Estuary | RiverVenture

RiverVenture needs your help!

Riverventure Headquarters has heard reports of problems in the estuary. A sign warns people not to collect or eat shellfish such as oysters and clams. People are testing the water for strange reaons...

• Find out why the shellfish bed in this area has been closed.
• What are other potential problems for the estuary?
• Gather clues and file a River Wrap Report when you're ready!

The panorama is full of objects, some obvious and others hidden. Scroll over the landscape and see how many you can find!

For Educators

Students engage in a scientific mystery that they solve by exploring interactive panoramic images of Charleston, SC and picking up clues along the way. This module focuses on the estuary, the point where fresh water meets salt water, and problems that pollution causes for creatures in this environment. After students learn about runoff, building booms, point source pollutants, and the dilution solution they are asked 10 quiz questions to solve the mystery in the River Wrap.

Standards

• Earth Science: Earth’s History and Diversity of Life
  • 8.E.6 The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth’s geologic history and its diversity of life over time.
    • 8.E.6B Adaptation by natural selection acting over generations is one important process by which species change in response to changes in environmental conditions. The resources of biological communities can be used within sustainable limits, but if th...
• Earth Science: Changes in Landforms and Oceans
  • 5.E.3 The student will demonstrate an understanding of how natural processes and human activities affect the features of Earth’s landforms and oceans.
    • 5.E.3B Earth’s oceans and landforms can be affected by natural processes in various ways. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards caused by these processes but can take steps to reduce their impacts. Human activities can affect the land and ocean...
      • 5.E.3B.3 Construct scientific arguments to support claims that human activities (such as conservation efforts or pollution) affect the land and oceans of Earth.
• Personal and Community Health
  • P-4.1.6 List ways to reduce exposure to harmful environmental factors (e.g., ultraviolet rays, pollutants).
• Humans depend on the living world for the resources and other benefits provided by biodiversity. But human activity is also having adverse impacts on biodiversity through overpopulation, overexploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Thus, sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. Sustaining biodiversity also aids humanity by preserving landscapes of recreational or inspirational value.
• Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.
• Ecosystem Dynamics
  • H.B.6 The student will demonstrate an understanding that ecosystems are complex, interactive systems that include both biological communities and physical components of the environment.