Ecosystem dynamics excursion | 2025 syllabus | Stage 6 Biology

Fieldwork activities

Activities may change to suit student needs, timing and weather conditions.

Plant adaptations

Students use field journalling, field guides and scientific tools to identify native sclerophyll plants and examine structural adaptations. They explain how these features support survival under environmental selective pressures and investigate how Aboriginal Peoples use local plant adaptations for specific purposes.

Ecological relationships (optional)

Students observe interactions between organisms and use annotated field drawings to identify ecological relationships such as competition, mutualism, commensalism, allelopathy, parasitism and predation.

Ground vegetation

Students use a belt transect and systematic sampling to investigate the abundance, richness and distribution of ground cover vegetation, logs and woody debris. They consider how these habitat features provide shelter and movement pathways for boguls.

Food and leaf litter

Students use random quadrat sampling to measure leaf litter and investigate potential bogul food resources including invertebrates, fungi, seeds and fruits. They use their data to assess the quality of the forest floor as foraging habitat.

Environmental conditions

Students use scientific fieldwork instruments to measure abiotic and biotic conditions including light, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and canopy cover. They consider how these conditions influence bogul activity, shelter and food availability.

Habitat evaluation

Students combine evidence from their field investigations to evaluate whether the sclerophyll forest at Blackman Park provides suitable habitat for a bogul re-wilding program.

Worksheet and supporting resources

Student worksheet

Student worksheet coming soon.

Secondary worksheets are password protected and available to teachers after booking. Contact Field of Mars EEC to request the password.

Schools are responsible for printing one worksheet for each student before the excursion.

Teacher and student resources

View the Fieldwork techniques learning resource.

Additional supporting resources are being developed. These may include pre-fieldwork activities, species and ecosystem information and data-processing templates.

Suggested timetable

Time	Activities
9.45–10.15	Introduction, fieldwork preparation and toilets
10.15–11.00	Fieldwork investigation 1
11.00–11.30	Food break and toilets
11.30–12.15	Fieldwork investigation 2
12.15–12.45	Food break and toilets
12.45–1.30	Fieldwork investigation 3
1.30–2.00	Data analysis and preliminary conclusions
2.00–2.15	Pack up and depart

The timetable may change according to class numbers, student learning needs, the selected location and weather.

Syllabus outcomes and content

Students will learn to

• collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative biotic and abiotic field data
• use belt transects and quadrats to investigate the abundance and distribution of ecosystem features
• explain how structural plant adaptations shaped by evolution support survival under environmental selective pressures
• investigate how Aboriginal Peoples use adaptations of local plants for specific purposes
• identify and explain relationships between organisms
• investigate how ground vegetation, woody debris and leaf litter provide habitat for animals
• analyse how environmental conditions interact with vegetation and food resources
• explain how abiotic and biotic factors may influence the abundance and distribution of organisms
• evaluate the suitability of a sclerophyll forest site for bogul re-wilding
• evaluate the validity, reliability and accuracy of ecological fieldwork data
• communicate an evidence-based ecological conclusion

Biology 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Year 11 focus area

Evolution and ecosystems

Outcome

• BI-11-03 – analyses the relationships between organisms and their environment using the theory of evolution by natural selection

Working Scientifically outcomes

• BI-11WS-03 – conducts scientific investigations to collect data and information
• BI-11WS-04 – selects and processes qualitative and quantitative data and information
• BI-11WS-05 – analyses and evaluates primary and secondary data and information
• BI-11WS-07 – communicates scientific arguments using evidence, scientific language and terminology for a specific audience

Content

Natural selection

Students:

• Use examples to demonstrate how abiotic and biotic factors exert selective pressures on populations

Evolution and adaptations

Students:

• Use plant and animal examples to explain how structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations shaped by evolution enable survival in their environment.
• Conduct a practical investigation to examine structural adaptations for water balance in Australian plants.
• Explain how Aboriginal Peoples use the adaptations of local plants and animals for specific purposes.

Ecosystem dynamics

Students:

• Conduct a practical investigation to collect and analyse abiotic and biotic data, to discuss the features of an ecosystem.
• Explain how abiotic and biotic factors influence the abundance, distribution and diversity of species in an ecosystem.
• Compare sampling techniques to estimate distribution and abundance of organisms.
• Conduct a practical investigation to examine the distribution and abundance of a plant or animal using belt transect, line transect or quadrat sampling techniques.
• Use examples to determine relationships between organisms, including predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism, allelopathy and parasitism.
• Evaluate the validity, reliability and accuracy of ecological sampling data when drawing conclusions about ecosystem dynamics.

Biology 11–12 Syllabus (2025) © NSW Education Standards Authority for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2025.

Vocabulary

abiotic factor, abundance, adaptation, biotic factor, bogul, competition, distribution, ecological relationship, ecological sampling, ecosystem, food resource, habitat, habitat suitability, leaf litter, microclimate, mutualism, parasitism, population, predation, quadrat, re-wilding, selective pressure, species richness, structural adaptation, sclerophyll forest, transect

Cost, class numbers and booking

Cost

DoE $27 per student – GST free

Non-government school $37 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class

Classes

Blackman Park maximum 6 classes per day, with up to 30 students per class.

Buffalo Creek Reserve maximum 3 classes per day.

Field of Mars Reserve maximum 3 classes per day.

Program costs

Program costs may change. If program costs change after you book, you will be charged at the original cost.

Booking policy

Confirm final student numbers and classes 7 working school days before the program.

Book this Stage 6 Biology excursion

Risk assessment and accessibility

Access the risk assessment and location information for the confirmed excursion site:

Blackman Park risk assessment and location information

Buffalo Creek Reserve risk assessment and location information

Field of Mars Reserve risk assessment and location information

The program includes rugged bushwalking on uneven natural tracks. The full standard program is not wheelchair accessible.

Students who are unwell should not attend.

Classroom teachers are expected to attend and actively supervise students throughout the excursion.

Notify Field of Mars EEC before the visit about medical, mobility, sensory, communication or other support needs so reasonable adjustments can be considered.

View location information

What to bring and prepare

School preparation

• Print one worksheet for each student
• Organise students into suitable working groups
• Ensure students bring writing materials and a clipboard
• Review relevant fieldwork techniques or supporting resources
• Advise Field of Mars EEC of learning, medical or access requirements

Students should bring

School sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunscreen, raincoat, hat, sturdy closed shoes, pencils, clipboard and a reusable name tag.

Weather, cancellations and rescheduling

The program may be modified, postponed or cancelled because of predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms.

Cancellation or rescheduling with less than 30 school days’ notice before the booking date – $650

Cancellation with less than 14 school days’ notice before the booking date – full program cost

Cancellation due to unsafe weather or fire danger – $0