ENVIRONMENT
Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.

Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic
Discussion Ideas
- According to a new study, cephalopod populations are booming. What are cephalopods?
- A cephalopod is a marine animal with arms or tentacles attached to its big head. In fact, the word “cephalopod” is taken from the Greek roots “cephalo-” (head) and “-pod” (foot): head-foot.
- Cephalopods are mollusks, related to slugs and snails.
- A cephalopod is a marine animal with arms or tentacles attached to its big head. In fact, the word “cephalopod” is taken from the Greek roots “cephalo-” (head) and “-pod” (foot): head-foot.
- What are some examples of cephalopods?
- Octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses.
- Why are cephalopods nicknamed the “weeds of the sea”?
- According to biologist Zoë Doubleday, cephalopods’ “unique set of biological traits, including rapid growth, short lifespans and flexible development … allow them to adapt to changing environmental conditions (such as temperature) more quickly than many other marine species.”
- How will the increased population of cephalopods impact marine food webs?
- To be determined:
- Prey species (including commercially valuable fish and crustacean species) may face increased predation by cephalopods.
- Species that prey on cephalopods may benefit from increased populations.
- Cephalopod fisheries have boomed, and they may face overfishing.
- To be determined:
TEACHERS TOOLKIT
Washington Post: Squids and octopuses — the ‘weeds of the sea’ — are on the rise
Nat Geo: The Amazing Squid video
(extra credit! This is a great, short introduction to scientific writing.) Current Biology: Global proliferation of cephalopods
Thank it is very intresting.