YEAR 11 ASSESSMENT TASK COVER SHEETBiology

UNIT: Local Ecosystem TEACHER: Ms Illuzzi

DATE OF ISSUE: 2nd March 2011 DUE DATE: 21st March 2011

TASK NUMBER: 1 WEIGHTING: 20%

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION/COMPLETION: In-class 80 minute fieldwork task

NATURE OF TASK: Students are permitted to use class notes and fieldwork booklet as this is a task whereby they apply and interpret the information and skills they used on their compulsory field study.

Failure to provide a valid reason for non-submission / completion of the task will result in a mark of zero. [Refer to the Assessment Handbook]

STUDENT NAME: HOMEROOM:

I declare that the work submitted is my own. ______________________________Student’s Signature

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Assessment Determination(To be completed by Dean of Curriculum)

Date of submitting task:

Reason for late submission/completion:

No Penalty Zero Estimate Alternate Task Other

Comment:

______________________ _________________R Anderson DateDean of Curriculum

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Question 1:A. Why is it necessary to measure abiotic features of an ecosystem? (2 Marks)

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B. Choose 2 abiotic features you measured and the reading you obtained. (1 Mark)

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C. In the table below describe how you would measure each of the abiotic features from part B. (2 Marks)

Abiotic Feature Method of Measurement

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Question 2:For each of the following, write the name of one species that you studied at Centennial Park.

(3 Marks)

Example Species NameAn autotroph

A heterotroph

A consumer

Question 3:Make an annotated scientific diagram, in pencil, to illustrate and explain TWO adaptations shown by a named plant species AND a named animal species that inhabits Centennial Park.

(8 Marks)

Question 4:Use specific examples, from the excursion, to demonstrate the similarities and differences between mutualism and commensalism relationships. (4 Marks)

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Question 5:A student gathered the following distribution of Casuarina and Paperbark.

Distance (m) Species Height (m)12 Paper bark 7.53 Paper bark 745 Paper bark 76 Paper bark 77 Paper bark 68910 Paper bark 8111213 Casuarina 514 Casuarina 4.515 Casuarina 5161718 Paper bark 61920 Paper bark 2

A. Identify the use of transect lines in biological field work. (1 Mark)

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B. In the blank section below draw a transect line to correctly display the information in the table above. (It may be drawn landscape). (7 Marks)

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C. Explain the change in paper bark height and lack of plants around casuarinas. What type of relationship exists between paper bark and Casuarinas? (3 Marks)

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D. Each group used a quadrat and transect as part of their fieldwork at Centennial Park. These activities do not always depict a true picture of an area because they are somewhat limited in the information they provide. Discuss the limitations of the quadrat and transect activities we conducted at Lachlan Swamp. (4 Marks)

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Question 6:List the types of evidence you would look for to indicate TWO human impacts in Centennial Park ecosystem and suggest strategies for minimizing the impacts. (5 Marks)

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Question 7:A. Australia’s Sandy Desert is inhabited by numerous animals that vary in appearance greatly. Below are FOUR examples. Pick ONE of the animals listed below to design a methodology for measuring its abundance. Include materials and the method written in dot points. (4 Marks)

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a. b. c. d.Desert Mole (a)Thorny devil (b)

Desert hopping mouse (c)Scorpion (d)

Chosen Animal – ____________________________

Measuring Abundance

Materials Needed Methodology

B. Outline one difficulty you may anticipate while measuring the abundance of the chosen animal. (1 Mark)

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Question 8:Read the paragraph below. Use the information to draw the food web for Australia’s Sandy desert environment. (3 marks)

Beetle larvae are the Deserts Mole's favourite food, along with leaf scale insects, mulga seeds and ant eggs. The thorny devil eats only ants. However, it eats the ants one at a time, flicking its sticky tongue in and out quickly. Thorny devils are preyed upon by goannas. The Desert Hopping Mice are omnivorous and have a varied diet that includes Spinifex leaves, shoots, roots and insects. However, it is eaten by Owls and dingoes. Scorpions are nocturnal hunters, feeding mainly on beetles, cockroaches, spiders, and millipedes. The main predators of scorpions are lizards, nocturnal birds and other scorpions. A Bilby diet’s includes ants, beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, fruit and fungi. As carnivores, Perenties eat reptiles (including their own kind), birds and any small mammal. The red kangaroo feeds on Spinifex grass. Dingoes eat a diverse range of prey lizards and red kangaroos, however its predators include the Wedge Tailed Eagle.

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