These notes provide information for teachers who are planning a visit to Werribee Open Range Zoo for VCE Biology students.

Transcription

1 Bandicoot Survival Teacher Notes VCE Biology Unit 1: How do living things stay alive? Area of Study 2: How do living systems sustain life? Introduction These notes provide information for teachers who are planning a visit to Werribee Open Range Zoo for VCE Biology students. Bandicoot Survival provides students with the opportunity to explore the science that goes into breeding and releasing a species such as the endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Within these notes is information regarding: Pre-excursion reading Data collection on the day Putting it all together at school Aim The aim of this program is for students to: Apply key science skills and understandings in the field to determine habitat requirements for EBB survival Explain how bandicoot adaptations enhance their survival Determine the relationships and interdependencies Eastern Barred Bandicoots have with other species within their grassland environment Determine the population characteristics of Eastern Barred Bandicoots and the impact of factors that affect their population growth Develop an understanding of the management strategies used to fight the extinction of a locally threatened species such as Eastern Barred Bandicoots.

2 Pre-excursion Reading Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii The mainland subspecies of Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, is now considered extinct in the wild. They are listed as Endangered federally (EPBC Act 1999). Bandicoots were once widespread across grasslands and grassy woodlands of western Victoria and South Australia. By 1991, the subspecies was on the brink of extinction, primarily due to habitat loss and predation by introduced foxes and cats. A captive breeding program was established sourcing Eastern Barred Bandicoots from the last known population at Hamilton. Since then, a coordinated Recovery program has focused on captive breeding, habitat management and predator control. There are currently reintroduced populations of Eastern Barred Bandicoots at Woodlands Historic Park, Mt Rothwell, Hamilton Community Parklands, Churchill Island and Phillip Island. Zoos Victoria coordinates the captive breeding program and plays a key role in the recovery of this species through: Supplementing reintroduced wild populations through captive breeding for reintroduction Maintaining an insurance population in captivity Conducting research to improve breeding and reintroduction success Increasing community awareness and support for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot The Australian Trail precinct at Werribee Open Range Zoo is a 3.7ha large protected, predator proof enclosure containing natural habitat. The site enables Zoo visitors to connect with Eastern Barred Bandicoots and their basalt plains environment. To find out more go to Former distribution of the mainland subspecies of Eastern Barred Bandicoot Page 2 of 9

3 Data collection at the Zoo Survival through adaptations Understanding bandicoot adaptations for survival are key to effectively managing the species in captivity and breeding for release. Spend some time observing an Eastern Barred Bandicoot. 1. In the table below describe at least one example each of a structural, behavioural, and physiological adaptation that would enable the bandicoot to survive in a grassland habitat and maintain a viable population size over time. Structural adaptation Behavioural adaptation Physiological adaptation Bandicoot Release and Carrying Capacity The carrying capacity of a region for a given species is the maximum number of individuals that the region s resources can sustain indefinitely without significantly impacting on those resources. Population modelling suggests that the carrying capacity for Eastern Barred Bandicoots is 1 animal/1.5ha. 2. List the factors that would need to be considered when determining the carrying capacity of a site for Eastern Barred Bandicoots. Page 3 of 9

4 Relationships between organisms in an ecosystem Commensalism: One organism benefits from another without affecting it. Ammensalism: One species hurts the other but doesn t benefit from the interaction. Mutualism: Each individual benefits from the activity of another. Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of another. Predation: Predator feeding on prey. Grassland organisms 3. As you move through the Australian Journey grasslands observe two biotic factors that have the potential to interact with an Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Record the details in the table below: Organism Evidence e.g. scats, sighting, feather, call, etc. Producer or? (circle) Relationship with a Bandicoot eg. predation, mutualism, commensalism, ammensalism, parasitism or none. Inputs i.e. what does the organism take in to survive? Outputs i.e. what does the organism release into its environment? Producer Primary Secondary Tertiary Producer Primary Secondary Tertiary Page 4 of 9

5 Data collection sites in the Australian Trail at Werribee Open Range Zoo Page 5 of 9

6 Eastern Barred Bandicoot Habitat Preference Aim: To determine the suitability of the Australian Trail site for supporting a small population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots. 4. Each school participating in this program will collect field data. Quadrats are set at particular sites indicated on the map and will be allocated to ensure an even distribution of data. The accumulated data will be collected using EpiCollect and made available to view online. The factors below are considered important for Bandicoot interaction with a site. These factors will be measured in 1m 2 quadrats adjacent to the trapping sites to determine the characteristics of sites that the Bandicoots interact with. Quadrat number: Quadrat number: Air Temperature ( o C) Air Temperature ( o C) Percentage Plant cover <15cm Percentage Plant cover <15cm Percentage Plant cover > 15cm Percentage Plant cover > 15cm Woody debris cover (eg. branches, bark, etc.) Woody debris cover(eg. branches, bark, etc) Plant litter cover (eg. dead leaves, stems, flowers) Plant litter cover (eg. dead leaves, stems, flowers) Artificial cover (cement, bricks, fence palings) Artificial cover (cement, bricks, fence palings) Bare ground cover (including rocks) Bare ground cover Distance to the nearest cover that would conceal an EBB, ie clusters of plants >15cm m Distance to the nearest cover that would conceal an EBB, ie clusters of plants >15cm m in height in height Number of species of plants Number of species of plants Number of surface invertebrates Number of different type/ species of invertebrates Rabbit abundance (circle) Number of surface invertebrates Number of different type/species of invertebrates Rabbit abundance (circle) Not Recent activity Not Recent activity present (fresh scats, diggings) present (fresh scats, diggings) Soil moisture content (circle) Dry Moist Wet Soil moisture content (circle) Dry Moist Wet Page 6 of 9

7 Putting it all together back at school Consider utilising some or all of the questions below as a basis for establishing a report on the fieldwork activity. Questions 5 to 11 could be completed as a pre-excursion activity. The remaining questions rely on information collected during the field trip. Classification of Eastern Barred Bandicoots Peremeles gunnii Eastern Barred Bandicoots are from the Class Mammalia, Subclass Marsupialia, Order Paramelemorphia and Family Paramelidae. 5. Research the structural features that are characteristic of each of these levels of classification. Eastern Barred Bandicoot populations Female Eastern Barred Bandicoots are capable of reproducing from 4 months of age and may produce up to 5 litters per year up to 3 years of age. Litters range from 1 to 5 young, averaging at 2 young per litter. Breeding could potentially occur all year round but tends to decline in late summer and cease altogether in times of drought. Gestation is 12.5 days with litters being born immediately after pouch young have been weaned. Unlike macropods, Bandicoots do not demonstrate embryonic diapause. They have the ability to come into oestrous 2 weeks prior to weaning and can give birth to a litter as soon as the previous litter has left the pouch. 6. Use this information to determine how many Eastern Barred Bandicoots could be produced from one breeding pair of bandicoots 2 years after they have been released into a site that is free from predation and has a good supply of resources. 7. Does the Eastern Barred Bandicoot show population characteristics that are more typical of r- selected species or K-selected species? Explain why. 8. Suggest what issues may arise in a population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots that grows exponentially in a small enclosed site with no predators present. 9. Refer to Mate Choice video available on the Zoos Victoria website at How are the Mate Choice trials an important research tool to inform the recovery of the species? Page 7 of 9

8 Churchill Island Eastern Barred Bandicoot release On 16 th August 2015, 16 Eastern Barred Bandicoots, consisting of 8 males and 8 females, were released onto Churchill Island in Phillip Island Nature Park, as part of a trial release designed to save the species from extinction. Churchill Island is considered to be an ideal release site for Eastern Barred Bandicoots as the island is fox and feralcat free, but they are not endemic to the Island. Refer to the map demonstrating the movement of 4 Bandicoots in the first month following release on Churchill Island. The population on Churchill Island increased to approximately 120 individuals within 2 years and has stabilised around this number. The success of this trial informed the release of 44 EBBs onto the Phillip Island in October Does this movement map support the idea that male Bandicoots have a larger range than females? 11. Use a site such as Google Maps to view an aerial photograph of Churchill Island. Can you make any correlations between land use and the sites that Bandicoots interact with the most? Page 8 of 9

9 Factors influencing Eastern Barred Bandicoot interaction with their environment Refer to the Habitat Assessment data your class collected at the Zoo to determine the biotic and abiotic factors that may influence the interactions that Eastern Barred Bandicoots have with their environment. 14. Describe how biotic and abiotic factors may impact on the distribution of Eastern Barred Bandicoots within the grassland habitat of the Australian Trail precinct. 15. Refer to the quadrat data your class has collected. Identify which sites within the Australian Trail are most likely to encourage higher interaction with Eastern Barred Bandicoots. 16. Eastern Barred Bandicoots forage for a range of food sources including beetles, crickets, earthworms and plant material such as berries, tubers and bulbs. Suggest how the Eastern Barred Bandicoots foraging activity could benefit the grassland ecosystem. 17. Draw a food web including an Eastern Barred Bandicoot to represent the transfer of energy between species living in the grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. b. Use a key to indicate the different trophic levels that exist within your food web. c. Explain how the food web would be impacted if the Eastern Barred Bandicoot becomes extinct. 18. A keystone species is an organism that performs a crucial role in the functioning of an ecosystem. Without keystone species the ecosystem would be altered dramatically or completely break down. a. Would you consider the Eastern Barred Bandicoot to be a keystone species for the Victorian Volcanic Plain? Why/Why not? b. The fox is an organism that has been introduced to the grassland ecosystem. Would you consider the fox to be a keystone species in the grassland ecosystem? Why/why not? Management for a healthy population 19. Consider the biotic and abiotic factors that influence an Eastern Barred Bandicoots interaction with a site. Make some recommendations for the management practices that could be put into place to ensure the success of a population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots within the Australian Trail precinct. 20. Explain how the Maremma Guardian Dog trial is being used as a management tool to improve the recovery success of Eastern Barred Bandicoots released back into the wild. Page 9 of 9