Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Biodiversity of Deep Coral Reefs

Introduction

National Middle School Science Standards

Life Science

Key Terms

ichthyology, marine biodiversity, coral reefs, invasive species, DNA barcoding, taxonomy

Key Concepts:  

  • Biodiversity and its value to marine life 
  • Ecology of coral reefs and their inhabitants 
  • Dangers facing deep coral reef biodiversity 
  • Classification of living things 
  • Technology used by ichthyologists 

Resource Types

Invertebrate Zoology Subject Guide Smithsonian Libraries

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The Biodiversity of Deep Coral Reefs package supports students in meeting the following middle school NGSS Performance Expectations:

Life Science

MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

  • MS-LS2-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of

  • MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.

  • MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

  • MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Resource Type
Subject Guides
Grade Level
6-8
Learning Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
Topics
Life Science