Georgia Habitats: Coast3rd Grade Life Science

Standard: S3L1a

Standards

Life Science S3L1. Students will investigate the habitats of different organisms and the dependence of organisms on their habitat.

a. Differentiate between habitats of Georgia (mountains, marsh/swamp, coast, Piedmont, Atlantic Ocean) and the organisms that live there.

b. Identify features of green plants that allow them to live and thrive in different regions of Georgia.

c. Identify features of animals that allow them to live and thrive in different regions of Georgia.

d. Explain what will happen to an organism if the habitat is changed.

The Coast

Location:• Georgia’s coast is located

at the bottom of the state, where land meets ocean.

This area is made up of the barrier islands and sandy beaches.

Features

More Features

Dunes are the front lines of island building. At some point, all barrier islands started as sand dunes that were colonized by hardy plants. 

More Features

The sea serves as critical habitat for many migratory oceanic birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals, including the endangered right whale that calves in Georgia waters December through February.

Organisms on the coast

These organisms that live here have adapted to the harsh conditions of the beaches. They must be able to withstand the crashing waves and survive the hot sun and wind an the freezing cold winters

Animals that live on the coast

• Ghost shrimp

• Mole crabs

• Coquina clams

• Raccoons

• Shorebirds

Coast Animals

Plants that live here

Due to the force of the crashing waves, plant life is not found on the beach but on the sand dunes.

These plants include but are not limited to:

• Sea Oats

• Morning Glory

• Prickly pear cactus

• These plants help to present the break down of the land (erosion).

Coast Plants