Ecosystem Dynamics

Investigate the largest stand of mangroves on the Parramatta River.

This field trip experience has been designed to assist students with their depth study, or as a standalone field work exercise. It will enable students to work scientifically by encouraging them to communicate evidence-based conclusions.

The field trip will allow the students to work collaboratively to design experiments that are reliable, accurate and valid.

Students will be challenged to refine or redevelop their procedures, redefine their questions and/or hypotheses, modify their methodologies or designs, conduct further practical investigations or conduct further secondary research.

Content:

Population Dynamics

Students:

Investigate and determine relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem including:

• The impact of abiotic factors
• The impact of biotic factors
• The ecological niches occupied by a species
• Measuring populations of organisms using sampling techniques

Future Ecosystems

Students:

• investigate changes in past ecosystems  that may inform our approach to the management of future ecosystems including:
              -the role of changing climate on ecosystems
• investigate practices used to restore damaged ecosystems

Outcomes
A student:

• develops and evaluates questions and hypotheses for scientific investigation (BIO11/12-1)
• designs and evaluates investigations in order to obtain primary and secondary data and information (BIO11/12 – 2)
• conducts investigations to collect valid and reliable primary and secondary data and information (BIO11/12 – 3)
• selects and processes appropriate qualitative and quantitative data and information using a range of appropriate media (BIO11/12 – 4)
• analyses and evaluates primary and secondary data and information (BIO11/12 – 5)
• analyses ecosystem dynamics and the interrelationships of organisms within the ecosystem (BIO11 – 11)