Discussion Session 5: Macrobenthos and Coastal Food webs

Question to answer (via eboard; due before class on April 3rd) and to discuss in class:

1) Read two journal article papers dealing with benthic macrofauna and their role in: a) feeding upon smaller organisms, or b) as being a food resource for demersal fish communities.  Using oceanic abstracts or http://www.int-res.com/cgi/ may be helpful in locating good resources.  Summarize the findings of the studies and try to link the results of both studies explaining mechanisms responsible for similarities or differences.

In summarizing your papers do not copy any part of the abstracts (penalty = loss of all points), but put your impressions of these works into your own words.  Also make 2-3 good quality transparencies from these papers, that you feel is especially relevant to the main theme of the papers you have chosen. When making the transparency try to blow up the image so that it uses most of a 8.5 x 11 page so it is easy to see.  Be prepared to get up and talk for 6-8 min about your papers using the overhead.

 Your presentation (50% of total score) will be graded based upon: 1) Background information, 2) Brief methods description, 3) Indication of results, 4) Important discussion points, 5) Oral quality, and 6) Quality of visual aid use.