CASE STUDY 2: MINAMURRA FALLS CASE STUDY – ECOSYSTEMS AT RISK 1. Name and Locate (Latitude, Longitude, Distance, Direction, Site, Situation, Continuity, Altitude) Spatial Patterns and Dimensions: Label the Subtropical and Warm Temperate Rainforest diagrams below with the correct titles. (Go to Botanical Gardens of NSW website of Subtropical and Warm Temperate Rainforest if diagrams don’t open) Describe the pattern of climate at Minamurra Falls (rainfall, temperature, seasonal variations, even/uneven, numbers, months) Get some tracing paper or an overhead plastic sheet. Use a RED PENCIL or HIGHLIGHTER and trace the NPWS (National Park at Minamurra) boundary Then HIGHLIGHT in TWO DIFFERENT COLOURS the Subtropical and Warm Temperate rainforest only. What proportion of the National Park is rainforest from your highlighting? Is it continuous? BIOPHYSICAL INTERACTIONS Draw arrows in the margin and label the Canopy, Emergents, Forest Floor. You can approach interactions in a number of ways – using Biosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere interactions OR individual interactions such as food chains, food webs, soil, climate, vegetation interactions. In the boxes below list and explain SIX interactions. This means explaining CAUSE -> EFFECT or HOW ONE THING IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT LEADS TO ANOTHER REACTION. MAPPING SKILLS: 1. 2. 3. 4. What is the contour interval of the map? Trace the escarpment onto a plastic sheet or tracing paper. Trace the Minamurra River and put arrows on it to show its direction of flow. What evidence is there on the map that the Minamurra river area is a steep environment? What aspect does the Minamurra Falls area face? How does this affect the location of the ecosystem? HSC TOPIC 1: SYLLABUS REQUIREMENTS: Ecosystems at Risk Time Allocation: 40 indicative hours The focus of this study is a geographical investigation of the functioning of ecosystems at risk, their management and protection. The student: H1 explains the changing nature, spatial patterns and interaction of ecosystems, urban places and economic activity H2 explains the factors which place ecosystems at risk and the reasons for their protection H5 evaluates environmental management strategies in terms of ecological sustainability H6 evaluates the impacts of, and responses of people to, environmental change H7 justifies geographical methods applicable and useful in the workplace and relevant to a changing world H8 plans geographical inquiries to analyse and synthesise information from a variety of sources H9 evaluates geographical information and sources for usefulness, validity and reliability H10 applies maps, graphs and statistics, photographs and fieldwork to analyse and integrate data in geographical contexts H11 applies mathematical ideas and techniques to analyse geographical data H12 explains geographical patterns, processes and future trends through appropriate case studies and illustrative examples H13 communicates complex geographical information, ideas and issues effectively, using appropriate written and/or oral, cartographic and graphic forms. Students learn about: ecosystems and their management • • • • biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning vulnerability and resilience of ecosystems – impacts due to natural stress – impacts due to human induced modifications to energy flows, nutrient cycling, and relationships between biophysical components the importance of ecosystem management and protection – maintenance of genetic diversity – utility values – intrinsic values – heritage values – need to allow natural change to proceed evaluation of traditional and contemporary management strategies. TWO case studies of different ecosystems at risk to illustrate their unique characteristics including: – spatial patterns and dimensions: location, altitude, latitude, size, shape and continuity – biophysical interactions including: – the dynamics of weather and climate – geomorphic and hydrologic processes such as earth movements, weathering, erosion, transport and deposition, soil formation – biogeographical processes: invasion, succession, modification, resilience – adjustments in response to natural stress – the nature and rate of change which affects ecosystem functioning – human impacts (both positive and negative) – traditional and contemporary management practices. The selected ecosystems at risk could include areas such as coastal dunes, freshwater wetlands, intertidal wetlands, coral reefs, arid areas, alpine areas, rainforests, temperate forests. SUMMARY SHEET FOR CASE STUDY2: MINAMURRA RAINFOREST Spatial Patterns and Dimensions Biophysical Interactions (cause and effect) Nature and Rate of Change Human Impacts both positive and negative Traditional and Contemporary Practices Reasons for Protection Environmental Management Strategies relating to Sustainability Geographical Methods and Tools to gain information and data Validity and Reliability of Data (look at the sources supplied and used...climate data, maps, links to other sources) Future trends Sketch map skills Draw a Precis map of the area based on the Topographic Map and the Vegetation map. Show river, escarpment,outline of park and rainforest vegetation distribution. Aerial Photo Section from Topographic Map SUMMARY SHEET FOR CASE STUDY1: CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS Spatial Patterns and Dimensions Biophysical Interactions (cause and effect) Nature and Rate of Change Human Impacts both positive and negative Traditional and Contemporary Practices Reasons for Protection Environmental Management Strategies relating to Sustainability Geographical Methods and Tools to gain information and data Validity and Reliability of Data (look at the sources supplied and used...climate data, maps, links to other sources) Future trends Sketch map skills Draw a Precis map of the area based on the Topographic Map and the Vegetation map. Show river, escarpment,outline of park and rainforest vegetation distribution.