According to the Board of Studies Syllabus, the purpose and
function for studying this unit is summarised by the following statements:
(ref:
NSW Board of Studies Stage 6 Syllabus, page 22)
The environment has an impact on all
organisms in ways that a Biology student will learn to recognise and explain. Students are
able to draw on existing knowledge of their own local area and expand on their
understanding of biological concepts that can be identified through careful analysis of
the biotic and abiotic factors operating.
While the study of the relationships of organisms with each other and with their physical
environment can be theoretically presented in a classroom setting or by using simulations
of natural populations, communities and even ecosystems, the study of ecology in the field
is essential. Study of this module must include field experience of a local terrestrial or
aquatic ecosystem to observe and measure some of the abiotic parameters to which the main
plant and animal species are adapted and to study some of the trophic, competitive and
symbiotic interactions between organisms in that ecosystem. Students should be encouraged to analyse and report on those aspects
of the local environment that have been affected by people and propose realistic solutions
to the problems that exist. The report should include: a statement of purpose; a clear and
detailed definition of the area studied; any background material collected on the area;
appropriate presentation of data collected; analysis of data; suggestions of the
relationships that exist in the area; and an assessment of human impact on the area. |
The following is the syllabus
document created by the BOARD OF STUDIES. It shows the requirements of
each component of the course.
All underlined text represents
suggested links to information or activities that you should be familiar with
and use as a starting point in gaining a knowledge and understanding of this
topic.
1. The distribution, diversity
and numbers of plants and animals found in ecosystems are determined by
biotic and abiotic factors.
Theory:
recall the difference between abiotic
and biotic features of the environment
compare the abiotic
characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial environments
identify the factors determining the distribution
and abundance of a species in each environment
- justify the need to use sampling
techniques to make population estimates when total counts cannot be made
Practical:
- choose equipment or resources to perform a
first-hand investigation to use transect,
random quadrats and capture-recapture
and tagging/marking methods to make estimates of real or simulated populations of
organisms and analyse the advantages and disadvantages of these methods
2. There is a flow of energy and
matter in an ecosystem
Theory:
- outline the role of respiration in the
transformation of energy in ecosystems
- identify uses of energy in organisms
- describe and explain the short and
long-term consequences on the ecosystem of species
competing for resources
- compare the potential efficiency of energy flow
and cycling of matter through disturbed and undisturbed ecosystems
Practical:
- gather and process information from secondary
sources to construct diagrams from electron
micrographs of a mitochondrion and describe its features
3. Each local aquatic or terrestrial
ecosystem is unique
Theory:
- Examine trends in population estimates
for some plant and animal species within the local
ecosystem
- Outline factors that affect numbers in
predator and prey populations in the area studied
- Describe how producers, consumers and
decomposers are related using food chains and food webs with examples from the local
ecosystem, if possible
- Analyse qualitatively the efficiency of
energy flow and cycling of matter in the local ecosystem studied
- Define the term adaptation and discuss
the problems associated with inferring characteristics of organisms as adaptations for
living in a particular habitat
- Identify some adaptations of
living things to factors in their environment
- Identify and describe in
detail adaptations of a plant and an animal from the local ecosystem
- Recall some impacts of human activities
on ecosystems
- Recall the relationship between
pollution and contamination by unwanted substances
- Recall strategies used to balance human
activities and needs in ecosystems to conserve, maintain and protect the quality of the
environment
- Analyse the impact of humans inthe
ecosystem studied
Practical:
- Choose equipment or resources and
undertake a field study of a local terrestrial or aquatic
ecosystem to identify data sources and:
- measure abiotic variables in
the ecosystem being studied using appropriate instruments and comparing these with
recorded values, relating this to the distribution of organisms
- collect, analyse and present data to describe the
distribution of the plant and animal species whose abundance has been estimated
- describe evidence of observed trophic interactions and
distribution and abundance of two plant and animal species found in the area studied
- identify data sources and gather, present and analyse
data by:
- tabulation of data collected in the study
- calculation of mean values with ranges
- graphing changes with time in the measured abiotic
data
- evaluating variability in measurements made during
scientific investigations
|
- Process and analyse information and
present a report of the investigation of the local
ecosystem in which the purpose is introduced, use the methods described and the results
shown graphically and use available evidence to discuss their relevance
- Gather information from first-hand and
secondary sources to construct food chains and food webs to illustrate the flow of matter
and energy and the relationships between member species in the local ecosystem
Return to Module 8.2 index
Email me at:
svs@radford.com.au to post
questions
S. van Strien
