Human impacts around Strangers creek

Transcription

1 Name:. Class: Date: Human impacts around Strangers creek Strangers creek is in East Ryde. Its middle section flows through the Field of Mars reserve where it has cut down through a shale capping and the underlying Hawkesbury sandstone to form a narrow steepsided valley. Field of Mars is a nature reserve managed by Ryde city council. It exists for the purposes of biological conservation as well as public nature appreciation, wellbeing, enjoyment, and as a site for valuable scientific research. The catchment area of Strangers creek is predominantly urban. Many of the human activities that have taken place within the catchment have created considerable environmental damage. The law requires that these Human impacts must be rehabilitated. In 2010 Ryde city council made a focussed effort to rehabilitate Strangers creek. Their main goals were to improve the quality of water in the creek, control some erosion hotspots, control introduced species and protect an endangered ecological community. This fieldwork investigates how introduced species affect the functioning of Strangers creek and surrounding bushland ecosystems. The data collected will be used to inform a communication strategy for the future management of the area. Fieldwork inquiry questions: What introduced species are present in the Strangers creek valley? How have human activities changed the ecosystems and allowed the spread of these introduced species? What are the impacts of these introduced species? How should introduced species be managed in the future? What methodologies and data sources provide the best information to answer the above? Timetable Introduction Recess Select equipment and travel to sites Sites Sites Lunch Management and Conclusion E+ES. species worksheet V7 1

2 4 \ Human impacts Control of 2 x weeds Management solutions Soil types Fieldwork resource folder: Working Scientifically D Interactive Google map link: Map source: D: EEC: Introduction (am) Data analysis, communication (pm) 4: Site 4 (and return walk) Spatial information Process and analyse data from sites 1 4 Summarise findings Assess secondary resources and data Outline communication plan goals for depth study E+ES. species worksheet V7 2 Communication critique Stormwater impacts Weeds as habitat refuges Geomorphology of valley Fox control The Data analysis site will give us time to evaluate the data we have collected in the field. 3: Survey site 3 Weed infestation Biotic and Abiotic sampling Erosion control Human impacts The Site information text boxes will help us plan to bring the necessary equipment Recording the date will help us access valid weather records 2: Survey Site 2 Weed infestation Biotic and Abiotic sampling Erosion control Human impacts The Map is helping us plan and conduct our investigations for accuracy and safety. This is where you need to make notes about how you are working scientifically, for example: 1: Survey site 1

3 Working scientifically: Observation: Eg: Strangers creek is overgrown with introduced plants along much of it s length Investigation purpose: Eg: Plan, undertake, and analyse the data from, an investigation that compares the biotic and abiotic factors of two otherwise similar sites within the Strangers creek study area. One site being affected by introduced species of plant and the the other relatively unaffected. Question(s): Write your own: Hint, see fieldwork inquiry questions on p 1 Method(s): See pp 4 & 5 Safety: See Risk management information: Data How will you collect and manage the data from collected from everyone in your class? management: Conclusion: Can you answer your investigation question(s) above? Future directions: Which methods and data sources provided the best and most reliable data and information that enabled you to answer the question? What methods would you need for more testing in the future? How should the area be managed to minimise future environmental damage? E+ES. species worksheet V7 3

4 Site 2: Position: Time: Weather: Fauna Fauna observed Scats and tracks: Flora % cover Classification Vegetation layer survey: 1. Ground covers 2. Shrubs 3. Trees Lat: Long: Biotic factors Abiotic factors E+ES. species worksheet V7 4 Lithosphere Parent material Soil texture Soil ph Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere Aspect Slope Light intensity Air temperature Humidity Wind speed Soil temperature (eg NNW) (Lux) \ Working Scientifically Word bank: valid, reliable, safe, data, method, technologies, variables, risk, primary, evidence, language

5 Site 2: Position: Time: Weather: Biotic factors Abiotic factors Fauna Lithosphere Fauna observed Parent material Soil texture Soil ph Scats and tracks: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere Aspect Flora Slope % cover Light intensity Classification Vegetation layer survey: 1. Ground covers 2. Shrubs 3. Trees Lat: Long: Air temperature Humidity Wind speed Soil temperature (eg NNW) (Lux) E+ES. species worksheet V7 5 \ Working Scientifically Word bank: valid, reliable, safe, data, method, technologies, variables, risk, primary, evidence, language

6 Common name(s) Description Habitat Ecological niche Predators, competitors Interrelationships Site 3: species case study 1: Lantana Lantana camara Reproductive notes Population notes Habitat value Human influences Status Control Management E+ES. species worksheet V7 6

7 Common name(s) Description Habitat Ecological niche Biotic impacts Site 3: species case study 2: Tradescantia fluminensis Trad, still known by other names including Wandering Jew A succulent, spreading groundcover which forms a dense carpet of brittle, shiny green stems and leaves. WHITE FLOWERS Moist shady areas such as forest floors and near creeks (dies back during hot, dry summer weather) Ground based creeper which smothers other herbs and ground covers Smothers other vegetation. Outcompetes other species in most conditions. The area within the trad mat has low habitat value for most fauna (other than as a refuge area for small lizard and predatory insects). Leaves are toxic to herbivores Native lookalikes Reproductive notes Human influences Commelina cyenea is a similar species with a blue flower, longer leaves, spaced further apart This plant can reproduce vegetatively, short sections of stem quickly regrow roots, flowers are asexual, plants are effectively clones from South America, believed to have been introduced as an ornamental plant Regularly introduced and even reintroduced into bushland by dumping of garden refuse Status Noxious Weed Category: 4 "The growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority. Control Manual removal is challenging because the stem breaks so easily at the nodes. All parts of the plant must be removed by hand pulling or raking. On firm surfaces it may be rolled up like a carpet. Herbicide: Roundup is not usually effective, Grazon works well but is very toxic. Often mixed with detergent to penetrate the waxy, waterproof layer on the leaves Biological control: Some trials have reported that goats, sheep and chickens will eat trad. Research is underway into a black fungus that will only work on trad and no other species. Management Eliminating trad takes planning: Best to work from the top of a creek catchment down. Infestations should not be stripped bare in one visit & then ignored as this will just disturb the soil and leave it open to reinfestation. Sustained weeding over many months needed E+ES. species worksheet V7 7

8 Common name(s) Site 4: species case study 3: Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Description Habitat Ecological niche Predators, competitors Interrelationships Physiological adaptations Behavioyal adaptations Reproductive notes Population notes Disease Human influences Survey techniques Status Management E+ES. species worksheet V7 8

9 Sites 1 & 4: Human impacts and Management. (Construct at least three flowcharts to link human actions to natural processes) Human actions: Physical processes: Environmental impacts Trails and tracks Example: species Removal of veg. (human action) Poorly sited track (human action) Loose, sandy soil (abiotic factors) High volume rain events Physical erosion of tracks (climate) Unstable eroded areas (abiotic impact) smothering of veg (biotic impact) Loss of habitat = = (ecological impact) Need for management (future direction) Stormwater pollution Vegetation clearing Foot traffic Fire management Weed control Bush regeneration Drainage control Pollution control Education E+ES. species worksheet V7 9