Follow the whales by satellite, and have fun with this interactive web site that will tell you everything about whales that you ever wanted to know.
Dolphins: Fact sheets on diet, population, range, behavior, and conservation.
Food Web: Diagrams depicting the oceans food chain.
Aquatic Lesson Plans
Undersea Plant and Animal Life: Lesson plans for kindergarten and primary school students regarding underwater “living things.”
Ocean Life for Kids: Lesson plan about ocean life, including a quiz, how to make a fish, and a clickable section for learning about ocean creatures.
Scholastic Explorers: Ocean life lessons and research starters for kid explorers.
Ocean Life Lesson Plans: Extensive lesson planning guides about oceans, marine life, and conservation efforts.
Fish Art: Lesson plans for art teachers and elementary school teachers creating fish art.
Oceans and Sea Life: What sinks, what floats, making waves, learning about ocean habitats and many other lesson plans.
Marine Biology: Aquarium and fish life habitats and numerous other lesson plans, used and rated by teachers.
Ocean Themes: Preschool and kindergarten lesson plans, worksheets and ocean themed activities.
Oceanography: Lesson plans for middle and high school kids on such topics as weather, tsunamis, and whaling, plus many others.
Marine Discovery: Lesson plans for kindergarten through 12 on fish diversity, human and the marine environment, and the feeding habits of marine life.
Ocean & Aquatic Glossaries
Aquatic Glossary: Understand the terms of marine life.
Ocean Currents: Physical oceanography glossary with short definitions.
Field Guide: Glossary of terms for oceanographers.
Aquatic Vegetation: Technical glossary of marine vegetation terms.
Water Quality: Glossary of technical ocean and sea water
