SvS Biology 2001
- a funnel
for web Biology
Evolution of Australian Biota (module 8.5)
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 35)
Contextual Outline The story of modern Australia is related to the formation of the very large southern
landmass, Gondwana. This landmass persisted for some time, giving rise to an array of species that spread across Gondwana. When Gondwana broke up, it did so in stages but eventually the Australian continent was isolated from Antarctica and South America.The available evidence suggests that, as Gondwana was breaking up, a number of
global climatic changes were also occurring. These events affected the organisms isolated on the Australian continent. These changes in environmental conditions impacted on Australian ecosystems and are reflected in the fossil record. As the biotic and abiotic features of ecosystems were altered, those organisms best adapted to these changes survived and passed on their genetic information to their offspring.The contribution of paleontology and the study of past environments is important to
our understanding of how our present actions may affect our environment and the distribution of flora and fauna in the future.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. Evidence for
the rearrangement of crustal plates and continental drift indicates that Australia was once part of an ancient super continentTheory:
recall that crustal plates move over time
identify and describe evidence that supports the assertion that Australia was once part of a landmass called Gondwana, including:
matching continental margins
position of mid-ocean ridges
spreading zones between continental plates
fossils in common on Gondwanan continents, including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris flora, and marsupials
similarities between present day organisms on Gondwanan continents
recall evidence that present-day organisms have developed from different organisms in the distant past
discuss current research into the evolutionary relationships between extinct species, including megafauna and extant Australian speciesPractical:
identify data sources, gather,process, analyse and present information from secondary sources to draw up a timeline that identifies key events in the formation of Australia as an island continent from its origins as part of Gondwana
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources of a current world topographical map and use available evidence to identify the positions of mid-ocean ridges and spreading zones that infer a moving Australian continent
identify data sources, gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to illustrate the changing ideas of scientists in the last 200 years about:
Australian ecosystems
OR
individual species such as the platypus as new information and technologies became available
2. The changes in
Australian flora and fauna over millions of years have happened through evolution
Theory:
recall that natural selection relates to the theory of evolution
discuss examples of variation between members of a species
identify the relationship between variation within a species and the chances of survival of species when environmental change occurs
identify and describe evidence of changing environments in Australia over millions of years
identify changes in the distribution and abundance of Australian species, as indicated by fossil evidence
discuss current theories that provide a model for these changes
discuss Darwins observations of Australian flora and fauna and explain how they related to his theory of evolutionPractical:
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources to develop a timeline that identifies key events in the formation of Australia, key Australian fossils, where these fossils were found and use available evidence to explain how they contribute to the development of understanding about the evolution of species in Australia
perform a first-hand investigation, gather information of named Australian fossil samples and use available evidence to identify similarities and differences between current and extinct Australian life forms
gather, process and present information from secondary sources to discuss the Huxley-Wilberforce debate on Darwins theory of evolution. [Want to see the site by the creationists?]
perform a first-hand investigation to gather information of examples of variation in at least two species of living organism
3. Australian
plants and animals exhibit a range of adaptations to cope with variations in temperature and availability of waterTheory:
describe and assess the impact on Australian biota of the contraction of rainforests and the spread of sclerophyll communities and grasslands over time
identify areas within Australia that experience significant variations in temperature and/or water availability
identify a range of adaptations that assist plants and animals to cope with variations in temperature and availability of water
discuss, using examples, the analysis needed by biologists to understand the purpose of specialisations found in speciesPractical:
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to discuss the relationship between the changing Australian biota and changing climatic conditions on the Australian continent
4. Continuation of species has resulted, in part, from the reproductive adaptations that have evolved in Australian plants and animals
Theory:
recall the role of cell division in growth, repair and reproduction in multicellular organisms
distinguish between the processes of meiosis and mitosis in terms of the daughter cells produced
compare and contrast external and internal fertilisation
discuss the relative success of these forms of fertilisation in relation to the colonisation of terrestrial and aquatic environments
describe some mechanisms found in Australian flora for:
pollination
seed dispersal
asexual reproduction with reference to local examples
describe some mechanisms found in Australian fauna to ensure
fertilisation
survival of the embryo and of the young after birth
explain how the evolution of these reproductive adaptations has increased the chances of continuity of the species in the Australian environment
describe the conditions under which asexual reproduction is advantageous, with reference to specific Australian examplesPractical:
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources to tabulate the differences that distinguish the processes of mitosis and meiosis
identify data sources, gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to discuss the relative success of internal and external fertilisation in relation to the colonisation of terrestrial and aquatic environments
plan, choose equipment or resources and perform a first-hand investigation to gather and present information about flowers of native species of angiosperms to identify features that may be adaptations for wind and insect/bird/mammal pollination
plan, choose equipment or resources and perform a first-hand investigation to reproduce a selection of plants asexually
5. A study of
palaeontology and past environments increases our understanding of the possible future range of plants and animalsTheory:
explain the importance of the study of past environments in predicting the impact of human activity in present environments
identify the ways in which palaeontology assists understanding of the factors that may determine distribution of flora and fauna in present and future environmentsPractical:
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to describe examples of evidence used by scientists to describe past conditions
gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to propose reasons for the evolution, survival and extinction of species, with reference to specific Australian examples
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Email me at: vanstrien@optusnet.com.au
S. van Strien