Suburban native pests (20 hours)
Suburban areas in many parts of Australia are experiencing an influx of particular animal species (e.g. scrub turkey, noisy minor, apostle bird) which have been previously unknown or
scarce in the area. In this unit students are given the opportunity to investigate the biology of a particular native pest species and to analyse factors that may have contributed to its pest
status in a particular place.
Key Concepts:
3. Organisms live an interdependent existence in environments to which they are adapted.
4. A variety of mechanisms results in continual change at all levels of the natural world.
5. There are processes in place which maintain dynamic equilibrium at all organisational levels.
UNIT ORGANISATION
Main Focus
Key
Ideas
Suggested Expansion of the Main Focus
The environment
4, 13
Requirements for living.
Obtaining energy.
Abiotic and biotic factors of the environment.
Food chains and food webs.
The pest species
13
Adaptation
4, 12,
17, 18
Definition of adaptation. Developing an
understanding of how adaptations develop in a
population. Adaptations of organisms to a
variety of different habitats.
Food webs
10. 14,
16, 22
Energy requirements as food are obtained
from a variety of different organisms, all
originating from an autotroph. Matter flows
through ecosystems.
Environmental change
10, 13,
15,17,22
Population dynamics.
Habitat requirements.
Organisms, including humans, change
environments. Types of change.
Impact of particular changes.
Possible Student Activities and
Learning Experience
Field study to a local habitat. Observe
and describe significant abiotic and
biotic features. Discuss the survival
needs of some of the organisms in that
habitat and how those needs might be
met.
Use resources to make a list of native
pest animals. Record the normal
distribution and abundance, typical
habitat, feeding relationships,
reproductive strategies etc. for a selected
species occurring in the local area.
Discuss the concept of adaptation and
investigate ways in which the selected
species is adapted to its habitat.
Develop a food web for the selected
animal and recognise that the change in
numbers of some species has a greater
impact than a change in other species on
the balance of the food web.
Critically evaluate the role of the
selected species in the environment,
reasons for its pest status, possible
impact on the environment as a pest
species and models for redressing the
problem.
Skills
Objectives
Text Reference
3
UB, IB
Ch. 14.4
Ch. 17.1
UB, IB
Ch. 7
UB, IB
Ch. 1.2
Ch. 4.1
Ch. 6.2
UB, IB
Ch. 8
UB, IB,
EBI
Ch. 9.4
Ch. 10