What affects the health of our aquatic ecosystems?

Survey two of the Gardens’ freshwater ponds to identify factors that influence the health of their biological communities.

Students will:

• sample water
• complete a vegetation assessment
• use a key to identify macroinvertebrates and aquatic plant life
• learn how to identify indicator species

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Curriculum links

Year 7

• ACSSU111: Classification helps organise the diverse group of organisms
• ACSSU112: Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs.

Year 9

• ACSSU176: Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems.

Year 11/12

• ACSBL003: Conduct investigations, including using ecosystem surveying techniques, safely, competently and methodically for the collection of valid and reliable data
• ACSBL006: Select, construct and use appropriate representations, including classification keys, food webs and biomass pyramids, to communicate conceptual understanding, solve problems and make predictions
• ACSBL016: Biological classification is hierarchical and based on different levels of similarity of physical features, methods of reproduction and molecular sequences
• ACSBL019: Ecosystems are diverse, composed of varied habitats and can be described in terms of their component species, species interactions and the abiotic factors that make up the environment
• ACSBL020: Relationships and interactions between species in ecosystems include predation, competition, symbiosis and disease
• ACSBL024: Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of the community; the impact of a reduction in numbers or the disappearance of keystone species on an ecosystem is greater than would be expected based on their relative abundance or total biomass.