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Teach Aquaculture Curriculum: Fish-Eating Contest

Amber L. Garr, Cortney L. Ohs, Brian E. Myers, Craig S. Kasper, R. Leroy Creswell, Frank A. Chapman, Carlos V. Martinez, and Elisa J. Livengood

This is Activity 2 in a series of 24 in the Aquaculture Curriculum.

Abstract

There are numerous fish species cultured in the world. Fish are cultured in ponds, tanks, and cages. Some are fed floating, pelleted food and some consume live algae. The types of diets used in aquaculture have been developed specifically for the feeding strategies of the cultured animal. In this lesson, students will mimic fish with different mouth positions by adopting different feeding behaviors and by trying to capture marshmallows without the use of their hands.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

  1. Observe external anatomy to determine feeding behaviors of fish.
  2. Recommend an aquaculture diet (floating, sinking, particle size, etc.) based on external anatomy.

Grade Level

5–12

Subject Area

Biology, Anatomy, Aquaculture

Time

Preparation: 2 minutes

Activity: 30 minutes

Cleanup: 5 minutes

Student Performance Standards (Sunshine State Standards)

10.03 List examples of aquatic crops and animals (LA.910.1.6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5; SC.912.L.17.9).

11.01 List and explain the meaning of morphology, anatomy, and physiology (LA.910.1.6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5; SC.912.L.14.7).

11.02 List and describe the physiology of aquatic animals (LA.910.1.6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5; SC.912.L. 18. 7, 8, 9).

11.05 Identify and describe the external and internal anatomy of fish (LA.910.1.6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5; SC.912.L.14.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51).

11.09 Develop an information file in aquaculture species (LA.910.1.6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Interest Approach

This activity works best after you have completed a live or virtual dissection of the fish so that students are familiar with the external anatomy. Watch the Fish Eating Contest presentation at http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php. Discuss how the culture methods may change based on the way each fish feeds.

Student Materials

  1. Mouth Types of Fish section
  2. Fishing line
  3. Clothespin
  4. Marshmallows (at least two)
  5. Scissors
  6. A partner

Teacher Materials

Table 1. 

Teacher materials.

Material

Store

Estimated Cost

Fish Eating Contest presentation

http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php

NA

Bag of marshmallows

(Vegan marshmallows are available for vegetarians and kosher students.)

Grocery store

$3 and up

Fishing line

Walmart, fishing or sports store

$8 and up

Bag of clothespins

Walmart, drug store

$1.50 and up

Scissors

Walmart, drug store

$8 and up

 

Student Instructions

  1. Read the Mouth Types of Fish section for homework in preparation for this laboratory.
  2. Observe a live fish in an aquarium (if one is available).
  3. Watch the Fish Eating Contest presentation at http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php.
  4. Think of the way different fish (sharks, rays, eels, tuna, clownfish, seahorses) feed and where their mouthparts are located.
  5. Find a partner.
  6. Gather one set of materials (fishing line, clothespin, marshmallow, and scissors).
  7. Tie the fishing line to the clothespin, and clip the marshmallow onto the clothespin.
  8. Position the marshmallow at various heights off of the ground. Have your partner try to eat the marshmallow from the clothespin without the use of hands.
  9. Switch roles.
  10. Think about what kind of feeder you are (terminal, subterminal, uppointing).
  11. What kind of feed would be best for aquaculture of different fish species (floating or sinking pellet, live feeds [rotifers, Artemia], or microalgae)?

Teacher Instructions

Preparations

  1. Give students a copy of the Mouth Types of Fish section, and have them read it.
  2. Download Fish Eating Contest presentation at http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php.
  3. Collect supplies.
  4. Divide students into partner groups.

Activity

  1. Review the presentation with the students.
  2. Ask them to actively engage and answer the questions to identify the different kinds of feeding strategies.
  3. Divide students into partners, and have them create a "fishing line" with the clothespin and their bait (marshmallows).
  4. Assign one of the types of mouths (terminal, subterminal, or uppointing), and have the students feed on marshmallows the way a fish would with this mouth type.
  5. Have the students try to "feed" without using their hands while their partner places the marshmallow bait in different positions.
  6. Once finished, ask the students to list (on the board) which kind of diet would be best suited for fish with the various mouth types (e.g. floating or sinking pellets, live feeds [rotifers, Artemia], or microalgae)?

Postwork/Cleanup

  1. Have the students "eat" the rest of the bait.
  2. You can save the fishing line and clothespins for future labs.

Anticipated Results

  1. Students will identify differences in feeding behaviors for fish based on their mouth type.
  2. Students will be able to assign different types of aquaculture diets (floating, sinking, etc.) to a particular mouthpart or feeding strategy of a fish.

Support Materials

  1. Fish Eating Contest presentation http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php
  2. Biology of Cultured Fish presentation http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/2general_biology.php
  3. Aquariums in the Classroom presentation http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/teachaquaculture/curriculum/1introduction.php
  4. Mouth Types of Fish section

Explanation of Concepts

  1. Relationship of structure and function
  2. Anatomy and biology of vertebrates

Mouth Types of Fish

Fish have a wide variety of mouth types. Some species have terminal mouths, others have uppointing mouths, some have subterminal mouths, and others have highly specialized mouths. Each of these mouth types have evolved to accommodate efficient feeding on prey items. A terminal mouth is located on the anterior end of the head (See Figure 1). A subterminal mouth is on the ventral or underneath side of the head. These fish usually feed on the bottom (See Figure 2). A fish with an uppointing mouth has a long lower jaw, and the mouth opening is towards the top of the head. These fish usually feed on the surface (See Figure 3). Some fish have specialized mouths to accommodate feeding on various prey items (See Figure 4).

Figure 1. Black fin tuna and pipefish with terminal mouth.
Figure 1.  Black fin tuna and pipefish with terminal mouth.
Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org, permission was granted to Wikimedia for public distribution and use by the copyright holders

 

Figure 2. Carp and channel catfish with subterminal mouth.
Figure 2.  Carp and channel catfish with subterminal mouth.
Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org, permission was granted to Wikimedia for public distribution and use by the copyright holders

 

Figure 3. Tarpon with uppointing mouth.
Figure 3.  Tarpon with uppointing mouth.
Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org, permission was granted to Wikimedia for public distribution and use by the copyright holders

 

Figure 4. Seahorse with specialized mouth.
Figure 4.  Seahorse with specialized mouth.
Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org, permission was granted to Wikimedia for public distribution and use by the copyright holders

Publication #FA169

Release Date:December 17, 2019

Reviewed At:January 13, 2023

Related Experts

Ohs, Cortney L.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Myers, Brian E

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Martinez, Carlos V

University of Florida

Chapman, Frank A.

University of Florida

Creswell, R. LeRoy

University of Florida

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Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is FA169, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date May 2010. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Amber L. Garr, research associate, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University Center for Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement; Cortney L. Ohs, assistant professor, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center; Brian E. Myers, professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; Craig S. Kasper, aquaculture program manager, Hillsborough Community College; R. LeRoy Creswell, Florida Sea Grant regional Extension agent; Frank A. Chapman, associate professor, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; Carlos V. Martinez, assistant in Extension, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; and Elisa J. Livengood, graduate student, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Cortney Ohs