HSC Earth and Environmental Science Option Introduced Species and the Australian Environment Stage 6 Science

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1 HSC Earth and Environmental Science Option Introduced Species and the Australian Environment Stage 6 Science Summary This excursion addresses outcomes from the NSW Earth and Environmental Science Syllabus. Focus Option Introduced Species and the Australian Environment This highly engaging program allows students to observe a freshwater aquatic ecosystem and first hand collect data on introduced plants and animals. A canoe trip in a freshwater lagoon adjacent to the Nepean river (weather permitting and a maximum of 12 students) is often included in this program. Students also perform a first-hand investigation to measure a range of abiotic and biotic factors the ecosystem using various scientific equipment and data collection methods. Students then analyse the data collected and observe the relationships that exist and the impacts of the introduced species on the ecosystem. Students are guaranteed to be involved in a number of engaging and hands on experiences during the course of the day. Through these students will further develop their knowledge and understanding, field work and group work skills. Duration 4 hour on-site excursion to Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre. Arrival time - 10:00am Departure time 2:00pm Arrival and departure times are guides only. Distance and bus schedules may require modifications to the timetable. About Penrith Lakes Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre is located on Old Castlereagh road inside the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith. This great location allows us to provide studies of land and water management at Penrith Lakes along with local heritage sites and the environmental issues associated with the Nepean River and Blue Mountains. Learning across the curriculum Cross-curriculum priorities enable students to develop understanding about and address the contemporary issues they face. Sustainability is concerned with the ongoing capacity of the Earth to maintain all life. It provides authentic contexts for exploring, investigating and understanding systems in the natural and made environments. Relationships, cycles and cause and effect are explored, and students develop observation and analytical skills to examine these relationships in the world around them to design solutions to identified sustainability problems. Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is protected by Crown copyright. 1

2 Outcomes - HSC Earth and Environmental Science Option - Introduced Species - Stage 6 1. Survey of introduced species in Australia. perform a first-hand investigation by visiting a local environment and identifying, classifying and accounting for the presence of non-indigenous flora and fauna discuss the reasons why different groups of people may have introduced plants and animals into the Australian environment discuss the reasons why different groups of people may have different opinions on the presence of an introduced organism as a pest 2. An analysis of introduced species indicates they may impact on either the biotic and/or the abiotic aspects of the environment describe the biotic and abiotic components of a local environment explain how some introduced species alter the abiotic characteristics of the Australian environments they colonise and why such environments are vulnerable to change perform a first-hand investigation by visiting a local environment, to identify and distinguish between biotic and abiotic components of the environment that may have been affected by introduced species 3. Identification of the conditions leading to introduced species becoming pests assess the relative contributions of the following conditions to one named introduced plant and one named introduced animal becoming pests: suitable habitat suitable climatic condition range of food resources relative lack of natural predators/grazers high reproductive capacity well-developed dispersal mechanisms gather, process and analyze information from secondary sources and use available evidence to identify the features of the named introduced plant and animal. Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is protected by Crown copyright. 2

3 4.Development of a case study on an introduced species that has had an impact on the physical and/or biological environment summarise for the above named introduced plant and animal: the history of introduction the environmental conditions leading to the organism becoming a pest dispersal techniques reproductive capacity evaluate for the above named introduced plant and animal: the impact on the physical environment control strategies analyse information from firsthand and/or secondary sources and use available evidence to assess the environmental impacts of the named plant and animal gather and analyse information from secondary sources to determine the relative merits of different possible control strategies for the named plant and animal Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is protected by Crown copyright. 3

4 Teaching and learning activities Activity 1 Introduction to Penrith Lakes Scheme and the local freshwater ecosystems. Introduction to Penrith Lakes Scheme, how it was formed (ex-mining site) and the development of its unique local freshwater environments. Students are taught how to use a variety of data collection equipment to first-hand measure a range of abiotic and biotic factors when out in the field. Safety briefing on canoe use Resources Student worksheets (soft copy) All of the filed work data collection equipment Provided by visiting school: Student worksheets (hard copy) Student hats and Sunscreen First aid kit and student medications Activity 2 Fieldwork and data collection Students go out into the ecosystem, observe the introduced species and first hand collect a range of abiotic and biotic data using field work equipment; Abiotic factors (Eg; Dissolved Oxygen) that affect the abundance and distribution of a range of plant and animals species are measured by the students using a range of fieldwork equipment (e.g; Dissolved Oxygen Meter). Abundance and diversity of freshwater invertebrates (e.g; dragonfly Nymphs) is measured using a random dip netting method; this is followed by an invertebrate I.D station where students use magnifying lenses and I.D charts to identify each species caught and learn about some of their unique adaptations; Abundance and distribution of freshwater aquatic plant species is completed by a Belt Transect method using quadrants placed at specific intervals along a line. Here students can volunteer using waders to go into the water (waist high) and I.D various plant species and their abundance and distribution to the rest of the class. Freshwater ecosystem with freshwater insects Dip nets Field work equipment Provided by visiting school: Student hats Transect, waders, ruler and plant I.D charts Sunscreen First aid kit and student medications Activity 3 Result Analysis and Wrap Up After lunch, all of the data collected is analysed. Two main introduced species are summarised along with their impacts on the river and wetlands. Links between concepts are made with specific reference to how abiotic and biotic factors interact within a freshwater ecosystem observed and measured. Through this unique experiential learning activity students develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the syllabus concepts taught. Interactive whiteboard Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is protected by Crown copyright. 4

5 Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is protected by Crown copyright. 5