Ecosystem dynamics
Stage 6 Biology - Module 4
During this fieldwork excursion, students collect primary data that they can process and analyse post-excursion. Students engage in hands-on investigations to collect data on abiotic factors, abundance and distribution. They record observations of adaptations, impact of biotic factors, feeding interdependencies and human use and impact.
Rock platform and magrove ecosystems are the most popular sites for this excursion. For these sites, we provide a comprehensive pre and post-excursion resource that supports the program. Pre-excursion resources provide a background on the ecosytem and prepare students for fieldwork. Post-excursion resources scaffold processing and analysing the data collected during fieldwork.
Excursions can be conducted at multiple locations and tailored to suit specific school programs or depth study requirements.
Site options include
- Honeymoon Track OR Karloo Pool (Woodlands)
- Bonnie Vale (Mangroves)
- Shelley Beach, Bundeena, Shelly Beach, Cronulla, OR Sandon Point, Bulli (Rock Platforms)
- Bola Creek (Rainforest)
- Wattamolla or Winfred Falls (Heath)
- Observe structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations of plants and animals
- Observe animals as relevant to the ecosystem, e.g., bird watching, dipnetting for macroinvertebrates, invertebrate search, capture and release of crabs or rock platform species
- Use scientific equipment to measure a range of abiotic factors relevant to the ecosystem, such as: temperature, humidity, salinity, soil pH, water pH, sunlight intensity, wind speed and direction
- Observe examples of the impact of biotic factors, such as predation, competition and symbiotic relationships
- Complete food chains to summarise observed feeding interdependencies
- Use random quadrats to estimate the population of one plant (or algae) and one animal species
- Complete a transect to determine distribution of species across the ecosystem
- Observe and summarise impacts of human activity on the ecosystem
Biology Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)
- communicates scientific understanding using suitable language and terminology for a specific audience or purpose BIO11-7
- describes biological diversity by explaining the relationships between a range of organisms in terms of specialisation for selected habitats and evolution of species BIO11-10
- analyses ecosystem dynamics and the interrelationships of organisms within the ecosystem BIO11-11
"This program is awesome as it allows students to get outside and actually participate in the biological concepts they are learning about."