WebQuest

"Web" Quest 2X: The Case of the Missing Horseshoe Crabs

Now that you have earned your Environmental Explorer License (EEL),

you are officially qualified to investigate the mystery of the missing horseshoe crabs!

Your Investigator's Notebook

Please visit Professor Krill below for detailed instructions.

The Task:

To solve the mystery, you must first learn about three different �LIS conditions� that exist in and around Long Island Sound:

The Geology of Long Island Sound

The Environmental Health of Long Island Sound

The Biology of Horseshoe Crabs

Steps to complete the task:

1.    You will be assigned to a LIS task force(three people each)

2.    Name your task force (team__________________)

3.    Each member of the team will be given one �LIS condition�( above ) to study.

4.    Scroll down to your �LIS condition� to begin work on your investigation sheet.

5. After completing your record sheet, meet with your task force to discuss results and

      compile the answers on your Task Force Investigation Record Sheet (see the link at the bottom).

When you complete the record sheet, you will be ready to move "In the Lab"!

An excellent Glossary to help you with any of your questions can be found at:

http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/estuaries/glossary_index.cfm#shellfish

The Geology of Long Island Sound

To help you investigate the Geology of Long Island Sound, use the following websites to complete the

�Geology of Long Island Sound� investigation sheet.

First stop in your investigation takes you to "Discover Water"!
Visit �Introduction,� �Watershed Activity,� and �Watch the �Video�

                     http://www.discoverwater.org/


    Use the link below to discover more about the Long Island Sound Watershed.

                     http://longislandsoundstudy.net/2010/08/watershed-population/

Some more information will be found on �Long Island Sound by the Numbers�

http://longislandsoundstudy.net/about-the-sound/by-the-numbers/

The Environmental Health of Long Island Sound

To help you investigate the Environmental Health (water quality) of Long Island Sound,

use the following websites to complete the

"Long Island Sound Environmental Health investigation sheet"

First, focus your magnifying glass on the picture found at :

http://longislandsoundstudy.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Hypoxia.jpg

Also remember to use the glossary found at:

http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/estuaries/glossary_index.cfm#shellfish

Learn about hypoxia and its link to nitrogen pollution at:

http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/estuaries/nutrients.cfm

Don�t forget to click on the �read more� section

Another helpful link on the subject is found at :

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/nutpollution.html

Play a game to figure out �What is Wrong� with the estuary environment at:

http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/estuaries/kids/games/mysteryintro.htm

A hypoxia map of Long Island Sound is located at:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/water/lis_water_quality/monitoring/2013/Narrative_Hypoxia_map__WQSep13.pdf

The Biology of Horseshoe Crabs

To help you investigate the biology of the horseshoe crab and its food web, use the websites

below to complete the "Biology of the Horseshoe Crabs" investigation sheet.

Begin the hunt for facts about horseshoe crabs at :

http://longislandsoundstudy.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/horseshoecrab.slideshow.pdf

Be sure to visit the last page to learn about the population of horseshoe crabs.

Play a game to learn more about species that live in estuaries around the world and pay

          special attention to the question that has a picture of a horseshoe crab!

          You will find some information you need here.

           http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/estuaries/games_index.cfm