Black‐Eyed Gills. Issue 1 (18th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Price, Ashleigh R.; Curran, Mary Carla
• Is Part Of: Natural sciences education. Volume 44:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2015-12-18
• Subjects: Agricultural education -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Natural resources -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 507.1
• DOI: 10.4195/nse2015.0005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-8281

Abstract

Abstract : What is causing the gills of shrimp in Georgia to turn black during the fall months? When shrimp are exposed to stressors such as contaminants, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, they may exhibit an immune response that causes the gill tissue to darken due to melanin production. This condition is called black gill. The number of shrimp with black gill varies by season. Shrimping inadvertently removes large amounts of organisms other than shrimp, which is called bycatch. In the Black‐Eyed Gills activity, students in middle school examine the seasonal distribution of black gill, presumably caused by a parasite in Georgia, through a collection exercise and then assess the quantity of bycatch. Students sample items that represent shrimp with varying levels of black gill infection (assorted beans), as well as items representing bycatch from plastic bowls. Students record data for shrimp and bycatch for each season and compare their numbers to real data. Through the activity, students learn about parasites, shrimp, and inadvertent impacts of fishing, and brainstorm about potential environmental factors that might contribute to the seasonal distribution of black gill. This original activity employs critical thinking skills and presents an original exercise that is relevant to the growing body of research on the importance of parasites to marine ecosystems. It addresses NGSS related to how the physical environment affects organisms and interactions among species. Impact Statement We developed an original exercise that is relevant to the growing body of research on the importance of parasites to marine ecosystems. Students learn about a disease that affects commercial shrimp, and employ critical thinking skills by brainstorming about potential environmental factors that might contribute to the seasonal occurrence of the disease. Several Next Generation Science Standards are addressed, including constructing an argument that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.