Ecosystem dynamics excursion
Biology
Program
Students will work in small groups to undertake scientific fieldwork at three study sites within the dramatic Coastal Gully Forest vegetation community.
They will investigate questions that focus on the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors, human impacts and the practice of working scientifically in a fieldwork setting.
Data will be collected using a variety of fieldwork and sampling techniques, then processed and analysed to identify the processes and cycles that infuence the ecosystem with a focus on the ecological niche of an endangered population of Long-nosed Bandicoots
Conclusions are made on how the students' fieldwork data and longterm trends can be summarised to inform a communication product that summarises the threats to, and management of, the endangered Bandicoot population.
All of the activities have an explicit teaching focus on the syllabus skills for Working Scientifically in a fieldwork context.
Inquiry questions
- How do biotic and abiotic factors affect animal populations in natural areas?
- What fieldwork and analysis methodologies are needed for a valid and reliable habitat survey?
- How can human activities impact natural ecosystems and how should they be managed?
Fieldwork
Compare and contrast ecological survey
Students work in small groups of 3 or 4 and use fieldwork instruments and tools to record quantitative and qualitative data of various biotic and abiotic factors.
Biotic factors include live invertebrate species sampling, evidence of other fauna, leaf-litter coverage using a sectioned quadrat and identifying dominant plant types.
Abiotic environmental factors surveyed are numerous and use instruments including hygrometers, compasses, clinometers, light meters and anemometers. Soil factors include soil texture, pH, moisture, colour and temperature.
Students record their data and observations using worksheets and a shared online spreadsheet, accessible on their phones using the Google Sheets app. This streamlines data collection, processing and analysis and enables the identification of errors and suspicious data outliers as they occur.
Groups identify and discuss issues with each survey method's validity and data reliability. This discussion includes explicit examples of different types of error and bias and strategies to minimise these.
Note: Students need to watch these videos in the week before the excursion and complete a least the first two activities in this Google docs worksheet.
Human activities, impacts and management
Students locate and record evidence of human activities and identify environmental impacts and management strategies that can promote survivorship of the threatened population of Long-Nosed Bandicoots found at this site.
Data interpretation, processing and analysis
As data and observations are collected students identify and discuss emerging patterns and trends.
To conclude students consider and discuss information they have gathered and use this to make an initial comparison and assessment of two of the study sites, specifically their suitability as habitat for the long-nosed bandicoot as well as future directions for land and ecosystem managers. Finally students collate and communicate their understandings and with a large poster-style jigsaw activity.
Assessment
Teachers can use this excursion and data collected as the basis of an assessment task.
Access to past school assessment questions, tasks and marking rubrics are available by request.
