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Box Gum Grassy Woodland Post Visit Worksheet

(Complete back at school after site visit)

1. Abiotic Features: Calculation of mean values with ranges

As a class students are to collate all data collected at REEC, calculate the range ( lowest and highest reading) and mean (average) for all abiotic features measured.

|Abiotic Features |Base of Hill |Range |Mean |Mid-slope |Range |Mean |

| |(include units) | | |(include units) | | |

|Aspect | | | | | | |

|Air temperature | | | | | | |

|Soil temperature | | | | | | |

|Air humidity (%) | | | | | | |

|Light intensity (lux) | | | | | | |

|Wind speed/direction | | | | | | |

|Soil colour | | | | | | |

|Soil pH | | | | | | |

|Soil texture | | | | | | |

|Soil Salinity | | | | | | |

2. Vegetation abundance using quadrats: Estimation of total population

Total area of Study site : 400m x 600m (240000m2)

Size of quadrat: 10m x 10m (100m2)

Total number of Quadrats on Study Site: = 240000 / 100

= 2400

|Plant species & growth form |Number in quadrat |Estimated Total Abundance |

|(shrub/tree) |(N) |(N x 2400) |

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3. Relationships (Allelopathy and Symbiosis)

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|Relationship |Example (students outline the types of relationships using the examples |

| |given) |

| | |

|Allelopathy |Hill Red Gum & Grass |

|(the production of specific biomolecules by one plant that can be | |

|beneficial or detrimental to another plant) | |

| | |

|Parasitism |Hill Red Gum & Mistletoe |

|(two organisms live together in a close relationship where one species | |

|benefits and the other species is harmed) | |

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|Mutualism |Lichen (Fungi & Algae) |

|(two organisms live together in a close relationship where both species | |

|benefit) | |

| | |

|Commensalism |Hill Red Gum & Possum |

|(two organisms live together in a close relationship where one species | |

|benefits and the other species is unaffected) | |

4. Relationships ( Food Webs)

Using the named organisms below, construct a food web that illustrates the relationships in the ecosystem studied. Use arrow to show the movement of energy from one organism to another.

|Producers |Consumers (herbivore) |Consumers ( carnivore) |

| |Native |Introduced |Native |Introduced |

|Wallaby Grass |Grey Kangaroo |Rabbit |Bearded Dragon |Cat |

|Kangaroo Grass |Galah | |Brown Snake |Dog |

|Spreading Flax Lilly |Red Rump Parrot | |Magpie |Fox |

|Golden Wattle |Lerp | |Brown Gosshawk | |

|Hill Red Gum |Skeletoniser | | | |

| |Cicada | | | |

| |Brushtail possum | | | |

|Tertiary | |

|Consumers | |

|Secondary | |

|Consumers | |

|Primary | |

|Consumers | |

|Herbivores| |

|Producers | |

5. Transect of biotic features:

Complete a transect from the base of the hill to the mid-slope. Observe, measure and collect data found 2m each side of the transect line.

Show plant height, growth form, species, rocks, logs, hollows, nests, tracks, burrows etc.

6. Identification of adaptations of living things to factors in their environment

Fauna:

|Adaptation |Organism |Description of Adaptation |

|Structural |Eastern Grey Kangaroo | |

|(physical characteristics | | |

|relating to the structure of | | |

|an organisms body) | | |

|Physiological |Eastern Grey Kangaroo | |

|(related to the way an | | |

|organism functions) | | |

|Behavioural |Eastern Grey Kangaroo | |

|(how an organism responds to | | |

|its environment) | | |

Fauna:

|Adaptation |Organism |Description of Adaptation |

|Structural |Hill Red Gum | |

|(physical characteristics | | |

|relating to the structure of | | |

|an organisms body) | | |

|Physiological |Hill Red Gum | |

|(related to the way an | | |

|organism functions) | | |

|Behavioural |Hill Red Gum | |

|(how an organism responds to | | |

|its environment) | | |

Please refer to Woodlands Study Guide found on Riverina Environmental Centre Website

for reference material

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