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Year 11 Biology/Senior Science Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystem
Fieldwork
Outcome: 1. Use scientific techniques to investigate how the distribution, diversity and numbers of plants and animals in ecosystems are determined by biotic and abiotic factors
2. Use appropriate instruments and techniques, such as quadrats and transects to identify how each aquatic ecosystem is unique.
Name: ________________________________________________________
Stations -‐ 1A & 1B. Abiotic Factors 2. Bird Observation 3. Dipnetting 4. Water Bug I.D 5. Plant I.D 6. Transect
Site Descriptions: Site 1A – BigPond (Duck Pond) Site 1B – Small Pond (Perched Wetland)
Factor Equipment/Units Data – Site 1A Big Pond
Data – Site 1B Small Pond
1.Water Temperature
2. Turbidity
3. Water pH
4. Conductivity or Total Dissolved Solids (Salts)
5. Dissolved Oxygen mg/L % mg/L %
6.Phosphate (Nutrient)
7. Light
8. Slope
9. Wind Exposure (Speed)
10. Water Depth Depth markers and general knowledge of lakes
4 to 5 metres 80 cm
11. Elevation
(Height above sea level)
Trig Station – black and white poles 15m 18m
12. Water Source Observe. Shallow ponds mainly runoff. Deeper ponds have groundwater and runoff.
13. Visual Pollution Visual Assessment. Use your eyes. There could be no pollution, a little or a lot
STATIONS 1A AND 1B – Abiotic Factors
Use test kit to collect abiotic data for each site
Abundance and Distribution
1. Location: ______________________________________________________ 2. Date: ___________________________
3. Name of Ecosystem: ________________________________________________________________________________
4. Describe the technique used to sample the abundance of invertebrates.
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STATION 2 – Bird Observation
Fill in Column 10 for birds found on this site. Total lines and columns as shown in the sample
Waterbird Counts at 10 survey sites Bird Species / Site No. Eg 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10* Abundance Distribution
Example: Waterbird 6 2 4 3 15 4 1. Australian Grebe 6 3 1
2. Australian Wood Duck 3 8 2 4 12
3. Blackwinged Stilt 2 2
4. Dusky Moorhen 1 2 4 3
5. Eurasian Coot 7 12 4 12
6. Great Egret 1 1
7. Little Black Cormorant 3 2 1
8. Little Pied Cormorant 6 1 2
9. Masked Lapwing 6 4 7
10. Pacific Black Duck 8 9 8 6
11. Pelican 1 1
12 Purple Swamphen 4 2
13. White-faced Heron 1 1
14. Royal Spoonbill 1
Total Abundance per Site 10
Total Species per Site 3
STATION 3 – Dipnetting – Invertebrate Data Collection
C omplete the following:
Total number of species identified: _____________________________ Dominant species _______________________________
Possible reasons for dominance ______________________________________________________________________________________
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STATION 4 – Waterbug (Invertebrate) I.D.
Invertebrate Name Viewer No.
Invertebrate Name Viewer No.
Invertebrate Name Viewer No.
Backswimmer Leech Water Mite Beetle Larvae Mayfly Nymph Water Scorpion Caddisfly Larvae Mosquito Larvae Water Spider Damselfly Nymph Pond Snail Water Treader Dragonfly Nymph Tadpole Worm Freshwater Shrimp Water Beetle Mosquito Fish Giant Water Bug Water Boatman Other -
STATION 5 – Plant I.D.
Use the colour pictures and plant specimens to observe the main plants found in this location.
Plant Description Plant Description
A. Common Rush
Small brown flowers, green stem
G. River Clubrush
Tall green reed, bunch of brown flowers
B. Slender Knotweed
Thin leaf, white/pink small flower (all year)
H. Water Lily
The leaves are large pads. Large ‘pink’ flowers in summer
C. Water Primrose
Dark green rounded leaf, yellow flower (summer)
I. Ribbonweed
A submerged aquatic plant with delicate ribbon-like leaves
D. Water Couch
Green grass J. Pondweed
Submerged leaf-like structures whorled around hollow stem.
E. Tall Spikerush
Thin round large reed with pointy top
K. Salvinia (introduced)
Floating leathery leaves, fibre root system
F. Cumbungi (Bullrush)
Tall flat reed, fairy floss seeds (summer)
L. ______________
Quadrat size _____________________ cm Quadrat Interval ______________________ metres
Complete transect using plant letters above and depth measurements (use dots and join on graph)
Depth (cm) 0
30
60
90
120
Water Level
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Distance from bank in metres (a quadrat is placed at one metre intervals)
STATION 6 – Transect
Biotic Factor - vegetation
% of the plant in each quadrat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A. Common Rush
B. Slender Knotweed
C. Water Primrose D. Water Couch
E. Tall Spikerush
F. Cumbungi (Bullrush)
G. River Clubrush
H. Water Lily
I. Ribbonweed
J. Pondweed K. Salvinia (Introduced)
L.
Abiotic - Water Depth (cm)
CONCLUSION/WRAP UP
Key relationships between ponds:
Temperature and Light • Big Pond is in full sun and much larger body of water = warmer than Little Pond and lesstemperature variability;
Turbidity, Light and D.O • Big pond has lower turbidity (abiotic factor) = more aquatic plants (biotic factor) = moreD.O (abiotic factor) = more invertebrates/aquatic life (biotic factor)Note: a minimum of 60% D.O is required for gill breathers such as dragonfly nymphs;
pH and Conductivity • Big Pond water source is groundwater which is salty = higher pH and conductivity;Phosphate and Water Source • Little Pond is perched wetland designed to hold/clean the runoff from nursery/car park= higher phosphate levels and at greater risk of blue green algae outbreaks
Additional Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Tropic Orders Name the order and the examples shown:
Adaptations Fill in the missing words to complete the plants and animal adaptions:
Tall Spike Rush is hollow and uses _____________________ to inflate its stem in order to to remain upright and provide maximum surface area for sunlight absorption/photosynthesis and flotation. Its flower and _______________________ is right at the top so it has maximum exposure to wind and open water. It also clumps to aid in protection from wind and currents.
Dragonfly Nymph • Has an extendable lower ________ to grasp its prey at a (200thof a second – fastest of any living thing.)
• Strong legs for grasping reeds and assisting in swimming.• Internal _________ that double as a form of locomotion when required (acts like a jet propulsion).
• Compound ___________________ for better field of view.• Colouration/camouflage to disguise themselves amongst thedetritus.
GENERAL NOTE TAKING
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