2027 focus
Marine and estuary water quality and ecology (per the national event slate).
Study plan
Setup (team of 2, ~50 min, Eye Protection C for salinometer, Class II calculator, one double-sided note sheet, student-built salinometer/hydrometer)
- Part I Marine/Estuary Ecology (~30%): aquatic ecology, water/nutrient cycles, aquatic chemistry & life, potable & wastewater treatment, food webs, community/population dynamics, watersheds.
- Applied Part I topics: estuary importance, watershed management, sedimentation pollution, harmful species, recently killed coral, HABs, emerging contaminants (medicines, PFAS), five ocean garbage patches.
- Part II Coral reef ID (~30%): common-name ID, ecology, life cycles, feeding, and indicator value for the global organism list (banded coral shrimp through Triton, including hard corals, parrotfish, urchins, etc.).
- Add region lists: Indo-Pacific (barramundi cod, bumphead parrotfish, giant clams, humphead wrasse); Atlantic (flamingo tongue, gorgonia, Nassau grouper).
- Part III Monitoring (~30%): interpret (no wet lab) salinity, pH, phosphates, turbidity, DO, temperature, nitrates, fecal coliform, total solids, BOD, aragonite saturation and how they interact.
- Part IV Salinometer (~10%): build/calibrate a device measuring 1–10% m/v saltwater in a 400–600 mL beaker (≥400 mL); estimate to 0.1%; full credit ±1% Regionals, ±0.5% State/Nationals. Bring & accuracy are ~5% each of total.
- No WiFi/programmable devices or tablets/laptops for the salinometer. Practice full exams with ID flash cards + data tables + device calibration nights.
Tips
Make a comparison chart: estuary vs open-ocean parameters, plus coral-reef indicator species by region.