Coastal Connections

Coastal Connections

Interactions on British Columbia’s Coastline

Introduction

What kind of life do you find at the beach? What about if you wade into the water, do you find different kinds of life? What kind of life would you find in deep waters?

The British Columbia coast supports diverse, complex webs of marine life which humans are directly and indirectly connected to. This resource investigates several ecosystems that interact within the ocean, and the impact of human activities on these ecosystems.  

Objectives

• list a variety of organisms which live in the marine and estuarine environment, and describe how they are connected.
• describe the concept of a “keystone species” and explain the role that such an organism plays in its environment.
• explain the term “species at risk” and list examples of marine species at risk.
• list human impacts on ocean environments.
• list ways in which they can be ocean stewards.

Background

The coastal environment can be split into three distinct marine ecosystems

• Estuary
• Nearshore
• Open ocean

An estuary is formed where rivers and streams flow out and mix with salt water from the ocean. At high tide, when the ocean has rushed towards the shore, an estuary contains a higher amount of salt water. At low tide, when the ocean has moved out of the river mouth, the estuary may dry out and expose rocks, mud and plants to air and sunlight. The estuary is an important part of the lifecycle of the salmon. Their time in the estuary allows their body to adapt to a saltier environment. Estuaries are also known as ‘nursery areas’ because they offer young fish and invertebrates places to hide from predators.

The nearshore ecosystem of British Columbia includes the intertidal zone and kelp forests. Many different species live there. These species include seaweeds, fishes, invertebrates (animals without backbones) and marine mammals (orcas, sea lions, seals, sea otters).

The open ocean is home to large whales, adult salmon, and large-winged seabirds like albatross. Off the coast of British Columbia, the ocean is extremely deep. The darkness of deeper water provides many places for prey to hide. The deep areas off the coast also provide a lot of nutrients that flow into nearshore environments each spring after winter storms. This regeneration of nutrients is called ‘upwelling’.

Many of our activities on land, whether we live close to the ocean or far away, affect the ocean. For example, chemicals that are poured down drains eventually make their way into streams, out estuaries and into the ocean. According to the World Wildlife Fund, over 80% of marine pollution can be directly associated with land-based activities.

Federal and provincial governments have taken action to protect important coastal species. To prevent wildlife from becoming extinct, Canada’s federal government proclaimed the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 1993. Currently only 85 aquatic species are protected under this Act, the majority of which are freshwater fishes. A group of scientists and wildlife experts (the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) can recommend that creatures be added to the list. Once a species is listed as endangered or threatened, it becomes illegal to kill, harass, capture or harm it in any way.

Entire Lesson

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Other Resources

Science World Resources | Full Lesson | Save Our Salmon
Engaging Science | Online Games | Secrets @ Sea | Wild Wetlands, What a Mouthful
Vancouver Aquarium | School Programs
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup | Schools
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre | School Programs
Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Salmonid Enhancement Program | Stream to Sea

Looking for a wrap-up activity? Check out SuperGreen Trivia